This larger version of our pick offers more cooking area and higher heat output. We enlisted fresh bratwurst links to gauge each grill’s ability to handle a grate full of fatty meat. Food grilled over charcoal has that coveted backyard-grill smoky flavor.
The Cuisinart CCG-100 GrateLifter Charcoal Grill has a convertible cooking grate that lifts when you open the lid for easier access to the coal bed. Levers on the sides of the grill adjust to keep the grate in the up or down position. During our tests, one side of the grate would get stuck in weber q a different position than the other about a third of the time, forcing us to wrestle with hot metal. While the grill is hot, scrape the debris and stuck-on food from the hot grates with a wire grill brush. We prefer to do this when the grill is preheating and the embers are their hottest.
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. Nevertheless, once we sorted out how to strategically set the charcoal, we could reliably create an indirect heat zone. The GoBQ grill is a great option for traveling, tailgating, or even for folks with small apartments, given its ease of packing, stowing, and carrying. Pellet grills tend to cost more than gas or charcoal grills because they use onboard computers with expensive components to fuel the fire. This creates set-it-and-forget-it functionality—you don’t need to fiddle with dials or vents to reach the desired temperature.
Here at Camping World, our selection of portable camping grills in assorted styles lets you bring the flavors you love on the road. From compact griddles to tailgating grills, our products ensure you don’t need to sacrifice flavor and food quality for portability and convenience. Browse top brands such as Coleman, Blackstone, Camp Chef, and more.
Our customer service reps are real people offering great service, backed by 8 weeks of hands-on training with all of our products. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Popular Mechanics participates in various weber charcoal grill affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Brad Ford has spent most of his life using tools to fix, build, or make things. Some folks mentioned having trouble with assembly and misaligned parts in verified purchase reviews.