And to round off your BBQ party in style, why not get creative and try some fresh grilled fruit for a special dessert your friends and family won’t soon forget. With 189 square inches of cooking surface, this grill was not the biggest on the list, but it’s plenty big enough to cook burgers, chicken, fish, and veggies for a group of six hungry people. It’s also nice-looking with flare-out trays to hold your plates and grilling weber bbq tools, plus an ergonomic design. Despite its sturdy build, the Q-1200 is still light and limber enough for a camping grill to take on a camping trip or for one person to carry with relative ease. This grill, like all on the list, can use any small propane tank sold at most camping or hardware stores. In the realm of larger portable propane grills, the Coleman Roadtrip 285 is a cut above the rest when it comes to output power.
Two main complaints we have about this grill are that it heats somewhat unevenly when the lid is open and that it’s tough to clean. The first issue can be solved pretty easily by just leaving the lid closed while you’re cooking, especially at high temperatures, but the second one is kind of annoying. You’re not supposed to remove the grate to clean it, and its small holes catch a lot of food bits, so there’s a lot of scrubbing involved.
Porcelain-enameled lid and base retain heat for consistent temperature and even cooking. The finish also prevents rusting, cracking, and peeling while withstanding high grilling temps. While the Traveler does fold up easily and can be dragged around without too much effort, it is still rather heavy pounds to be exact — especially with the grill grates inside. I personally wouldn’t want to drag or carry this grill on a hike or even a long walk.
However, when it’s time to lift it into the trunk at the end of the night, you might need a hand. Frequent tailgaters, beachgoers, and campers can all benefit from having a gas grill they can take on the go. You don’t need access to a kitchen, outlet, or bags of charcoal to get a delicious, warm meal going. And it’s a convenient, compact alternative for anyone who doesn’t have that much yard space to call their own.
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). Portable gas grills are also usually easier and more intuitive to set up, use, and keep clean, so they’re great for beginners, or anyone who doesn’t want to invest too much effort into cooking a few burgers. Porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grates are best at searing foods, though cast iron does add an extra 5 to 10 pounds to the total weight of a grill. We also prefer an open grate design that allows ambient heat from the firebox to brown the areas in between the grill marks. But portable grills are generally not as versatile as a full-size grill. Our picks fit about half as much food as their full-size counterparts (six burgers versus 12) and aren’t ideal for large cuts of meat that require slow or indirect cooking, such as roasts or pork shoulder.
Inconsistency between different areas of the grilling surface made it difficult to regulate heat and use certain grills successfully. Starting with ten portable gas grills in the first round, we assessed how easy it was to assemble each appliance and then how easy they were to lift and move. Next, we looked at each grill’s temperature range, noting how long it took to heat to different levels. Lastly, we tested how easy it was to clean the grill according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you’re not the camping, beachgoing, or apartment-dwelling type, you may see little value in a portable gas grill.