PRODUCT | RATING | ||
---|---|---|---|
Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill | 4.7 | Check Price | Read More |
Coleman RoadTrip LXE Portable Gas Grill | 4.2 | Check Price | Read More |
Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit Gourmet Portable Gas Grill | 4.0 | Check Price | Read More |
Blackstone Tabletop Grill | 4.0 | Check Price | Read More |
Smoke Hollow 205 Stainless Steel Tabletop Propane Gas Grill | 3.8 | Check Price | Read More |
Royal Gourmet PD1300 Portable Propane Gas Grill Griddle | 4.2 | Check Price | Read More |
Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman’s Grill | 4.6 | Check Price | Read More |
Nothing beats enjoying the company of your friends while indulging in the delicious flavors of grilled steak or burgers. There are several aspects to consider while choosing the best grill for camping. The good news is that there are several models available on the market so you can definitely find an appliance that suits your needs.
In this guide, you’ll find tips about buying the best grill for outdoor use as well as reviews of 7 of the best models on the market.
Contents
How to Choose the Best Grill for Camping?
Camping grills come in all shapes and sizes and this can make the buying process more difficult. However, there are a few aspects to take into consideration when you’re shopping for a portable grill for your next camping trip.
Fuel
Camping grills are either fueled by charcoal or propane. Each one of them has its pros and cons. Charcoal produces that smoky flavor that people enjoy when they’re eating a steak or grilled chicken. Coal is affordable and gets hot fast. It’s a bit fun to work with, but it’s not as easy to ignite, especially if you’re a beginner.
Propane comes in cylinders that you can pick on the go. It’s easier to ignite and definitely cleaner. All you have to do is to open the valve and use a lighter or the ignition system to get your grill ready. However, caution is needed when dealing with propane tanks as they should be kept away from heat. It’s also more expensive than coal.
Cooking Surface
The size of the cooking surface will limit your options when you’re cooking for a bigger party. Some models are designed to accommodate enough food for several people, while smaller and more portable models will only allow you to cook a few burgers and some veggies for two or three.
If the surface features a non-stick coating it will be easier to use and clean. Stainless steel surfaces resist rust, while cast iron surfaces will provide excellent heat retention.
Portability
Two factors will affect the portability of your camping grill; the weight and the design. A lightweight model isn’t necessarily less sturdy, but it won’t be big enough to cook food for a group of ten.
Some models feature collapsible legs or a compact design that can be easily moved around. If your grill has shelves or legs, they should be easily foldable to facilitate storing and transportation.
How We Chose the Best Grill for Camping
Certain factors will play a significant role while choosing the best camping grill. We decided these features to be: weight, material, cooking surface, price and a rating out of 5.
PRODUCT | WEIGHT | MATERIAL | COOKING SURFACE | PRICE | RATING |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill | 18 lbs. | Steel | 350 sq. in. | $ | 4.7 |
Coleman RoadTrip LXE Portable Gas Grill | 48 lbs. | Chrome | 285 sq. in. | $$ | 4.2 |
Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit Gourmet Portable Gas Grill | 17 lbs. | Steel | 160 sq. in. | $$ | 4.0 |
Blackstone Tabletop Grill | 25 lbs. | Stainless Steel | 260 sq. in. | $$ | 4.0 |
Smoke Hollow 205 Stainless Steel Tabletop Propane Gas Grill | 20 lbs. | Stainless Steel | 205 sq. in. | $ | 3.8 |
Royal Gourmet PD1300 Portable Propane Gas Grill Griddle | 30 lbs. | Cast Iron | 325 sq. in. | $ | 4.2 |
Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman’s Grill | 27 lbs. | Cast Iron | 156 sq. in. | $ | 4.6 |
7 Best Grills for Camping
These small and portable appliances will let you cook a tasty meal when you’re away from home. If you’re looking for a hassle-free camping grill, then one or more of these units will definitely suit you.
Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill
Features:
- Compact and lightweight design.
- Lid holder.
- Temperature control.
This steel charcoal grill is an excellent choice for tailgating and family camping trips. With a cooking surface of more than 350 square inches, this can be used to prepare a delicious dinner for a big group. The lid and bowl are porcelain-coated to prevent rusting and the lid handle features a heat shield to protect your hands from burns. It weighs 18 pounds.
The Tuck-N-Carry lid lock also acts as a lid holder so you don’t have to place your lid on the ground. The lid lock stabilizes it to retain the heat for cooking your chicken, burgers, and steaks. There are dampers so you can control the temperature while cooking and an ashcan for easy cleanup when you’re done.
When you close the vents, the grill will automatically extinguish the charcoal. When open, they guarantee a proper airflow for even cooking. However, the grill wires are spaced far from each other so some of the charcoal falls through. Moreover, the round shape isn’t the most portable design.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight.
- Lid-lock to retain the heat.
- Top and bottom vents.
- Ashcan for easy cleanup.
Cons
- Round design is a bit challenging to carry around and store.
- Charcoal tends to fall through the wires.
Coleman RoadTrip LXE Portable Gas Grill
Features:
- Propane grill.
- Versatile cooking tops.
- Various colors.
Propane grills are perfect for camping and tailgating because they’re easy and fast to set up. This grill provides 285 square inches of cooking surface with 20,000 BTUs using two burners. You can swap the cast iron grates with other stove or grill grates to cook any meal on the go, making it the best tailgate grill. Moreover, there are different color options to choose from.
You light it using the instastart feature, so there’s no need to carry a lighter or matches. It features two side shelves to prep your food and hold your cooking utensils. It’s a good choice for outdoor use because it folds to an almost flat design. However, it’s a bit heavy, weighing around 48 pounds. There’s also a removable grease tray for easy cleaning at the end of the day.
Caution is required while grilling your food because the hot spots get too hot. You can adjust the strength of the flame but you can’t control the temperature. Moreover, the carry handle might break if you use it to drag your grill around.
Pros
- Collapsible design for easy storage and transport.
- Durable cast iron grates that can be changed.
- Easy cleaning.
- Side tables for food prepping.
Cons
- Hot and cold spot that might prevent even cooking.
- Carry handle isn’t durable enough.
Cuisinart CGG-180 Petit Gourmet Portable Gas Grill
Features:
- Telescoping stand.
- Integrated lid lock.
- Portable design.
Setting this grill up and storing it away takes a few seconds. The telescoping stand can be adjusted for the perfect height or removed if you want to use it as a tabletop grill for camping. When not in use, you can easily carry it in a briefcase-style as it weighs 17 pounds. The stainless steel burner provides 5500 BTUs over a 160 square inch of cooking surface.
This appliance is a good choice for a small camping gang or a day by the beach. But you shouldn’t rely on it if you wish to prepare a big amount of food. It features a drip pan to collect grease but it’s not that big, so you might need to use a bigger one if you’re cooking something juicy.
The compact design makes it one of the best propane camping grills and guarantees that your food will be cooked to perfection because no heat energy will be wasted. However, this also means that the unit will always be extremely hot. The twist-start ignition will let you light it easy to cook your meals fast. The dome is a bit shallow though, so cooking a ham isn’t really an option.
Pros
- Versatile setup on a stand or as a tabletop grill.
- Lightweight and portable design.
- Lid lock to retain heat.
- Twist-start for fast ignition.
Cons
- Drip pan is too small.
- Gets too hot.
- Dome is too low.
Blackstone Tabletop Grill
Features:
- Tabletop grill.
- Big cooking space in a portable design.
- Easy cleaning.
Tabletop grills like this one are highly desirable because no set up is needed. This electric grill is suitable for beginners and teens who want to enjoy a warm meal away from home. It uses one pound of propane fuel and features a tray to carry the grease for fast cleaning.
This model weighs 25 pounds and features a cooking space of 260 square inches. However, there are bigger models available if you want to prepare more food. It provides 12,000 BTUs thanks to a stainless steel H-shaped burner that guarantees even heat distribution.
After you’re done, you can easily wipe the cooking surface so you can spend more time enjoying your camping adventure and less time maintaining the unit. However, you should be careful when storing this unit. It’s not designed to be kept outside so it might rust. Moreover, you should season the cooking surface before use to prevent food from sticking.
Pros
- Suitable for beginners.
- Portable and easy to use.
- Even heat distribution.
- Fast cleaning and low-maintenance.
Cons
- Prone to rusting.
- Food sticks to the surface.
Smoke Hollow 205 Stainless Steel Tabletop Propane Gas Grill
Features:
- Cooking area and warming rack
- U-style burner
- Drip tray
Looking for the best portable grills for RV? This might be what you’re looking for. In addition to a stainless steel cooking surface of 205 square inches, this camping grill features a warming rack of 105 square inches. The stainless steel legs are foldable, making this a suitable design for camping and tailgating. The hood locks to retain heat while cooking and facilitate transportation.
The stainless steel U-style burner provides 10,000 BTUs that can be obtained using a small 1 pound-cylinder of propane. There’s a temperature gauge to control the temperature. However, the temperature range isn’t that big so you might not be able to cook as many recipes as you want to. It weighs around 20 pounds.
There’s a stainless steel drip tray, but it doesn’t lock in place so it might move while you’re carrying the unit. It features a Piezo igniter, but this may not last long. The shape of the burner causes some hot and cold spots so you need to keep an eye on the food.
Pros
- Convenient cooking space with a warming rack.
- Foldable stainless steel.
- Hood locks in place.
- Stainless steel tray for dripping.
Cons
- U-shaped burner doesn’t provide even heating.
- Temperature range isn’t big.
- Drip tray doesn’t lock in place.
Royal Gourmet PD1300 Portable Propane Gas Grill Griddle
Features:
- Separately controlled burner
- Piezo ignition system
This grill weighs 30 pounds and features a stainless steel control panel and a removable grease drip cup for fast cleaning. The Piezo ignition system is fast and convenient to use so you can enjoy camping.
There are 3 independently-controlled stainless steel burner rings. You can adjust the heat output from 9,000 BTUs to 27,000 BTUs for even and controlled heating distribution. The cooking surface is porcelain-coated and measures 325 square inches. It heats up fast and retains the juices to keep your food moist and juicy.
Whether you want to cook burgers, hotdogs, eggs or pancakes, this grill won’t let you down as lots of users agree that’s it the best RV grill. However, it’s heavyweight and the regulator is a bit difficult to control. The porcelain coating tends to peel off the cast iron surface.
Pros
- Heavy-duty cast iron unit.
- Stainless steel control panel.
- Three independently-controlled burners.
- Removable cup for drippings.
Cons
- Heavyweight appliance.
- Porcelain coating tends to peel off.
Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman’s Grill
Features:
- Adjustable height.
- Durable cast iron appliance.
- Seasoned and ready for use.
If you’re looking for a rugged appliance that will last for years, then you should check this one out. It’s made of cast iron and weighs 27 pounds with a cooking surface that measures about 156 square inches. This is a suitable grill for a party of two or three people who want to enjoy delicious meals away from home.
The cooking surface is seasoned using 100% vegetable oil that gets better with every use. The coal is accessible thanks to a flip-down door. This draft door will also control the heat so you can cook every recipe properly. The cast iron construction retains heat so you can get away with using less coal.
Adjusting the height allows you to cook at your own convenience. But if you feel that the surface has started to lose its sheen, then it’s time to oil it. The grates tend to erode and should be replaced after a few years. It’s quite heavy to transport.
Pros
- Durable cast iron grill.
- Surface is seasoned.
- Retains heat.
- Adjustable height.
Cons
- Quite heavy.
- Needs regular oiling.
Conclusion- Which One is the Best Grill for Camping?
You don’t have to stay home to enjoy a well-grilled steak or burger. Although our list is diverse, we chose the Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman’s Grill as the best grill for camping. You can easily swap the grates for versatile cooking options and it folds to an almost flat design, although it’s heavier than other models.
As the best value camping grill, we think that the Royal Gourmet PD1300 Portable Propane Gas Grill Griddle will be a proper choice. It features three burners that can be controlled separately for even cooking. It’s a bit heavy but quite sturdy.
Think about your cooking needs and the features that you want to have in a camping grill. You can easily find a product that allows you to taste delicious meals wherever you are.