If the controls weren’t precise enough, there are two digital thermometer probes so that you know exactly when your meat’s internal temperature has reached the perfect point. There’s no need for piezo buttons, a lighter, or starter fluid with this grill because the ignitor is electric. You can cook for a fairly large group of people using the Dyna-Glo Signature Series Portable Charcoal Grill.
Lesley built on her decade of experience in professional kitchens (much of it spent on the grill station) to design and run all of these tests. Cuisinart’s Venture portable gas grill looks like something Apple would make, if Apple got into grills. Expert Grill Combo Grills It’s really a two-part grill that packs up into a lightweight, easy-to-carry package. The base comes off and features a flip-out propane bottle holder (we discourage you from using those; see why below) as well as serving as a place to cut.
Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Weber has a great reputation for reliability, and when we surveyed Wirecutter readers about their grills, Weber owners were overwhelmingly satisfied with their choice. As long as you clean your grill properly and shield it from the elements, it should last many years. Weber doesn’t make a grill cover for the Jumbo Joe, but a contractor garbage bag or a woven poly tarp should do the trick if you want an extra barrier from the elements. And since the spacious firebox fits a full chimney starter’s worth of coals, you can get two or three rounds of grilling per load.
Look for grills that have these features, as they’re better suited for portable, spur-of-the-moment grilling adventures. Some portable grills have removable or foldable legs that make them easy to pack up and transport. It’s a sturdy portable grill that rests on stable legs, perfect for placing on a table or bench. The biggest flaw is the thinness of its grates, which don’t allow for a ton of weight to be stacked upon them, and which sometimes results in the grate flipping if too much meat is placed on one side.
As far as portability, this table-top grill doesn’t break down to take up less space—what you see is what you get, and it might be difficult to transport in smaller cars. That might seem a tad heavy, but it has cast iron grill grates and is fabricated from thick-gauge steel, instead of cheap stamped sheet metal. It’s built to last, though we wouldn’t suggest hiking into the woods with it. Another tabletop option, this portable gas grill from Weber was a standout for our testers, who named it the winner of the group, and even noted its performance rivaled standard-size grills.
Without worrying about food falling through the slats of a grill, your options open up; you can stirfry and hibachi in the woods or griddle up veggie burgers and fry up eggs in the morning. If your desired grill doesn’t already come with a griddle option, you could opt for an additional griddle plate (like this option for round grills or this rectangular option). However, griddles aren’t always the best option for portability’s sake.
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.
We grew frustrated at the number of times we had to re-light this model in high winds. The Weber Q 1200 comes with a disposable aluminum drip tray insert that you can place in the more permanent drip tray. This is nice for aiding with cleanup, but it’s not very wind-resistant, so it usually ended up on the ground after flying away in windy conditions.
That said, I’m hard pressed to imagine a better camping grill than this. The Nomad does cost more than anything else I tested, but it was unparalleled both in how it cooked and how easy it was to move. I’ve worked for Green Chef, a meal kit company that featured several Expert Grill Combo Grills grilled dishes (that I happily tested out). Cooking with wood, charcoal, and propane in the elements is my jam, and this story allowed me to reignite (if you will) my passion for grilling. Griddles can change the game when it comes to your outdoor cooking game.