10 Best Portable Grills 2022: Charcoal, Propane, Electric and More While these features were impressive, the Pit Boss Grills had a harder time heating up that large cooking surface. Whereas other portable gas grills we tested reached temperatures above 500 degrees Fahrenheit, this grill could only maintain cooking surface temperatures in the mid 400s. That made it impossible to achieve a dark brown crust on our burger patty, though our burger was still juicy and tasty. Its large clamshell lid circulated heat well, resulting in evenly cooked chicken and veggie kabobs. Grill size isn't necessarily tied to value — in fact, the smallest grills in our review are among some of the most expensive. When considering carrying dimensions, grilling surface, and overall performance, the more average-sized grills tend to fall into a more reasonable price bracket. There is a broad range of prices in this category, but two of the lower-priced models stand out. The Cuisinart Grillster has the power you need to sear steaks, but due to its lower-end price point, it lacks the overall control of better grills. The compact form and affordable price make this grill an unbeatable option for the beach, camping, and more. If you’re heading out into the great outdoors, make sure to pack this versatile gas grill, which heated up quickly and cooked food evenly in our testing. The Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Portable Gas Grill is ideal for camping thanks to its unique design, which converts from a freestanding model into a tabletop model in seconds with telescoping legs. This portable grill comes with two drip trays, a gas hose/regulator, and a carrying strap, and the brand claims it can be set up in as little as 45 seconds . It boasts an electronic ignition system for quick and easy start-up, and the grates are even dishwasher-safe, making it easy to clean up after a fun day at the beach or park. The Big Green Egg is a Kamado-style cooker (Kamado is a Japanese word that roughly means "stove"), which makes it much more than a grill. Special mention should be given to the fact that it can be purchased as a tabletop model , or can easily be integrated into a separate wheelable, folding stand for enhanced parking lot convenience. The Petit Gourmet has telescoping legs that fold up neatly, and it's easy to carry in one hand. The Gonzo Grill, contained by its included nylon bag, requires two hands to carry but is a little less fiddly otherwise. It has some other nice design touches, like the ability to transition the grill from folded to cook-ready with one hand, and a lid that locks automatically for transport and storage. The Weber Traveler heated up quickly, and I met no resistance when turning food on the porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates. Of all the grills I tested, the Traveler was the easiest to set up and use. Like most portable gas grills, it uses small propane canisters, but it can also use a full-size propane tank with an adapter, so it’s backyard ready if you want to use it as your primary grill. There’s nothing else quite like the Nomad on the market today. The top and base combine to form an attractive prep surface that clips alongside the grill. The single 9,000-BTU burner is fueled by a 16-ounce propane canister that conveniently stores in the base. Camp Chef claims it puts out 12,000 BTU, but it’s uneven—our bread test revealed comparatively cool corners at the front edge, owing to the coverage of one burner. Otherwise, that’s a lot of heat available to a relatively small grill surface. In some respects, we found it was actually a bit too much heat. The performance of the George Foreman's electric grill plate is basically impervious to wind, and all of the food is protected beneath a gigantic lid. He then used their insights and his own expertise combined with market research to curate this list. Things worth considering when it comes to size are where you're going to use the grill, how many people you're cooking for, and how you'll get it there. Some of the grills we reviewed are best moved with a pickup truck, while others could fit in an SUV or in the corner of the trunk of a small car. If you're going to be cooking for a larger group you might want to consider one of the larger capacity grills reviewed here. The unique COBB design creates an oven heating effect when cooking with the Frying Pan and the Dome Lid closed. This allows for even circulation of heat and consistent temperature. A long lighter such as those used to light candles is recommended for those that don't have that feature. For the daring, a long match or a rolled-up piece of paper can reach the lighting point of the grill. It depends on whether you have a small cylinder (typically 1-pound) or a 20-pound tank, which are the type that you can find at home improvement or convenience stores for swap-out. A 1-pound cylinder is threaded to screw into the gas fitting on a stove; simply carefully match the threads and turn the cylinder until it is tight. The regulator screws directly onto the tank with the hose attaching to the regulator and the gas fitting on the stove. However, if you want to use a larger propane tank—such as a 20-pound tank—with a portable grill, you'll need an adapter and regulator. Most brands sell the appropriate attachment for their portable grill models. Electric grills save you from having to carry fuel, but you’ll need access to electricity to use them; they tend to be best for home use or RV cooking where you have an outlet available. Charcoal or propane grills require you to bring your fuel along, but they can be used anywhere, as long as an open flame is allowed. When it comes to portable gas grills, definitely consider the gas hook-up since you'll also need to bring that with you. If you don’t have space for a freestanding grill, you can still enjoy it with a tabletop version, like the Pit Boss Portable Gas Grill. 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. Even though the Jumbo Joe isn’t the smallest or most compact charcoal grill we tested, it is lightweight and easy to carry. The lid-locking metal handle tightly holds the grill together for transport and pulls double duty as a convenient lid holder. A heat shield keeps the plastic lid handle cool to the touch.