Temperature control tends to run away if this grill still has room to heat, i.e., it has yet to achieve its maximum temperature. Still, our testers were able to control the heat of this grill better than other models. As a portable gas weber kettle bbq grill that will likely appeal to novice cooks and experienced chefs alike, the accessibility of the Q 1200 is a major selling point. The battery-powered electronic ignition is the same you will find on a high-end, full-size grill.
Plus, cooking with charcoal gives your food that smoky flavor that you can’t get from a gas flame. The Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill 18″ is the only charcoal portable we tried that can sear and cook foods about as well as a full-size backyard grill. It’s a good choice if you like cooking with charcoal or don’t want to spend weber kettle bbq a lot, but it’s less convenient than gas, especially when you’re on the go. The Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 Portable Gas Grill is a solid compact grill for remote cookouts because it’s rugged, lightweight, and easy to carry. It’s not as good as our Weber picks at searing food, but it heats evenly and is easy to use.
Learn more, find a participating store, and enroll at TrueValueRewards.com. After that, I loaded the grill up with bratwurst links to see where the heat zones were. You can do this same test with bread, but I’m not much for carbs. Even if you clean the grill thoroughly afar each use I would still recommend the Cargo Protector cover. There’s a red release lever that you have to pull to be able to unfold the legs.
It would have allowed me to keep the food warm while the turkey burgers cooked at a higher temp. As I spent 6 weeks testing and cooking on the grill, I was impressed by the thoughtful design of the grill. Every feature has been added to enhance your entire experience, from transport to grilling. The Traveler’s scissor-legged, foldable design and larger cooking surface aim to solve those issues. Setup took less than 20 minutes, but instructions are very detailed and require close attention to succeed on the first try.
Ace Rewards members are eligible to receive free delivery on orders of $50 or more. The Dyna-Glo scored highly for performance but was edged out for Best Value by its weight (40 pounds) and a more complicated assembly process that could require a second person to accomplish easily. This is not a comprehensive list of all the models we’ve considered. Weber has a great reputation for reliability, and when we surveyed Wirecutter readers about their grills, Weber owners were overwhelmingly satisfied with their choice.
A temperature dial lets you control the heat as easily and quickly as on a kitchen range. The durable painted cast-aluminum material is easy to clean and requires minimal maintenance. I love cooking outdoors over live fire and smoke whatever the weather, and I own over 30 grills and smokers of all varieties that I frequently cook on to produce epic food. For a more premium, professional grilling and smoking experience on a portable grill, check out the Napoleon PRO285X-BK TravelQ Portable Gas Grill.
If you don’t have the space or budget for a full-size grill, they might also be the best option for your backyard. After grilling 65 burgers, 30 pounds of chicken, and 25 pounds of bratwurst on nine portable grills, we have recommendations for both gas and charcoal options. The highlight of the Q 1200 is its porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates. This is the same material that is known as the signature of top-quality cookware like Le Creuset. 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).
If you’re cooking for more than 10 people you may have to grill in batches but for a portable grill, 320 is more than suitable to cook at least 10 burgers or pieces of chicken at once. Weber says it holds 15 burgers at once but I suspect that would be a tight fit. Weber’s warranty covers most of the hardware—including the lid, firebox, burners, cooking grates, and plastic components—for five years.