However, once it reached the desired temperature, we were very impressed by how even and steady the temperature remained. The flame from the pellet fire heats a large plate that simultaneously distributes heat and directs grease to the grease bucket. There’s no need to worry about having to add coals or switch out propane canisters with the Camp Chef Portable Pellet – you can simply top the pellet hopper off while the grill is in operation. 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 has adapters based on your grill and offers one temp probe and three food probes.
“This thing could be priced even higher and I would buy it,” a tester noted, although at under $300, it’s attractively priced as-is. First, assembly is a non-issue, as it consists of lining up the grates after taking the grill out of the box, and it took longer to unpack than to make it ready to cook. The cast aluminum body, top, and cast iron grates are built to last, and the included Flipkit turns the two-piece top and bottom into two hibachi grills that double your cooking area.
The grill is also attached to the cart so that you’re up and grilling in no time. Judging by the char, the surfaces were the hottest just outside of the solid ring on the grates that is meant to protect grease from spilling onto the burners. The very inner and outer parts of the surface were the cooler zones. I highly recommend cooking cheeseburgers on this grill by the way. Since the grates have areas that are solid, excess cheese can sit on there and form a delicious crust as it melts, giving flat iron and charred flavors at the same time.
The value of your portable grill depends on your cooking needs and your intended usage. A basic, more affordable grill might get you through a backyard bash, but a more expensive product will tend to last longer, even under more rigorous or extensive use. Simple grilling, like burgers and dogs, can be done on any portable grill. But if you would like the option to sear a steak and slow-cook chicken on the same grate, you’ll likely only find such features on higher-quality models. Similarly, the least expensive grills don’t offer the maximum heat output nor the control to cook more complicated foods.
We also considered if the grilling surface presents a consistent temperature throughout, whether it includes a thermometer or push-button ignition, and how well both perform. There are advantages and disadvantages to a grill weber kettle bbq surface that naturally presents different temperature zones. A portable grill could be just mobile enough to load it in and out of your truck bed with a friend, or it might be compact enough to fit inside a large backpack.
You can do this same test with bread, but I’m not much for carbs. We had to travel about 50 yards in the unkempt grass to reach where we wanted to settle in and the huge plastic wheels made pulling the grill effortless. Simply slide the wheel end out first, lower it to the ground with the handle, grab the handle of the other end of the grill and off you go.
It’s incredibly well-constructed and sturdy, thanks to its bowed legs. Its strong, intense flame combined with cast iron grates produced one the best sears in our test, although it’s heavier than other models we tested, and slightly awkward to carry. It packs up tidily into a large lunchbox shape, and comes with a sturdy carrying strap. The detachable cutting board (which doubles as a lid during transport) is especially helpful for campers looking to streamline their packing list.