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The Best Portable Grills of 2024
Portable grills are designed for on-the-go grilling. Not only can you transport them easily but they are compact enough to be placed just about anywhere. Whether it’s a day out with friends or sunny weather from the beach, portable grills have your back! These types of grills are easy to operate, but trying to decide which portable grill is best for you isn’t always a simple process. However, we hope this guide helps you make up your mind, and if you need a good place to start, consider checking out the Weber Smokey Joe Portable Grill.
Our Top Picks For Portable Grills
View all ContentsThe Best Portable Grills
Best Overall
The Weber Smokey Joe Grill wins the best overall because it cooks like a dream and comes in an excellent portable package so you may carry it wherever you please! This charcoal grill is perfect for grilling your food during hangouts with your friends! It has a wide surface area that can grill up to five burgers simultaneously. You can close the entire surface of the lids using the dampers. Dampers control the grill’s internal temperature and allow you to grill your food in less time. The grates are made of high-quality stainless steel and prevent the food from sticking on their surface.
Pros
- Small-sized grill that you can carry along on trips easily
- It can grill any kind of food
- Grates are made up of good quality aluminum steel and the body is rust-resistant
- Can be bought with a carrying bag
Cons
- The heat ventilation dissipates if you put on the lid – compelling you to monitor it constantly
Most Secure
This lightweight and compact grill is the perfect choice for grilling on the go. It has the capacity to grill six burgers simultaneously. The built-in burger press gives you perfectly grilled burgers every time! The lid is porcelain-enameled and is rust-resistant. The porcelain-enameled coat is good for retaining heat inside the grill. This grill also has locks that are useful for easy and secure transportation. The dampers attached to the lid allow you to control the temperature during grilling!
Pros
- It has a 160 square inch cooking area that can grill up to 6 burgers simultaneously
- High quality steel grates that you can clean easily
- The porcelain-enameled lid retains the heat inside the grill
Cons
- The grill is elevated with u-shaped leg supports that make it wobbly
- The assembly is tricky
Unique Aesthetics
This portable grill allows you to grill your food in high, low, or medium heat settings. It has a compact frame that comes with grilling handles. This grill is your perfect choice when you have to BBQ in your backyard or have to do grilling or BBQ on a beach site, in the park, or during trips or camping.
The lid has a lock which is useful in retaining heat and smoke during grilling, meaning you can save your charcoal for later grilling sessions. This grill is built for heavy-duty use, with cast-iron grates and powder-coated heavy steel bodies. It retains heat during grilling and saves time by finishing your food within the required time.
Pros
- Has 155 square inch cooking area and precise temperature controls
- You can measure the temperature on the built-in thermometer
- Made from heavy-gauge powder coated steel
- Available in five colors
Cons
- The customers have had quality control issues with the design – for instance, the top cover being offset from the latch by a half-inch, etc.
Most Lightweight
The Weber Smokey Joe Premium is slightly different from the first grill on this list. This charcoal grill has easy-to-grab handles for easy transportation. The lid is porcelain-enameled that retains the heat, and is rust-resistant. It has a burger press that can grill five burgers at one time. It has a Tuck-n-Carry lid lock that allows you to hold the lid easily. The top has an attached damper that controls the heat and temperature inside the grill when you’re grilling food. It is available in two colors; black and slate blue.
Pros
- It is very lightweight, weighing only about 9.8 pounds
- Compact design that can grill up to 5 burgers in a single time
- Porcelain-enameled lid that retains the heat during grilling
- The lid has a tuck-n-carry lock so that you can place the top anywhere
Cons
- Doesn’t have air side vents below the charcoal area
Spacious Design
This combo grill has a smoker and BBQ grill in it. The unique design of this grill has been re-engineered to make your grilling process most convenient. It has a venting system for controlling the heat inside the grill. Its unique capsule design makes the grilling process convenient. The four vents attached allow you to grill your food perfectly on slow or fast heat. You can make authenticated bbq, char grill your meat, grill the ribs, steaks, brisket, or burgers just by putting them on the grates and closing the lid.
Pros
- Designed for stability, the grill is 3 feet taller with a 300 sq. inch cooking area
- It has an ash collecting tray that you can remove easily for cleaning
- Four built-in vents control the temperature inside the grill
- Available in three styles and colors
Cons
- It is quite a heavy grill weighing about 60 pounds
Buying Guide: The Best Portable Grills
Grills are available in large varieties and usually differ with respect to sizes, fuel types, designs, or extra add-ons. When your grill is portable, it means that you can place it anywhere in your house, indoor or outdoor, or even take with you while you’re traveling. Most portable grills are lightweight, secure, and easy to carry. They are usually available in two types; charcoal grills or propane grills. Buying the right portable grill means you have to consider your grilling requirements and the type of grill you need. We have analyzed a few factors in this section – to guide you on what to look for in a portable grill and how most of the grillsin the market different from each other.
Important Things To Consider When Scouring Through the Anatomy of Different Grills
Fuel
There are thousands of grills available out there, so it’s a must that you narrow down your search to a few options. Fuel is one of the most important factors that you should look for when selecting a portable grill.
Figuring out the type of fuel that is affordable and easily available for you will help you out in deciding the type of grill you need! Your cooking style, the way you want to grill your food, and the convenience of operating the grill will help you determine the type of grill you need. We have analyzed the benefits of different fuels for portable grills.
Gas
Gas grills are very popular, and they use natural gas or liquid propane gas. Natural gas is relatively cheaper as compared to liquid propane, which is costly and requires refilling. You may access natural gas easily from your home gas pipeline.
On the other hand, a liquid propane tank is attached to the grill, and it supplies the gas to the grill.
Many grills that use gas as a fuel provide you with an option to use either of the two. Gas grills give you an opportunity to control the heat of your grill and how much heat you would like to distribute to the surface. You can simply sear your food on high heat or cook it on low heat by controlling the gas supply.
Charcoal
Charcoal is the traditional fuel for grilling and charcoal grills are widely used – they’re famous for giving a smoky flavor to the meat and veggies.When charcoal is burned to produce flame and heat, the smoke from the briquettes is created because of oil drips from the food itself.
They are affordable and highly portable! The best part? It allows you to be free from the hassle of connecting a gas line with your grill and give you the freedom of using the grill anywhere you please!
Pellets
These grills use wood pallets for producing heat. They’re usually smart grills so controlling the heat of the pellets is a breeze!
You get to grill your food that has a wood-fired taste and aroma. Plus, pellets are famous and a frequently opted choice for cooking delicious meat, especially when it is cooked on low heat! However, pellet grills are a comparatively more expensive option compared to charcoal or propane.
Size of portable grill
Once you have decided on the type of available fuel, you need to determine what size is suitable for you to grill your food. Small grills or medium-sized grills are enough to grill food for a small number of people. If you have to cook for more than 3-4 persons, you should buy grills with a wider surface area for grilling.
For most people, a grill size that is 400 to 500 square inch, is enough for grilling food. Small or medium-sized grills have two burners, while large grills come with more than four burners. Make sure to weigh in the space required to place your grill and its weight as well!
Additional features
When you think of the portability of a grill, it means you want something that you can easily carry with you! Whether you’re planning on going to the nearest hill station for a weekend, need a grill for the RV, or want something to accompany you on your staycation, a portable grill will be your best bud!
So when you’re looking for one, try to pitch in one or more cool features in exchange for a few extra bucks. Some grills come with a side burner that you can use for heating the sauces or any of your sides that you want to serve. Some portable grills have wheels that make transportation more convenient, etc.
People Also Asked
What should I look for when buying a portable grill?
When shopping for portable grills, the most important factor is the availability and affordability of the fuel that the grill needs. The second most imperative factors are the size and the type of grill. Make sure the grill comes with various temperature settings and ample space to grill. Last but not least, make sure the grill isn’t too heavy. That way, you'll be able to easily move it around.
Which type of portable grill is healthier for me?
Propane grills are considered the healthiest option, and they are safer to use than charcoal grills. Many people don't like when charcoal smoke enters their food because charcoal smoke emits carbon monoxide, which is unhealthy for the environment. Most propane grills and all electric grills come with the option to control the grill’s temperature. Charcoal grills, on the other hand, do not have this feature.
Which type of portable grill is best for me?
You'll need to assess what type of fuel options you are able to use when grilling. If you have easy access to gas, it is best to buy a gas grill. You can also buy liquid propane cylinders and place them next to your grill or connect them via a pipe. Charcoals are also easily available, though they must be preheated. You'll also end up with a mess of burned charcoals that will need to be cleaned when you're done grilling. Gas grills or electric grills are smokeless, so if you buy a grill like this, you can usually use them indoors.
