Petite and sure-footed, the Grillster is the perfect companion for a picnic for two, no matter the location. If you love the size and portability of this grill but would rather cook over charcoal, it’s worth comparing the Grillster directly against the similarly-sized Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill. If you’re interested in a tabletop grill—one with shorter legs that can be set up on a picnic table or bench—you can’t do better than the Weber Q1200 Gas Grill. It’s incredibly well-constructed and sturdy, thanks to its bowed legs. Its strong, intense flame combined with cast iron grates produced one the best sears in our test, although it’s heavier than other models we tested and slightly awkward to carry.
Since the base is included, you won’t need to hunt for a safe cooking surface or crouch down to flip burgers, but it requires a little more storage space and room in your trunk. The NOMAD portable grill sports a modern design, folding together like a briefcase for carrying, with heat dissipation weber bbq in mind to keep the exterior cool while cooking. Like the PKGO, the NOMAD can function as a closed grill, or you can use each side independently as a hibachi-style cooker, doubling the cooking space. They are slightly domed for strength and can invert for use as a vegetable cooker basket.
Like the Q above, Weber’s Traveler uses a single burner that wraps around the entire bottom of the grill. That’s covered by a two-piece cast iron grill grate that’s solid where it runs over the burner, which acts as a heat diffuser and keeps the burner from getting covered in grease. Speaking of grease, it has a slide-out grease trap that’s easy to empty. It also has a built-in thermometer that’s reasonably accurate, but I still suggest getting a separate instant-read thermometer. The Nomad ships with a single grate, giving you 212 square inches of cooking space, slightly less than the Jumbo Joe above.
If you plan to keep the grill outside, it’s worth investing in a bonnet cover to protect it from the elements. You can also get a collapsible cart for it if you don’t have a table that will work. Be sure to clean your grill thoroughly to keep it working as long as possible. If you use the grill only occasionally, you may need to wipe down the burner tubes to make sure they light effectively. In general, Weber’s grills have a great reputation for performance and longevity. When we surveyed over 1,000 Wirecutter readers about their grills, a large majority said they owned a Weber.
Plus, it’s the perfect size to carry, and you can leave the propane tank out of it until you’re ready to cook to make for even lighter and easier transport. Just because weber charcoal grill you want a portable grill doesn’t mean you have to settle for mediocre functionality. In terms of performance, this grill scored extremely well in our tests.
For tabletop models, we like the Weber Q 1200 for its ease of use and heat management, which make it equally effective for cooking a burger or vegetables as it is for cooking more delicate items, like fish. For standing models, we recommend the Masterbuilt Portable Charcoal Grill and Smoker. We found the Weber Traveler weber charcoal grill intuitive and approachable — it’s a dream to assemble, light, and use. With a similar burner and grate design to the Q 1200 but a larger cooking area and an upgrade to 13,000 BTUs, the Traveler is better suited to family-size groups. The stand is easy to operate, with clear indicators for raising and lowering it.
We especially appreciated the easy cleanup afterward thanks to the smooth cooking surface. The Weber Q 1200 is another solid model in this category due to the adjustability of its control knob and a sound electronic ignition system. We appreciate the naturally non-stick porcelain-enameled grilling surface and that the cast iron grates distribute a consistent temperature across the entire cook surface. The value of your portable grill depends on your cooking needs and your intended usage. A basic, more affordable grill might get you through a backyard bash, but a more expensive product will tend to last longer, even under more rigorous or extensive use.