As you’d expect from such a powerhouse, this grill gets super hot and produces an “impeccably crispy” crust during our steak test. Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her 6+ years of experience as a product tester, she’s reviewed hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as PEOPLE, The Spruce, Homes & Gardens, and more. Camryn is also the proud owner of a small homestead in Rhode Island, where she spends her spare time gardening, tending her many animals, and working through a never-ending list of home improvement projects. She’s an expert on all things home, including kitchen appliances, grills, and other cooking gadgets. These grills require open air for proper ventilation, as they can give off carbon monoxide.
Finally, there are other small, shallow charcoal grills that have a similar design to many portable gas grills. These typically perform the best in terms of portability, and they’re one of the best options for tailgating. Our tester praised the grill for its light weight, ease of cleaning, and heat capabilities. They particularly loved the cutting board feature which came in handy when they were grilling at a lake and had no table surfaces nearby to prepare food. The outside of the grill doesn’t get too hot, so you can actually place it on the ground without worry of burning leaves or other “kindling-like” materials.
We were impressed by how easy it was to cook with either direct or indirect heat. The charcoal tray is adjustable, hanging from a ladder rack that can quickly raise or lower the coals as needed. Minor faults aside, this “exceedingly beginner friendly” is “cute, functional, and just a delight to hold.” It is a super option for the fair-weather griller, or first-timer concerned with aesthetics. It’s also undeniably great for camping, due to its efficient packability and included cutting board. I live just outside London and have a tiny amount of patio space where I reviewed these grills. I’ve ranked each one based on how well I think it performed, its features, and value for money.
Our products, such as the Weber Premium 14-Inch Smokey Joe, which is a powerhouse despite its compact nature, is ideal for smaller outdoor spaces that can’t accommodate the larger counterparts. With porcelain-enameled layering and triple nickel plating, weber genesis 2 it’s backed by a 10-year warranty and designed to thrive in nearly all outdoor environments. For the charcoal options, I also smoked ribs, pork, and brisket, If you’re planning to smoke, I highly recommend investing in some kind of thermometer system.
It earned points for usability, with testers commenting on the ease of setup, propane tank attachment, and lighting. It’s also pleasantly easy to clean, thanks to foil inserts that can be used to line the removable drip tray. Designed to be used on a stable outdoor weber genesis 2 surface, portable grills take up little to no floor space while in use. They provide enough cooking space to feed a few people, and you can use them to batch-cook food, too. If you use your grill less than once a month, it’s worth buying a compact charbroiler.