Everybody loves to eat and there is no doubt about the fact that cooking is a hell of a task. If you are an expert then you wouldn’t mind doing experimentation, but in case you are new and trying to make something different then it would be a bit hard. It gets even more complex when it comes to grilling. To make the best portable charcoal grill requires some expertise and tips to keep in mind so you would be able to win everybody’s heart in the gathering.
Apart from gaining appraisal from friends, and family, you also get this chance to grill something delicious and mouth-watering. At times the plan for a delicious cookout can’t just occur in your porch but you need to do it at a friend’s place. Or possibly you need to grill up some appetizing food in the course of a trip, sports game or picnic.
Conferring to a study that was done in the year 2009 by the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, there is a grill in 82% of American families and most of them utilize it the whole year. Relatives and friends gather around the grill for outings, birthdays and sometimes for no reason at all.
If that’s the case, a best portable charcoal grill would probably be your best option. Another main and foremost thing about such grills is that they provide you all the great taste and function of a regular charcoal grill but are portable and lighter in weight so you could carry them wherever you want.
In this article we are providing you a small collection of best portable charcoal grill 2020 , so you would be able to choose the best one according to your budget, need, and utilization.
Just have a look over the 7 best portable charcoal grills 2019 for a range of dissimilar uses.
Top 7 Best Portable Charcoal Grill – 2020 Reviews
🥇 #1. Lodge Sportsman’s Charcoal Grill
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If you are supposed to do the grilling at a picnic spot, patio, or campaign then this would be the best choice. It is made up of heavy cast iron; they are long-lasting and strength of college parties, beaches, and parks across the nation.
The time when this kind of stuff moved abroad, these grills got inexpensive and gets rare in the market. Because of its popularity and demand, Lodge Manufacturing has remained in the industry and has actually flourished in the cast iron world.
The Lodge Sportsman’s Grill is known as the blockbusting portable grill experience among users on Amazon and for under $200 you can get this great, portable, charcoal grill. You can make an adequate amount of steaks and burgers for a small group by utilizing it. This hibachi style still rules because of its amazing quality and performance.
Perks:
Durable– It has made up of good material and that’s why last-long, as it has heavy cast iron construction.
Cooking Space– It has sufficient cooking space as the structure explains it very well. You can easily cook food for a number of people in it.
Portable– Really convenient and handy, you can easily move it from one site to another. If a single person has to carry it then it wouldn’t be hard to move it.
Cons:
Special Care– It requires special care because of its bare cast iron. As they are exposed so you have to remain a bit more cautious.
Structure– The thing that is criticized by some users is that it has no lid so it is hard for users to manage it easily.
Cleaning– It is a bit hard to clean it because of its design and construction.
🥇 Weber Jumbo Joe Charcoal Grill
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The time when the idea of best portable charcoal grill pops up, this would remain top of the list. This is a great handy charcoal grill within a reasonable price. It is lightweight and has a big cooking area, convenient and very solidly built and the surface finishes are top notch. Weber seamlessly shows how to make the best portable charcoal grills for decent prices.
It works perfectly fine in many places outside the home like camping areas, parks, and beaches. It is also a good solution for those people who have little space in the courtyard or terrace as well as those who only cook food on a grill rarely.
Another best thing about it is that you will get exactly the same amount of cooking space as the 18″ Kettle classic, but this grill weighs 22 pounds only and can effortlessly be carried by a single person.
You can easily clean and fit enough food on its 18″ grill rack. The charcoal grill is made up of heavy gauge steel, which is durable when it comes to managing substantial weight and leaves appetizing looking char marks on your meat.
Its lid holder works well and does not dislocate the BBQ and the lid locks on firmly. The BBQ does not toss any measurable heat down below it and you can use the BBQ on wood and plastic tables without producing any damage.
Perks:
Handy and Convenient– It is solid and lightweight for grilling on the go. It can be carried easily and can be moved from one place to another.
Tuck-N-Carry– Tuck-N-Carry lid lock pairs as a lid holder to dodge placing the lid on the ground. It also helps you to carry your grill at different places, without putting much effort.
Durable and can Control Temperature– Its dampers let you to simply control the temperature inside your grill. It attains high temperatures that are perfect when it comes to frying burgers or steaks.
Easy to Clean– It has an aluminum ash catcher that is implemented underneath the charcoal bowl; that stops you from having to undergo long cleanup times after a time-consuming cookout.
Used for Long-term– With its outclass quality- performance and sturdy design, it lasts long.
Ash Catcher– It stops hot embers from falling out of the grill and lets for easy ash removal.
Decent Size– It also offers a large cooking area (240 square inches) that lets you achieve very good results while cooking. It is completely effective for a large number of gatherings.
Cons:
Narrow Space under the Lid– The major hitch is the thin space under the lid; it is vertically tight which means to say that you would probably have an issue while cooking a whole chicken or turkey.
Weak Screws– The fixes that keep the lockable lid in its place are slightly rickety. You have to tighten them up time after time to ensure that the locking function works fine or not.
Apart from these two trivial issues, there is nothing else that can be associated with Weber Jumbo Joe, as a drawback.
🥇 Weber Charcoal Go
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In case we need something in terms of mobility, then Weber Go-Anywhere Grill is the answer. It is extremely appropriate, lightweight and effective. It can easily be pleated and carried around with one hand by the knob.
It isn’t perfect only when traveling but also in the city and places with very inadequate spaces including a balcony, patio or terrace. Then there’s also the low price, fully acceptable to the finest quality grill.
As the name stands for itself, you can take it anywhere you need to. It is considered really convenience and flexible. All thanks to the well thought-out structure. The legs are foldable and wrap around the grill and fold into the shape of a rectangular toolbox. Such construction only weighs 14 pounds and makes it one of the best and most useful portable charcoal grills.
It is wholly enough for about two people, it will fit 2 medium size steaks, 6 hamburgers or about 6-8 chicken wings based upon the size. The grill provides 160 square inches of cooking area on cast-iron grates.
Perks:
Portable– One of the main and foremost perks that belongs to Weber Charcoal Go is that it is incredibly easy to carry along.
Easily Assembled- It is really simple to assemble. The lid doesn’t need to be positioned on the ground or to the near table but as an alternative can be folded up and rested vertically to the cooking surface.
Durable- The grill is made up of porcelain covered walls and lid; this material is not likely to corrode or peel. It means to say that you can expect the grill to last for a long time. Apart from that, the cooking grates are made from strong plated steel.
Cooking Space- It has adequate space of grilling. You can easily cook enough food at one time.
Stable Design and Structure– Its design and structure are appropriate for its four bent feet. These feet are made of coated steel and there is a higher possibility that it would not bend or break easily. You can easily put them on most hard surfaces without sliding around and imperiling the food stored on the grills.
Cons:
Temperature Control– Its temperature control feature sucks a bit because of the grill’s structure.
Utilization of Charcoal-The hot charcoal is really close to the food which would probably add to the food and get it blackened fast. So it would be better if you use less charcoal.
Narrow Space between Charcoal and Grates– The space is really narrow among charcoal and grates, so there are chances that you would burn it.
Less Cleaning Space– Because of its rectangular shape, it is hard to clean it. These rectangular corners gather ash and other residues, so it means that you have to spend some time, every time you grill something.
🥇 Kamado Joe KJ13RH Joe Jr Portable Charcoal Grill
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Perfect for a smaller gathering, this one increases a temperature gauge right on its top lid to let you to easily see the temperature at the time of cooking. There is a vent at the bottom of the grill that aids you to regulate the temperature of the cooking space.
Its cooking grate is 150 in.² of room to grill, and the grilling is assisted by a thick-walled ceramic body that locks in heat and humidity. Its charcoal bin is very deep that allows you to heap a substantial amount of the fuel to reach increased temperatures for a moveable grill. It is really handy because of its ringed shaped handles that reach all around its egg shape.
🥇 Char-Griller E06614 AKORN Jr
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By buying Akorn Jr. you will gain all the advantages of the full-size Akorn grill in a much smaller package the Akorn Jr. Weighs in at a definitely tiny 37 lbs. This feature makes it really easy to move it from one place to another, without any botheration.
The main cooking area is a bit smaller than others, at 157 square inches, along with a cast iron grill to safeguard smooth cooking at low and slow temperatures as well as high grilling and burning temps.
It is built from 22 gauges steel and triple walled; the pit has this capacity to deal a huge range of temperatures from 200°F all the way to 700°F, which makes it a handy cooking option. Apart from that, heat is controlled with two dampers, the former one is on the lid and the latter is at the bottom, both are changeable for precise and wisely preserved air flow and temperature.
The bottom of the Akorn Jnr. is detachable, permitting for easy ash disposal and fast clean up on the go.
You can utilize 153 square inches of cooking space and it is guaranteed that everything across its surface will be cooked to a similar amount. You can easily make several burgers on it.
Perks:
Structure and Design-The walls are made up of triple steel insulation for the sake of trapping heat inside. The trivet leg design makes sure the firmness. Its cast iron grates are durable. You can easily place this grill on most surfaces and expect even surfaces such as sandy beaches or grassy courtyards.
Portable– It has two heavy-duty handles on each side of the pit, along with a locking lid, that makes it easy to move around. It means to say that you are not supposed to place it on a table to get at your food.
Temperature Control– It’s both airflow dampers at the top and bottom gives more control compared to the other grills.
Easily Cleanable– The separable ashtray placed at the bottom of its egg shape makes it quite easy to clean the residue after grilling.
Cons:
Expensive– It is a bit expensive, so if you need to buy the latest models of this grill then you have to invest a good enough amount.
Hard Installation– The front handle of this grill is a bit hard to install, so to do it easily you have to make extra struggle at the time of installation and have to widen the holes on your own with a drill or other tool, which doesn’t sound fun.
🥇 Old Smokey Charcoal Grill
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This is known as a moveable charcoal grill that has 333 in.² of cooking space, which is the ultimate limit for grilling that most charcoal grills get away with. It’s a separate unit that rests on thin steel feet that are firm, though they aren’t fairly as reliable as compared to the tripod feet. You can easily move it from one place to another because of the dual handles it has on both sides.
It is made of long-lasting steel, so we can say that it would probably last for quite some time. However, the steel isn’t very rust resistance, so ensure to store the charcoal grill correctly if you need to prolong its lifespan. One of the biggest drawbacks is that it doesn’t have any feature like dampers, so it is hard to control the temperature.
As a whole, it would be a good choice for all of those who need a huge amount of space for cooking.
🥇 Cuisinart CCG-100 GrateLifter
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This is another best portable charcoal grill that is very easy to carry and move from one place to another. It weighs 30 pounds and has matching handles on the sides. You can easily lift back its lid and rested it on its hinges, so you could have easy access to the cooking space.
It has an excellent design that permits you to add more charcoal in case you want to increase the cooking temperature in the middle of the cooking.
The cooking grate is 240in.², so we can say that there’s enough space for food. As the grates are made from coated porcelain, so this won’t rust or crumble easily. Except that, there’s an ash collection underneath the charcoal bed to make the process of cleaning simpler than it already is.
It’s a durable portable grill that has stable legs and you can easily place it on a table or bench. The major defect is the slimness of its grates, which don’t permit for a ton of weight to be loaded upon them, and at times results in the grate tossing in case too much meat is placed on one side.
Reasons Why Cooking with Charcoal is great for Portable Grills
Ever wondered why cooking with charcoal grill is better with portable grills? If no then no worries because here we will let you know some of the main reasons that make all the difference when it comes to portable charcoal grills.
Advantages:
No blazing flames: Charcoal grill is based on the heat controlled in the coals to prepare the meat. This stops unexpected flare-ups of open flames like those which might ensue with a gas grill.
Misty aroma: The portable charcoal grills offer a delightful smoky taste that many people like on several different types of meats and other food products.
Burn hotter: One of the main and foremost reasons to purchase a charcoal grill is that charcoal can get hotter than normal gas grills, and heat is all you need to get steaks and lamb crisp on the outside and red or pink on the inside.
Cost: As compared to gas grills, charcoal grills are way too reasonable when it comes to price.
Charcoal grills don’t come along with the perks only, like the rest of the things it also has some cons.
Disadvantages:
Temperature control: It has been observed that it is really hard to control the temperature of a charcoal grill than it is with a gas grill. Although it’s simple to make things hot inside a charcoal grill, it’s also tough to bring that temperature back down at normal again without right vents and good practice. Be extra wary about grilling with charcoal in case your food items are subtle and need a lot of certain temperature tuning during the course of grilling.
Bad smell: If by chance you are using low quality charcoal then you have to bear an unpleasant smell. There is a higher possibility that this smell can get into your food and spoils the taste and aroma of your food. Hence, you can avoid this by utilizing a charcoal chimney.
Messy: Charcoal is dirty to handle; it can be hard to burn; it takes 15 minutes to get up to temp; there can be blazes that can scald the food and that is a health risk; at times it is hard to tell what temp you are cooking at; the temperature cannot be turned down quickly; all through long cooks it gradually loses heat and you have to add more charcoal.
Ash: As you have to add more charcoal while cooking and as charcoal grills really have skewers; so there would be a lot of ash for you to clean after every grill. It all happens because of the fuel source; there is this probability that small amounts of ash might get into your food at the time of cooking with a charcoal grill, so you can reduce this by purchasing the higher-quality fuel.
Most of these issues can easily be tackled in case you keep in mind a few tips: If you utilize gloves, shovels, or pincers, you should not use raw coals. By keeping the charcoal dry and utilize a chimney, you can easily burn the coal. In case you have to push the coals to one side of the grill and set up a 2-zone cooking environment, greasy meats like chicken skin do not drip on the coals and flicker up, and if it does, a squirt gun can cover them. The course of cleaning up the ash is easier with some of the one-touch grills or grills that have detachable ashtrays.
Things keeping in mind before Buying a Portable Charcoal Grill
Before you go and purchase a portable charcoal grill, there are a number of factors that are significant for all of us to keep in mind.
Weight
Anything weighty would be tough for you to move it from here and there. So if there is a single person who is supposed to carry it then 40 pounds would be recommended.
Affordability
Another important factor is the price of a charcoal grill. It has been assessed that most of these portable charcoal grills are available at reasonable prices; still, it depends on you which one you really want according to your requirements.
You can buy a fancy one that will cost $1000, but a small charcoal grill can be available in $20. In addition, bigger models are under the price range of $100 to $150.
Size
When it comes to a charcoal grill, then size matters, as they come along with dissimilar sizes. In case you want one that can be carried along on a camping or used at a tailgate, then there are super-small ones for you.
You can also find huge, professional-grade models that can be used to smoke a few racks of ribs. We’re mentioning the difference between 140 square inches and 700 square inches of cooking space.
Convenient Features
All portable grills have their own certain features that should stand on their own and cook professionally as compared to traditional grills.
Before buying one ensure that your grill of choice has a good fitting lid, as this will let you regulate airflow. In case it has vents or dampers you can have better control over temperature and air flow, so you could regulate the status and quality of your food.
Keep in mind that if the lid is locked then you can easily move it. Some grills lengthen from the charcoal bin, which makes it easier for you to add a charcoal in case you need to increase the temperature inside the cooking space.
Look for the ones that have detachable or foldable legs, so you could pack up and move away, or you can choose those that have handles on their sides that also aid with transportation.
Clean up Features
It doesn’t matter what version you are going to purchase, you’ll have to deal with ash and buildup, so anything that makes that course a little bit simple will be great, after tiring experience of grilling. Stay cautious of small grills that you are supposed to turn over to empty out you might find you’re utilizing your grill as little as possible to evade the annoyance.
Grating Material
You would probably need the cooking grates that can bear some heavyweight; this permits you to place pans or other cooking implements right on the grills and extend your grilling alternatives.
Just pay close attention to the arrangement of cooking grate so you could choose the one you really up for; there are some that are made from stainless steel or other are made of plain cast-iron.
Various Styles
It comes along in different styles. There is a kettle charcoal grill that is the standard concept has a metal ball on legs, and the charcoal sits in the bottom. This is the economic and most portable choice.
Then there are porcelain grills, most notably the Big Green Egg. This is the most adaptable version of a charcoal grill in which you can grill, smoke, and bake pizzas at 500°F.
The last one is a barrel grill, which looks like a typical gas grill, round on the top and the bottom, with a hinged top. It’s a perfect choice for big smoking projects.
So choose the one that suits you in the best way possible.
The Final Word
Grilling is fun if you have right stuff to deal with. Despite from having fun at the time of grilling for a specific occasion it also has some health benefits, as it is lower in fat and calories. The food that is cooked on a grill is not soaked with fat, and any fat essential in the food soaks off, ensuing in noticeably less calories and fat.
It can be said without any doubt that best portable charcoal grills are an amazing way to make the most out of your camping or get-together.
Last Updated on January 4, 2020 by Judith Fertig
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