Portable Grills Grills Both Weber gas grills I tested were effective and easy to cook on, but the nod goes to the Traveler here for its passionate embrace of portability. When folded up, the legs become a handle that you can pull behind you as if you’re walking with a nice roller bag. The legs on one side of the grill become a sort of handle when the grill is folded up; you can walk with it, kind of as if you’re pulling a nice roller bag. Before moving, extinguish the coals, cover with the lid and let it cool before engaging the locking latches to move or clean. When using your grill for the first time, the paint on the outside of the grill may change color slightly as a result of the high temperatures. If you store your grill outside, close the top vent to keep rain out. Like most of Weber's grills, the Q1200 has a disposable drip tray below the grill, which makes clean-up much easier than some portable grills with drip trays that need to be washed out periodically. We especially liked that the shelves that were big enough to hold tools, plates and cutting boards. Portable grills are smaller than typical backyard grills, but they still come in a range of sizes. And since the spacious firebox fits a full chimney starter’s worth of coals, you can get two or three rounds of grilling per load. The Char-Broil Portable Grill2Go X200 Gas Grill is a solid compact grill for remote cookouts because it’s rugged, lightweight, and easy to carry. The Grill2Go latches tightly and keeps the lid, firebox, and grate from jostling during transport. Do not lean over the charcoal grill when lighting, or while the coals are hot. The grill must be must be placed on heat-resistant surfaces, such as brick, stone, concrete or asphalt. Do not submerse the electric heating element, the power cord or control in water. Many HOA or other property regulations prohibit the use of open flame grills which can cause dangerous flare-ups and spread to other units on the property. Portable charcoal and gas grills are both open-flame cooking methods. A Traeger wood pellet grill is the best choice for tailgating because it will give you superior cooking results and is safer than gas or charcoal. Portable charcoal grills are, for the most part, just smaller versions of backyard charcoal grills. The smaller size means they weigh less and are easier to transport. We love that the lid, which has two vents that stay cool enough to adjust during cooking, stays put on the grill in the open position and has a large, oversized handle for easy check-ins. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. What better occasion to "force" a spring picnic than grill testing. A family event, comparing grills and eating good food in March in Drictor, Wydaho. The Solaire carries cleanly and easily like a small suitcase. Models like this are easy to carry into the park to find your ideal picnic spot. With any grill, cleaning them before transporting them will lead to less mess. Among the charcoal models, the Weber Go-Anywhere scores top marks for control. Thanks to a relatively deep basin, we were able to build and stoke a substantial volume of coals to achieve the exact heat we desired. The best time to buy a portable grill is right now while the summer is heating up. For our favorite portable grills, we consider the grill's size and durability to be easily packable and withstand the weather. In our testing, we grilled burgers, hot dogs, and bone-in chicken on the GoBQ, all of which culminated with the expected, delicious results. While the standard fare was quite easy, the chicken cooked over indirect heat required a little more manipulation of the charcoal, which wanted to settle to the middle of the basket. My only complaint about the Venture is that the grease tray is small and therefore prone to spilling if you aren't careful when you slide it out. Despite that, this is a clever, fun, well-designed grill that's perfect for searing on the go. Keep in mind that this is a little different than normal grilling, since it cooks from the top and bottom, which means your food cooks faster. Make sure you preheat your grill until the green light clicks. This will ensure that your food doesn't stick to the grill plates.