9 Best Portable Grills of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Hold the match or the lit end of a lighter to the burner where the propane comes out. Once the burner has ignited, replace the grate and adjust the burner as you need. The Hamilton Beach electric grill works indoors and outdoors (at campsites with hook-ups or for RV camping) making it ideal for people who live in small apartments. Regardless, be cautious with kiddos, especially as the cast iron heats up.

In our tests, it produced “nice golden-brown” steak with “defined grill marks” and a “good crust.” During one test, even a delicate fish filet did not stick to the grates. But if you’re not likely to grill frequently, a portable grill is a fine option. For one, it can be broken down or tucked away in storage (and it should be when not in use, to minimize weather-induced corrosion). Portable gas grills are also usually easier and more intuitive to set up, use, and keep clean, so they’re great for beginners, or anyone who doesn’t want to invest too much effort into cooking a few burgers.

Like the Traveler, the Weber Q2200 can also accommodate a full-size propane cylinder with an adapter. The push-button ignition is battery powered, which I actually found slightly easier to use. The Everdure Cube by Heston Blumenthal is a cute little charcoal grill that’s easy to carry and comes in a number of color options. It’s easy to handle the grill even when lit because of the cool-touch handles. Ultimately, I found food fell in between the bars of the grate too easily and the grill itself was too small to be useful. The temperature is easily controlled with the knob, which makes for more even cooking, and fewer headaches (and burned pizzas).

Grills Portable Grills

The push-button ignition and clearly marked heat-control dial make the Q 1200 easy to start and regulate. Weber’s propane coupling fits 1-pound canisters (best for using this grill on the go) but also accepts an adapter for 20-pound propane tanks. Grilling with charcoal does have some downsides that make it Expert Grill Combo Grills less convenient, especially with a portable grill. Briquettes are bulky and messy, staining anything they touch with soot and ash. Plus you have the added chore of snuffing out hot coals and emptying ashes after grilling. However, this 40-pound grill isn’t lightweight by any stretch of the imagination.

Since the area of the basin exactly matches the surface area of the grill, we were then able to spread out those coals to create targeted heat zones. If you’re cooking only one type of food that covers the entire grilling surface, then you will want to have consistent heat throughout. If you are cooking a variety of foods all at once, you might prefer different temperature zones. To test the distribution of heat across a grill, we grilled different food types in different corners of the grill.

Unlike a lot of portable charcoal grills, the Nomad makes an excellent compact smoker. In our tests we smoked pork belly burnt ends and a whole pork butt, and it did a great job. The beauty of this pick is it functions as a portable fire pit and Charcoal Grills Combo Grills charcoal grill, which makes it great for camping. It has two oversized handles for carrying and its legs fold up to make moving it even easier. It can be used with firewood or charcoal – just slide on the included grill grate to use as a grill.

Next, we narrowed our selection to create a manageable yet comprehensive list of the best products available. We bought all these products at retail cost to allow us to conduct an extended, objectively honest, and comparative review. These review editors rigorously assessed these grills and distributed them to friends to gather a fresh perspective. The Coleman Roadtrip 285 offers the cooking performance of your typical backyard grill in a portable package. There are three individual burners – a main burner that reaches across the entire grill from side to side, and two additional burners on each side.