Portable BBQs Portable BBQ Grills What’s more, the stylish Venture is a social media post waiting to happen every time you fire it up. If you're cooking only one type of food that covers the entire grilling surface, then you will want to have consistent heat throughout. If you are cooking a variety of foods all at once, you might prefer different temperature zones. To test the distribution of heat across a grill, we grilled different food types in different corners of the grill. We easily could have fit six healthy-size burger patties on it. Preventing grease and fire contact is especially important since the cooking grates on portable gas grills sit very close to the heating element (usually a 1- to 1½-inch clearance). Steel inserts that sit over the flame ports can help, as can a cleverly designed grilling grate that channels grease away from the fire. This grill feels like Oklahoma Joe’s just hit one of their full-size grills with a shrink ray. It had the same solid construction, the same easy-to-work-with grates, and it even had a chimney vent on top that provided excellent temperature control. The charcoal basket was on adjustable hooks, so I could bring it closer or further from the grates depending on how hot I wanted them. The stainless-steel grill weighs two pounds, sets up in 30 seconds or less and is dishwasher safe. Remove the grilling grate to transform the portable grill into a fire pit in a snap and when the flames die down, throw it in the stylish carrying case to keep your backpack clean between meals. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a portable grill that’s easier to tote around town than the Weber Go-Anywhere Gas Grill. The top-rated design weighs 13.5 pounds and features push-start ignition as well as porcelain-enameled grates specifically designed to combat flare-ups while grilling. The weight of a grill brings the question of how much effort you want to put into moving your portable grill. The grills weighing in at over 50 pounds will require some assistance for you to move, unload, and stow safely, while the smaller models can be shuttled about with relative ease. The grill features a locking lid and pop-up stand that lifts the grill to a comfortable height without requiring insulation to protect a table or tailgate. Two side tables are convenient for holding tools, condiments, or plates. The push-button ignition system provides easy lighting, and the grill's cooking area is enough to feed a family or group without overcrowding. When the stand is folded, the wheels can still be used to maneuver the grill from the car to the cook site. These fees do not add to the price of purchase but they do help keep this site alive. Looking for the perfect gift for the BBQ and grilling enthusiasts in your life? Here’s our suggestion for platinum and gold medal-winning products at a variety of price points. Lesley Stockton is a senior staff writer reporting on all things cooking and entertaining for Wirecutter. The Cuisinart portable grill also runs on any small propane tank you can find at camping or hardware stores. One of the best portable grills for camping is the Coleman portable grill. It features a built-in stand, extendable wings, and three burners for temperature control. For each grill, we cooked a hamburger patty; chicken kabobs with chunks of boneless, skinless chicken breast; and vegetables that included squash, zucchini, onions, and bell peppers. Nickel plated grill grates, a porcelain coated base, and a removable grease drip tray make clean up easy. A locking lid and a convenient carry handle are perfect for when it's time to go. In our tests, the side shelf proved to be useful, as did the tool holders located on the front of the grill. Beneath the shelf, we found that the one-pound propane tank attached easily. Weber claims that the grill is designed to optimize gas usage, which we didn't actively test but we did notice anecdotally that it lasted longer than the other portable grills we tested.