Anyone who has barbecued for any length of time and using various BBQ cooking techniques knows that few things can top the efficiency and the control of a gas grill. Gas grills allow the homeowner to cook at precisely the right temperature they want to do without worrying about undercooking or burning their food. And using a propane grill also eliminates the mess that’s often associated with other cooking methods such as cooking with charcoal or wood.
Unfortunately, it’s always been difficult to move full-size gas grills from one location to another. The consumer had to pack up the tank and find a way to load the often bulky grill into the vehicle. Fortunately, that’s no longer the case thanks to portable gas grills. These grills are easy to move from one place to another and they cook just as well as their full-size cousins. And that’s why we’ve reviewed them.
Quick Summary of Best Portable Gas Grills
Reviews
Editor’s Choice: Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
The problem with many portable gas grills is that they’re not made up to the same standards as full-size grills. To make them lighter and easier to carry, they often make them out of thin materials that do nothing but ensure that the grill is not going to last very long. Fortunately, Weber had a different designed strategy when they decided to create this model. This is a grill that adheres to the same build quality as a larger grill but is easy for people to take from one location to the next.
The first thing that people will notice when they look at this grill is its shape. This model has a dome shape and has wings that act as areas to store food or grilling equipment. The lid of this unit has a built-in thermometer so the consumer always knows what’s happening on the inside of the grill, and it has stainless steel burners that deliver a consistent flame. It has a footprint of 15.5 by 40.9 inches and is 16.5-inches deep. And on the inside of the grill is a porcelain-enameled cast iron grate that’s simply a joy to cook on. This is truly a well-designed gas grill that’s cast aluminum.
Some of the other features that can be found on this grill include an infinite control burner valve and an easy-start electronic ignition system. It also has a removable catch pan and the whole grill comes fully assembled right out of the box. And because this grill is made by Weber, consumers can rest assured that they’re buying from a company that not only has plenty of experience designing grills but one that also stands behind their product. Before we conclude this review, we would like to say that although this grill is designed to sit on a table, the consumer can buy separately a kit that turns it into a small grill with wheels—perfect for patios or balconies.
- It cooks extremely well.
- It has a built-in lid thermometer.
- It has porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates.
- This grill costs more than some other models.
Also Recommended: Pit Boss Grills Two-Burner Portable Grill
There are quite a few things that we liked about this grill from Pit Boss Grills, and there is one thing that we think is an unfortunate flaw. Since we like to categorize our reviews into pros and cons, we’re going to start off with the basic features of this unit, move on to the pros of this unit and then conclude the review with what we didn’t like. That will ensure that all of our readers know the basics about this grill and no whether it’s something they might want to purchase or something that they might want to pass on. Let’s start with this grill’s dimensions. This grill has an assembled size of 23×16 inches and is approximately 19.5-inches. It weighs under 25-pounds, has a 36-inch LP hose attachment and it has 276 square inches of cooking area.
This model features a 430 stainless-steel body with a 304 stainless steel grid construction. It also features two 10,000 BTU burners that give the consumer the heat they need for cooking everything from fish to pork chops and ribs. And because it has a push and turns ignition system, the unit is easy to start. And the last pro we’d like to mention about this grill is that it has a built-in dome thermometer that allows the consumer to keep an eye on their cooking.
If there was one problem that we found with this grill, it’s the fact that the legs don’t lock into place. That means that if the consumer moves it around on the table, the legs of the grill will fold in. This can be an especially big problem if the person happens to be grilling when that happens. Although this problem is slight, it still requires the consumer to be extra careful with the grill, and that’s not something people should have to think about when they’ve put good money down on a grill.
- Features a stainless-steel body.
- Has two 10,000 BTU burners.
- This grill’s legs don’t lock into place.
Also Consider: Cuisinart Petit Gourmet Tabletop Gas Grill
Home grillers who’ve been on the lookout for a quality gas grill that not only does a job of cooking but is also easy enough to take anywhere might want to take a closer look at this model. This stainless steel tabletop gas grill is designed to be the tool that campers, RV enthusiasts, and anyone else who needs to cook on the go, the right tool for their job. This model features a 5,500 BTU burner that isn’t as powerful as the 10,000 BTU burners found on similar models, but is still big enough to allow people to cook the foods that they need to cook. This model also features an electric ignition that makes it easy to start and a temperature gauge that lets the consumer know at what temperature their food is cooking.
This grill is approximately 18.5x16x11.5-inches and comes with a stand that makes it easy to set up. Since this grill only weighs about 17-pounds, it’s also easy to carry from one location to the next. This makes it an ideal choice for tailgaters, anyone camping, or anyone trying to BBQ from their balcony. It features durable legs that can be folded up for easy storage and transport.
As we reviewed this product, we realized that we did like its design. It has a sleek body that seems like it would fit in just about anywhere. While we were disappointed that it could only provide 5,500 BTUs of heat, we still feel that it provided enough heat for most of the cooking jobs we needed it to do. Sure, a 10,000 BTU or two 10,000 BTU burners would be nice, but for most people, a single 5,500 burner is enough to get the job done. And that’s precisely what this grill offers to anyone using it. It’s simply a high-quality grill that’s portable and should provide the user with everything they need, except the propane, of course, to cook meals on the go.
- It has 145-inches of cooking space.
- It has a nice looking design.
- It doesn’t produce enough heat.
A Guide To Buying The Perfect Gas Grills
Once someone has looked over gas grill reviews, they might come to the conclusion that they need more information and that’s perfectly okay. We consider ourselves to be experts on the subject, and even we have to do a little bit of extra research to find the best portable gas grills available. That’s also why we’ve decided to go ahead and put together a buying guide on the subject. This guide should give all of our readers the information they need to make the best choice possible. With that said, let’s get this grill party started with a brief list of the benefits of these grills.
The Benefits Of A Portable Gas Grill
Have you ever wondered why you should buy an outdoor portable gas grill? Well, if you have, then below are some reasons for purchasing one right now.
- They’re great for people living in homes with limited space.
- They’re a great option for campers or people traveling in an RV.
- They don’t take up a lot of storage space.
- They’re good for people who BBQ infrequently.
- They’re good for taking over to a friend’s house for a BBQ or a tailgate.
Buying The Best Portable Gas Grill
Okay, let’s get into the meat and bones of this article and find out what people should look for when buying a new portable gas grill. If our readers keep the following points in mind, they should have no problem finding a grill that suits their needs quite well.
How The Grill Is Constructed
The first thing that the consumer should think about is how the grill is constructed. A quality grill is made from high-quality steel, preferably stainless steel. While there are some grills made out of cast iron, it’s not a good choice for a portable grill because it tends to be a lot heavier. The grill grate can of course be made from cast-iron, and if it is, be sure to choose one that’s coated with a protective porcelain-enamel coating.
Consider The Grill’s Burners
The next thing that the consumer is going to want to think about is the grill’s burners. The grill should have one or two burners that are capable of delivering at least 5,500 BTU of heat. That’s sufficient to handle the heat production needs of most people. Some of the top tier models produce even more heat than 5,500 BTU and are closer to providing 10,000 BTU of heat for cooking. In our opinion, the more heat the grill can produce the better.
Consider The Grill’s Lid
The next thing you should look at is the grill’s lid. The lid should open and close easily. Some grills have a built-in thermometer that allows the cook to see what temperature their food is cooking, but not all of them do, so if it’s important make sure that you get one with a thermometer. Another thing that the consumer might want to think about is whether the lid has a lock on it. Although a lid lock is not needed, it does make transporting the grill a lot easier.
Consider An Electric Ignition System
Although this feature should be standard on most gas grills, it’s quite possible that there are a few out there that have to be lit by hand, so let us state right here that an electric ignition system makes the grill a whole lot easier to use.
Consider The Type Of Cylinders Used
It’s also important to find out what type of propane cylinders the grill use. Some models are only designed to be used with either 14 or 16-ounce LP cylinders, while others use the 20-pound canisters. So make sure if the grill you’re considering uses the type of fuel that you are going to need to use. For some grills, it’s possible to buy an adapter that changes the type of canister that can be used with it, but be sure that it does before you set down your hard-earned cash.
Consider The Size Of The Cooking Area
Another thing that the consumer is going to want to consider is how much cooking space the grill provides. As a general rule, anything below 150 square inches is probably too small to be useful for anything but the smallest of meals. On the other hand, grills that are above 150+ square inches should be perfect for most people.
All that has to be done is for you to balance the portability of the grill with the size of the cooking area. If the grill is too big, there will be plenty of cooking space but it will be difficult to transport. On the other hand, if the grill is too small, it will be easier to move, but won’t give you the cooking area you need, so balance it well to get the grill that fits your needs.
