It’s also pleasantly easy to clean, thanks to foil inserts that can be used to line the removable drip tray. In testing, we were most impressed with the cast-iron grate, which didn’t stick at all to fish or steak, and features a unique wave shape to keep items from falling through the gaps. With the lid shut, it was able to reach well over 600 degrees (albeit with 10 minutes of preheating), and the control dials are actually effective Charcoal Grills Combo Grills and reasonably accurate at adjusting the flames. While the Weber Original Kettle may have taken the top spot in CNET’s list of best charcoal grills, this newcomer is my pick for the best portable charcoal grill. A smart and solid build allows you to take this small grill anywhere, including on a long hike. In the realm of larger portable propane grills, the Coleman Roadtrip 285 is a cut above the rest when it comes to output power.
From slow-smoked brisket to baked blueberry pie, Traeger grills can truly do it all. Since these grills are all easy to move, we’d recommend storing them somewhere covered between uses, if not in a shed or garage. (But make sure to let it cool down before moving it.) If you do leave Grills Portable Grills it out in the open, consider using a weatherproof cover to protect it. One Popular Mechanics editor used it at her neighborhood block party to grill hot dogs and sausages. This roundup was originally written by Camryn Rabideau, product tester and grill expert for The Spruce Eats.
This grill is the holy grail of versatile camping firepits-turned-grills. Solo Stove’s portable Bonfire fire pit design boasts rave reviews about its lightweight, dynamic airflow design that keeps your fire burning in an easily-contained and maintained fashion. The Solo Stove Bonfire Cast Iron Grill takes this design and adds a classic cast iron grill reminiscent of cowboying out West. The modification of the grill hub adds enough height to keep your food from burning in the intense heat of the fire pit (as our testers found out very quickly, don’t forget that hub!).
Whether you’re looking for a gas or charcoal grill, a tabletop, or one with a stand and wheels, we’ve tested a range of top-rated and best-selling portable grills to find the best performers in each category. We spent several days testing 14 of the most popular portable charcoal grills to help you find the best product for your next camping trip or tailgate. After firing up the grills, we measured how hot their grates got, then used each one to cook hamburgers, bratwursts, and corn on the cob. Once we finished cooking, we took note of how much of the charcoal was used up and how easy it was to clean each grill. If you’re not the camping, beachgoing, or apartment-dwelling type, you may see little value in a portable gas grill. But although the best stationary gas grills produce consistent, accurate heat, and offer the benefit of multiple temperature zones, portable grills take the cake for transportability, space-saving, and price.
While it is compact and portable, you must settle for a smaller grilling space. Petite and sure-footed, the Grillster is the perfect companion for a picnic for two, no matter the location. We’ve tested an older version of the Lodge Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill, a hibachi-style grill that generates an intense amount of heat and excels at searing, making it ideal for steaks. But the lidless design limits its ability to tackle slow-cooking tasks. At 30 pounds and with a long cool-down time (again, cast iron), it’s also not going to be very portable.
And, if you want to mix things up, the grill grates swap out for griddle or stove grates (available separately). The burgers came out with fantastic coloring and that “cooked over charcoal” taste. To cook chicken more slowly, we shuffled the coals to one side, put it Flat Top Grills Gas Grills Pellet in away from them, and closed the lid. The damper on top allows for fine management of the heat, and a large, easy-to-read thermometer made monitoring the temperature simple. These point you in the direction of a small, sheet-metal kettle or 16.4-ounce propane model.