Grilling is a beloved pastime that brings together friends, family, and delicious food. However, not everyone has the space or need for a full-sized grill. Enter the small gas grill: a compact, efficient, and versatile solution perfect for balconies, small patios, and camping trips. In this article, we’ll explore the best small gas grills on the market, examining their features, performance, and value. Whether you’re a seasoned grill master or a beginner looking to get started, our guide will help you find the perfect small gas grill to suit your needs and lifestyle. Let’s dive into the top picks and discover what makes these compact grills stand out from the crowd.
Key Features to Look for in a Small Gas Grill
When searching for the best small gas grill, it’s important to consider several key features that ensure optimal performance and convenience. Size and cooking area are crucial, as a compact grill should still provide enough space to cook multiple items simultaneously, ideally with a cooking area of 200-400 square inches. The number of burners is another essential aspect; having at least two burners allows for greater versatility, enabling direct and indirect cooking methods. Portability is a major advantage for small gas grills, so look for models with lightweight construction, sturdy wheels, and convenient handles for easy transportation. The build quality also plays a significant role; grills made from durable materials like stainless steel and equipped with cast iron grates offer longevity and excellent heat retention. Heat output and distribution are critical factors, measured in BTUs, with an emphasis on even heat distribution for consistent cooking results. Finally, ease of assembly and use can greatly enhance your grilling experience, with user-friendly features such as straightforward setup, removable grease trays, and simple ignition systems. Additional features like side tables, tool hooks, and built-in thermometers can also provide extra convenience and functionality, making the grilling process more efficient and enjoyable.
Top Picks for the Best Small Gas Grills
Best Overall
Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill
Amazon Link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MKB5V1A?
What We Like
- Automatic propane starter
- Great for beginners and experts
- Easy to adjust the dampers
What We Don’t Like
- Have to remove grate to adjust fuel
One of the first little grills is still one of the most! excellent The Weber Execution Select may be a cutting edge take on the kettle grill with progressed highlights where you truly need them. And however, it’s fair as simple to use as the primary pot charcoal flame broils.
Once you’ve wheeled the cart into put, beginning the fire may be a breeze. Rather than lighting up a chimney starter, you just place your cold coals in and thrust the auto-start gas start. It worked like a charm each time we tried it. The little learning bend does come with keeping up the right temperature. You’ll have to be learn the most excellent positions for the dampers—one trap we learned is to alter the foot one when your flame is getting too seriously. We were able to control the temperature sufficient that the temperature scarcely changed amid an hours-long smoking session.
In case you would like to include more coals, it’s simple to do through the circular opening within the pivoted grind. Completely altering the coals is harder since you’ll have to be take the complete grind off. Cleanup, in spite of the fact that, is less demanding than it’s ever been with a charcoal flame broil. Weber’s One-Touch framework clears all the ash into the foot catcher, whereas everything else simply needs a speedy swipe of a wet rag.
Dimensions: 48 x 30 x 43.5 inches | Cooking Area: 363 square inches | Type: Charcoal | Warranty: 5 years (cleaning system, plastic components), 10 years (bowl, lid); 2 years (all other parts)
Best Propane Grill
Weber Spirit II E-210 Grill
Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077K1MK8N?
What We Like
- Flavorizer bars create smoky flavor
- Maintains heat well
- Great performance for two burners
What We Don’t Like
- Has trouble producing high heats
Yes, another well-made and dependable Weber made our list. This Spirit-series barbecue has two burners, Weber’s signature “flavorizer” bars that vaporize nourishment drippings to make flavorful smoke, and a add up to of 450 square inches of cooking space. The open cart makes it simple to stash supplies underneath the barbecue, whereas six apparatus snares keep grill brushes, tongs, and spatulas easily at hand. The propane tank can be stacked into a holder joined to the cart, which keeps track of your fuel level for you.
A fuel gage highlight is fair one reason to like this grill—it gave us an noteworthy execution for as it were two burners. The inside temperature was simple to control, with precise settings, no flare-ups, and minimal sticking. It too kept up the proper temperature all through each circular of testing. Everything we flame broiled came out flawlessly cooked, in spite of the fact that it didn’t get hot sufficient for profound burning or crisping our salmon’s skin.
This propane flame broil has two expansive wheels that make it straightforward to reposition when required and two tough legs that keep it from incidentally rolling amid utilize. When space is at a premium, the cleared out side table folds down and after that flips back up effortlessly after you require space for condiments and plates.
Dimensions: 48 x 27 x 44.5 inches | Cooking Area: 450 square inches | Fuel Type: Propane | Power: 26,500 BTUs/hour | Warranty: 10 years
Best Infrared
Char-Broil TRU-Infrared Kettleman Charcoal Grill
Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Char-Broil-TRU-Infrared-Kettleman-Charcoal-Grill/dp/B00O06YMGI
What We Like
- Easy to control temperature once over the learning curve
- Adjustable charcoal grate
- Easy to clean
What We Don’t Like
- Bit of a learning curve
Since the flame broil plates on an infrared barbecue make more warm, but utilize less fuel, they are perfect for those who do not need to choose up a unused pack of charcoal all the time. On this adaptation, Char-Broil has overhauled the standard charcoal barbecue plan with infrared cooking grates that warm amazingly equitably. There’s moreover 360 square inches of cooking space, porcelain-enameled steel grates, which helpfully stand up to rust, and a expansive vent on the top to assist direct the temperature amid cooking. For indeed more control, the charcoal grate is flexible, so you’ll cook nourishment closer or advance from the warm source.
We found that this did, in truth, make strongly warm with negligible flare-ups, making a great sear on pork chops, chicken legs, and steak. But there’s a bit of a learning bend. Once we begun moving the coals around and testing with the beat vent—the foot ones must continuously remain open—the charcoal burned a bit as well hot, in spite of the fact that it didn’t burn our nourishment. It was too troublesome to add more charcoal amid a longer smoking test. It’s astute to do some test runs some time recently lighting this flame broil for your huge summer party.
The flame broil does have two wheels that make it simple to move into the idealize spot for flame broiling, and there’s no ought to seek for a put to set the cover down since it’s joined to the flame broil with a pivot. The cover locks closed for capacity or when moving the flame broil, and a helpful temperature gage makes it basic to screen the inner temperature at a look. Indeed cleanup is simpler with this grill, since the fiery remains bowl slides in and out effortlessly.
Dimensions: 26 x 26 x 39 inches | Cooking Area: 360 square inches | Fuel Type: Charcoal | Warranty: 10 years (lid and firebox); 2 years (everything else)
Best Portable
Weber Q 1400 Electric Grill
Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/Weber-52020001-Q1400-Electric-Grill/dp/B00FGEIRU0?t
What We Like
- Durable and easy to transport
- Quick assembly
- Cast iron cooking grates help retain heat
What We Don’t Like
- Doesn’t display temperature
Whereas cooking over a fire can certainly be engaging, utilizing an electric flame broil has numerous benefits. For one thing, there’s no require for charcoal or gas tanks that got to be supplanted, and you do not need to stress almost live fire. Additionally, on the off chance that you buy a little electric grill like this one, you’ll take it on the street and utilize it on vacation—or truly anyplace you have got power. You fair truly shouldn’t utilize it interior, because it produces very a bit of smoke.
The Weber Q 1400 contains a add up to of 189 square inches of cooking space and a 1560-watt electric warming component that warms effectively. Whereas it doesn’t have a built-in temperature gage, our thermometers perused over 600 degrees Fahrenheit when on tall. With porcelain-enameled cast press, this deciphers to awesome barbecue marks. After cooking veggie shish kebabs, holder steak, and marinated chicken breast for a terrace grill, the flame broil marks were exceptional and the nourishment tasted superb. In expansion, we found it was exceptionally hot, exceptionally charming, and amazingly convenient amid our tests.
The top and body of this flame broil are aluminum and the outline is glass-reinforced nylon, decreasing the weight to make it less demanding to move (too making it rust-proof). A detachable capture container makes cleaning simple when cooking is done.
Dimensions: 27 x 16.5 x 14.5 inches | Cooking Area: 189 square inches | Fuel Type: Electric | Power: 1560 watts | Warranty: 2 years
Best Pellet Grill
Z Grills 450A Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
 Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/GRILLS-ZPG-450A-2019-Upgrade-Model/dp/B07H4JD85M?
What We Like
- Affordable
- Food is extremely flavorful
- Maintains consistent heat within +/- 15 degrees
- Includes cover
What We Don’t Like
- Takes longer than expected to preheat
- Doesn’t get hot enough to sear
Whereas this Z Barbecues can be a bit expansive for a little barbecue, it’s a awesome little pellet flame broil that can still fit on a patio porch. The temperature extend of 180 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit makes it extraordinary for all-day smoking, the Driven screen lets you know the inner temperature at a glance, and the computerized controls make it simple to function.
In the event that you’re anxious around running out of fuel whereas making something like North Carolina-style pulled pork, do not be. The container can hold up to 15 pounds of pellets, which is around 15 hours worth of smoking, whereas an programmed nourish will keep the pellets burning at the proper time and temperature. And porcelain-coated cast press grates make it a snap to brush down a while later.
Those are fair a few of the reasons why we announced this “an top notch esteem.” It barbecued up pizza, pulled pork, burgers, and steak during testing, all whereas conferring an astonishing flavor. We were moreover altogether inspired with its capacity to preserve reliable warm over the course of hours. It did take a whereas to warm up at to begin with, and you’ll got to break out the cast press on your stove on the off chance that you want a great burn.
Z Barbecues does have an updated form of this barbecue, the Pioneer 450B. It highlights superior computerized controls and a unused clean-out framework, but we haven’t put it to the test however.
Dimensions: 45 x 28 x 49 inches | Cooking Area: 452 square inches | Fuel Type: Wood pellets | Hopper Capacity: 18 pounds | Warranty: 3 years
Best for Camping
Weber Go-Anywhere Gas Grill
Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FX3MH1O?
What We Like
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Legs double as lid lock
What We Don’t Like
- Awkward tank layout
- Grate is steel and not cast iron
By distant the lightest in weight (and slightest costly) of all the flame broils on this list, the Weber Go-Anywhere is an self-evident choice for campers. Our favorite highlight is that the legs flip up and twofold as top locks, making it simple to hurl the entire thing into a rucksack or car trunk without stressing around spills or harm. The grind is made of stainless steel, which spares weight but doesn’t hold warm as well as the more common cast-iron. In testing, we were able to urge a decent burn after pre-heating but the temperature dropped radically and unevenly when we opened the cover. It’s best to keep that closed during cooking.
One cumbersome viewpoint of the Go-Anywhere is simply ought to set it on the edge of the table or other level surface whereas in use:
The propane tank screws in at an point and hangs underneath the level of the legs. The control handle is additionally right following to the tank instead of on the front of the flame broil. The temperature alteration works precisely, but it’s a little inconvenience in any case. This flame broil may not be the outright best out there, but it performs conventionally, is exceptionally versatile, and has an amazingly moo cost tag, particularly for a Weber.
Dimensions: 14.5 x 21 x 12.2 inches | Weight: 13.5 pounds | Cooking Area: 160 square inches | Fuel: Propane | Power: 6,500 BTU/hour
Best Kamado
Char-Griller Akorn Jr. Charcoal Grill
Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GTTMZ41
What We Like
- Excellent heat retention
- Can be used for smoking
- Portable
What We Don’t Like
- Thermometer isn’t always accurate
Kamado might not be the primary thing you’d think of when it comes to little flame broils, but this one is little sufficient to be versatile, whether you’re bringing it to a tailgate party or to the neighbor’s yard. The Akorn Jr. incorporates a 14-inch grind that provides a 155-square-inch cooking zone and numerous of the same highlights as full-size Kamado flame broils.
Made from 22-gauge steel, with a porcelain-coated insides and a powder-coated outside, this Char-Griller demonstrate is durable sufficient for normal utilize, but it weighs fair 33 pounds so it’s genuinely convenient. The flame broil has beat and foot discuss dampers to assist control the temperature and an fiery debris skillet that’s simple to purge when cooking is done. There are side handles that make it simpler to move from put to put and legs that keep it steady on the ground or on a table, and it’s almost 26 inches tall and 20 inches wide, so it stores compactly when not in utilize. We found the thermometer wasn’t continuously precise, so it could be helpful to have one adjacent when in utilize.
Dimensions:Â 20 x 20 x 26 inches |Â Cooking Area:Â 155 square inches |Â Fuel Type:Â Charcoal |Â Warranty:Â 1 year
Comparison of the Top Picks
When comparing the best small gas grills, several factors come into play to determine which one suits your needs best. Cooking performance is key, assessing how well each grill distributes heat and delivers consistent results across various foods. Portability and storage considerations involve evaluating how easily each grill can be moved and stored, whether they feature compact designs or integrated wheels and foldable components. Durability and build quality are crucial for longevity, examining materials like stainless steel or cast aluminum that ensure resilience against the elements. Ease of use and cleaning features such as ignition systems, grease management, and removable parts simplify maintenance and operation. Lastly, price and value comparisons help gauge the investment against features offered, ensuring you get the most for your budget without compromising on essential functionalities.
Tips for Using a Small Gas Grill
When using the best small gas grill, following a few key tips can enhance your cooking experience and prolong the grill’s lifespan. Preheating and temperature control are crucial; allow the grill to preheat adequately before cooking to ensure even heat distribution and optimal results. Adjusting the heat settings during cooking helps manage different types of food effectively. Regular cleaning and maintenance are essential to keep the grill in top condition. Clean the grates after each use and inspect burners and gas lines periodically to prevent clogs and ensure efficient operation. Finally, prioritize safety tips such as placing the grill on a stable, flat surface away from flammable materials, checking for gas leaks before use, and following manufacturer guidelines for safe operation to prevent accidents and ensure enjoyable grilling sessions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, choosing the best small gas grill involves considering several key factors such as cooking performance, portability, durability, ease of use, and value for money. Throughout this guide, we’ve highlighted the importance of features like size and cooking area, number of burners, portability, build quality, heat output, ease of assembly, and additional features such as side tables and built-in thermometers. Based on these criteria, our top picks offer versatile options suited for various needs—from compact designs ideal for small spaces to robust models that deliver excellent cooking results. Whether you prioritize budget-friendliness, portability, or overall performance, there’s a small gas grill that fits your preferences and grilling habits perfectly. Explore our recommendations and find the grill that enhances your outdoor cooking experience effortlessly.
