I’ll run through some of the main features of this grill, before listing what I liked and what I didn’t like, and then get into the nitty-gritty of what it was like cooking on this grill. Although a bit too large to be considered seriously for camping, the Napoleon also scored high in packability and transport—it collapses “like a stroller,” and has large, hefty wheels. A clip on the lid keeps everything in place in this beach- and apartment-friendly grill. After testing models for their portability, ease of use, safety, and (of course) ability to grill great food, we have favorites from Cuisinart, Weber, and more. Lesley Stockton is a senior staff writer reporting on all things cooking and entertaining for Wirecutter.
The lack of airflow meant we couldn’t keep the coal bed lit throughout a single cook, leaving us with pale burgers and undercooked chicken. We appreciate the stable weber gas grill tripod base, which keeps the grill steady on uneven ground. And we give the Jumbo Joe points for having an ash catcher, even though it’s just a flimsy aluminum pan.
And small fold-out side tables on either side are convenient for keeping grill tools within reach. Look for construction that will stand up to the elements, especially if it will live outside when not in use. Sturdiness is a big factor for safety and sanity when considering a tabletop or pop-up model. A grill that rocks and wobbles will provide significant challenges when you attempt to cook on it.
These helped keep grease and drippings away from the flames while still allowing ambient heat to brown between grill marks. In our tests, burgers from the Q 1200 had the most seared surface area of all the burgers we grilled, and more browning means better flavor. It also has a very generously-sized usable cooking area, making it ideal for grilling for a crowd (we’re thinking it will be popular with tailgators). It earned points for usability, with testers commenting on the ease of setup, propane tank attachment, and lighting.
Small enough to grill on-the-go, with enough grilling space to execute an entire meal. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Weber has a great reputation for reliability, and when we surveyed Wirecutter readers about their grills, Weber owners were overwhelmingly satisfied with their choice. As long as you clean your grill properly and shield it from the elements, it should last many years.
This 20-pound propane grill folds up like a suitcase, and you can carry it with one hand. Though this 30-pound grill takes some strength to lift, its roomy handles make it comfortable for one person to carry. There are a few models to choose from and we’ve got a guide that looks at the most popular Weber Q1200 vs the Q2200. Even the largest model it is smaller and more compact than the Traveler, you can purchase a foldable cart. After that, I loaded the grill up with bratwurst links to see where the heat zones were.
While it’s 52 pounds, it’s easy to move for such a heavy grill, thanks to its stand and wheels. Our tests showed it to be relatively consistent in its temperature, and while it didn’t give the best caramelization, the foods we cooked did have a satisfying crunch to their texture and good grill marks. Senior staff writers Tim Heffernan and Lesley Stockton spent 16 hours testing portable grills for this guide. They did so on the heels of testing full-size gas and charcoal grills, as well as grill accessories.
Naturally, the hot dogs and beef hamburgers were done before the turkey burgers. This is where having multiple burners would weber portable grill have been a nice feature. It would have allowed me to keep the food warm while the turkey burgers cooked at a higher temp.
Even after loading the Jumbo Joe grill with a full chimney starter’s worth of red-hot embers (about 90 briquettes), we could still tamp down the temperature to medium heat. We couldn’t do that with the 14-inch Weber Smokey Joe Charcoal Grill, where the single vent and the lack of airflow caused the coals to extinguish while we were cooking. For one, the Grill2Go X200 has a maximum 9,500 Btu output, versus the Weber Q 1200’s 8,500 Btu. When we preheated it for five minutes on high, the Grill2Go X200 reached over 600 °F, while the Weber Q 1200 never broke 525 °F.