In the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Kitchen Appliance and Culinary Innovation Lab, we have been testing grills for over a decade. More than 60 grills have been tested, including charcoal grills, gas grills as well as pellet grills. As part of our regular grill testing, we’ve also tried a variety of portable grills. We use the same testing method and ingredients every time we test to ensure comparable results. Our tests are updated as necessary to keep them current and up-to-date with the latest trends.
We tested a total 10 portable grills side-by-side. This was done using our standard grill testing protocol. Each grill was to be cooked one steak and four chicken tenders. These tests enable us to assess the cooking abilities of the grills in terms power, cook time and flare-up prevention. To give an overview of how each grill heats, we also tested bread on each grill.
We also test performance and rate each grill based on ease of use. Stability is more important than size. Our portable grills were also easy to transport.
Here are some things to consider when looking for the best portable grill.
Type of fuel: It is important to choose whether to use charcoal or gas as your fuel. While gas is easier to prepare and use, it can be more difficult to run out. The grill’s output, temperature, and how long the tank lasts will all affect how long they last. Charcoal is more difficult to ignite and stack, and can be messy to clean up. However, it has a wonderful, smokey flavor that many people enjoy.
When it comes to portable grills, size is a crucial consideration. The larger the cooking area, the better. However, this can make the grill heavier, which is a consideration for portability. You can cook more at once if you have a larger cooking grate. However, if portability is important to you, you should choose a smaller or foldable size.
Stability is essential, especially for portable grills. The picks we reviewed were all sturdy and did not move during testing and cooking. We omitted the ones that did, even though they were lightweight and portable, because of safety hazards.
Lid: Lids are essential for foods that require quick cooking. However, not all of our top picks have lids. Even though they took longer, the ones with lids still gave good results.
Good Housekeeping is a trusted brand.
Nicole Papantoniou, the director of Good Housekeeping Institute’s Kitchen Appliance and Culinary Innovation Lab oversees all aspects of kitchen appliance testing and content. She has tested at least 35 grills so far for Good Housekeeping. This is her third season. She is a trained cook, recipe developer, and a passionate grill enthusiast. Summer is her favorite season because she can test one of her many grills every night.
