Portable charcoal grills may seem like a modern convenience, but cooking food on a live fire reckons back to our origins. The smell of the food charring to perfection on the grill makes everyone’s mouth water. While many of us cook grilled foods in our backyards, the fun need not be limited to our home. With the invention of portable bbq grills, anyone can start up a fire wherever they may be. Practically any outdoor space is fair game for grilling, as portable charcoal grills are small and compact in nature. Simply find a spot of bare dirt, concrete or asphalt to set the grill on and you’re ready to go.
Grills such as these are very distinct in their appearance. Most have a lid and base section which comes in multiple colors such as red, black or blue. Plastic handles on the sides and top allow for easy carrying. Nylon, a form of plastic, is often used in these handles, as it stays cool to the touch even when the fire’s hot. The grilling grates are made of steel and can be removed for cleaning of old ash. Ash collection bins on the base capture any messy residue for quick disposal. After all, nobody wants a charred mess on their clothes.
One might think that the effectiveness of small portables charcoal grill would not match that of larger ones. In fact, there is no discernible difference in food quality when the grill is used correctly. Users light up a pile of coal and light it until red-hot. The charcoal creates a super hot environment within the chamber which can be altered by moving the coals around. Experienced grillers are able to sear, grill and warm their way to edible delights. Adjustable air vents on the top and bottom of many models allow you to change the heat levels on a whim. The Weber Go Anywhere grill is one of the most popular small grills around.
If you love to camp and cook outdoors, then you will appreciate a grill that is portable and does the job well. Whether you are looking for a grill to take camping, tailgating or picnicking here are some that will perform admirably.
The Weber Q 300 is the latest in the Q series; however, it may be better suited for those campers with an RV. It is a super-sized portable grill that may be designed more for someone with limited space at home than for someone that needs to transport their grill. It weighs a whopping 83 pounds all together, so it may not be ideal for a picnic. It does provide you with indirect cooking abilities and as much space as a small, traditional gas grill. It has a 393 square-inch porcelain-coated, cast-iron cooking grate, 21,700 BTUs for two tubular stainless steel burners, push button ignition, two side work tables and a full sized stand included. This is a great portable grill but may be more appropriate for apartment dwellers than camping or tailgating.
Much more well-matched for campers with limited space is the Weber Q-120; a small table top grill that offers great outdoor cooking. This portable grill is a master of design; it packs up small with the side tables folding into the grill body yet is large enough to cook several steaks at once. It uses a standard 14 ounce propane tank, that is not included, and has a 189 square-inch porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grate that makes it seem like a big grill. The only disadvantages to this grill is it’s rather steep price ($200) and it is heavy for its size. All in all, this is one of the best portable grills available and it has the Weber name so you know it is a quality grill.
Another portable grill that is ideal for camping is the Fire and Ice Thermos Grill by Char-Broil. This unit is not only a grill but a cooler as well. The grill head pops up on demand while the 10 gallon Thermos cooler acts like a base giving you the option of taking not only the grill but all the food in one unit. This is a gas fired grill with both open grill grate and a griddle section letting you not only grill burgers but cook up some eggs too. It has a 312 square-inch cooking surface and a standard height of 32 inches and can be adapted to standard 20 pound propane tanks. The disadvantages to this model are that it is hard to light in windy conditions and it weighs about 66 pounds, so you may be limited where you can take it.
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