What’s the first sign that summer is heating up? Outdoor barbecue parties with family and friends. But the only way to truly wow your guests is by having mouthwatering grilled food ready to go!
Being away from home shouldn’t cramp your style when it comes to throwing down a mean barbecue. That’s why you need the VEVOR 23” portable charcoal grill as your kitchen assistant. You get to display your skills with little effort due to its easy usage.
Are you ready to have the best backyard BBQ parties this summer but don’t know which brand of grill to buy? You’re lucky! We’ve done the hard work of reviewing the trending 2024 brands to find the best portable charcoal grill for you.
We used every metric from user reviews, including setup, usage, cleaning, functionality, and design. So you can rest assured that all your answers lie here.
Let’s get into it!
Table of contents
- What to Look for When Choosing the Best Portable Charcoal Grill
- Top 7 Best Portable Charcoal Grills in 2024
- Why Choose a Portable Charcoal Grill Over Other Types
- How to Maintain Your Portable Charcoal Grill
What to Look for When Choosing the Best Portable Charcoal Grill
We listened to your feedback and discovered the top five things you look for when considering the best portable charcoal BBQ grill. So, here’s a summary of the five most important features of a quality BBQ grill.
Portability and Weight
Can you move your BBQ grill around without hassle? A portable BBQ grill like the VEVOR 23” guarantees that you can set up your outdoor BBQ anywhere at any time. It’s foldable and weighs only 5lbs.
Grill Size and Cooking Surface
It should have a large enough cooking surface to grill multiple foods at once but not too big that it takes up the entire outdoor space. The VEVOR portable charcoal grill has a 23×9 inch surface, while the entire foldable grill is 33.5 x 9.3 x 11.8 inch.
Ease of Setup and Use
Your portable grill should be ready to use in a few minutes and easy to operate. You shouldn’t spend time meant for cooking to study manuals. In four easy steps, your 23” VEVOR grill is ready for cooking!
Durability and Material Quality
Don’t sacrifice quality for portability, as you need a grill that’ll stand the test of time. Choose a product with fire-resistant, water-resistant, weather-resistant material like carbon steel for the exterior and stainless steel for the grill surface.
Heat Control and Ventilation
Finally, your grill should have good heat controls and ventilation systems to control the fire and prevent grilling accidents.
Top 7 Best Portable Charcoal Grills in 2024
Now, to the reason you’re here. Using the above metrics, here are the top 7 best portable charcoal grills in 2024. We’ve added reasons we love them, pros and cons, and recommendations on suitability.
VEVOR Portable Charcoal Grill – Best Overall Portable Charcoal Grill
Why We Love VEVOR
It’s a foldable lightweight charcoal grill with a 23×9 inch grilling surface that occupies a little more than 200 sq. in. after setup. It has two food trays flanking the stainless steel grate to allow you to place your ingredients easily.
The stainless steel grate is easy to clean and durable, which makes buying this charcoal grill an investment.
Pros and Cons
- Two extra trays
- Easy-to-clean grate
- Portable storage
Ideal
Every grill lover wants a compact yet efficient and durable grill.
VEVOR 23 inch Portable Charcoal Grill, Compact Foldable Grill, Heavy Duty Steel BBQ Grill, Mini Smoker for Travel, Outdoor Cooking, Barbecue Camping, Picnic, Patio Black
Recommended For Your Project
Weber Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill – Best for Camping
Why It’s Great for You
It’s portable, with heat-resistant handles on the grill and the lid, making it easy to carry. It weighs 13.5 lbs and would occupy 160 sq. in.
It looks like a toolbox, so it only has space for food that can feed two adults. With one charcoal layer, you can heat this grill to 550℉ without fear of burning. You can use the steel legs as a lock for your grill when it’s cooking.
Because it’s small, this Weber grill doesn’t cook evenly. Your food will typically come out half-done unless you’re only grilling light food like burgers, hotdogs, and corn cobs.
Pros and Cons
- It’s perfect for grilling high-heat meals
- Easy-to-use for beginners
- Difficult for searing
- Uneven heat transfer
Ideal
Duos going on private camping trips.
Lodge Cast from Sportsman’s Grill – Best for Tailgating
Why It’s Perfect for You
This hibachi-style cast iron grill can withstand high heat and last as long as you care for it. It’s 19.38” and would fit in your truck without stress. The hook and carry handle allows easy carriage, and the removable grate gives you quick access to the charcoal chimney.
Pros and Cons
- Sturdy
- Even heat distribution
- Easy assembling
- Small grill surface
- Heavy material
Ideal
This on-the-go portable cast iron is perfect for tailgaters.
Cuisinart CCG190RB – Best Budget Portable Charcoal Grill
Why It’s the Best Budget
This 14” grill has the capacity of some larger grills, which makes its price point look like a steal. Although it occupies over 150 sq. inches, it’s lightweight and portable.
The CCG190RB can cook slowly and sear depending on how you arrange your charcoal, and you can easily clean the ash after cooking. It also has a dual venting system for temperature control and secure lid locks for transportation.
Pros and Cons
- Enamel-coated exterior
- Lightweight
- Dual vent
Ideal
Traditional kettle grill lovers who want to enjoy BBQs on a budget.
PK Grills PKTX – Best High-End Portable Charcoal Grill
Premium Features
This portable grill heats up to 600℉ and creates picture-worthy sear marks. It has a dual vent and dual dampers that help with temperature regulation.
You can easily add more charcoal to the chimney and dispose of the ash after cooking without messing up your cooking area. The exterior also cools down in record time, so you don’t need to wait too long to pack up and go.
This grill is weighty at 39.5 lbs and over 300 sq. in. of grill and smoker combo. Because you’re getting two grills in one made of highly durable cast iron, PKTX is often expensive.
Pros and Cons
- Perfect for sizzling
- Two wheels and handle for transport
- No in-built thermometer
- Hot exterior
- Heavyweight cast iron
Ideal
Outdoor lovers who don’t mind leaving their grill on the patio after cooking because it’s too heavy to lug around.
Char-Griller E22424 – Best for Large Groups
Why It’s Great for Group
This cast iron grill comes with a side firebox that you can switch from a grill to a smoker. It has a sliding drawer to give you easy access when adding charcoal or emptying the ash. Its dual-purpose feature allows you to cater to different food interests in a large group.
Also, it can cook up to eight chicken pieces at once.
It has a large cooking grill surface and conducts heat evenly to give you well-done meals with nice chars. You can’t easily carry it around since it weighs 37 lbs, but it occupies only 250 sq. in.
Pros and Cons
- Budget-friendly
- Portable
- Even cooking
- Small chimney access
Ideal
It’s perfect for group BBQ parties, whether it’s in the backyard or behind your pickup truck.
Everdure Cube – Best for Style and Portability
Stylish and Portable
Everdure Cube is an easy-to-use grill that is perfect for personal use. If you’re feeling generous, it can cook food enough for two people but no more than that unless you’re willing to spend more time cooking several batches.
It’s lightweight at 15.43 lbs and occupies 103.9 sq. in. Despite being small, this grill creates visible grill marks and chars because it accommodates high heat. You can prep your food on the lid before grilling on the grate.
Pros and Cons
- Lightweight
- Aesthetically pleasing
- No-assembly needed
- It’s really small
Ideal
If you’re all about aesthetics, especially for food bloggers, this is for you. Beachgoers and park fanatics would also love this grill for its portability.
Why Choose a Portable Charcoal Grill Over Other Types
After seeing our top 7 grills for 2024, you may wonder why we chose portable charcoal grills over other standing types. We’ll give you three simple reasons —
Flavor and Cooking Experience
Because portable charcoal grills are small, the smoke-to-food contact is closer, which gives your grills stronger flavors. Also, cooking on a smaller grill surface is more intimate and allows you to concentrate on each piece of food.
With your portable charcoal grill, you can reduce your charcoal seasoning usage and get your charred flavor the old-fashioned way. Besides, nothing beats the experience of flipping a piece of steak and seeing a nice char on the back.
Cost-Effectiveness and Availability
The amount of charcoal you’ll need to power a portable grill is significantly less than that of larger commercial-sized grills. Thirty briquettes will cook on a portable grill, and you’ll need at least double that amount for a standard large barrel.
That means you save double the amount on charcoal briquettes when you use portable charcoal grills. Especially if it’s a quality brand that burns moderately yet conducts high heat.
Versatility in Cooking
You can use your VEVOR 23” foldable grill in various settings and for different types of cooking. It’s perfect for barbecue camping, picnics, outdoor cooking, smoking while on the road, or even beach parties.
How to Maintain Your Portable Charcoal Grill
You must clean your portable charcoal grill before and after usage to prolong its lifespan and ensure it stays in the best shape. How can you do that?
Cleaning and Storage Tips
Before assembling your portable grill:
- Use a microfiber kitchen cloth to clean all its parts.
- Wait for the grill to cool down after cooking, and then empty the ash chamber.
- Remove the grate and clean it with a soft brush and soapy water, then rinse it off with clean water.
Once your grate is dry and the ash chamber is clean, you can fold your VEVOR 23” portable grill in reverse to how you assembled it. Place it back into the carton it came with, or wrap it with clear nylon and keep it in a clean, dry storage closet till the next grilling time.
Prolonging the Life of Your Grill
Regular cleaning of your VEVOR portable grill ensures it stays in optimal condition. There’ll be no bacteria or moisture causing rusting on your stainless steel grate. Also, the exterior stays neat and without scratch marks or other weather-beaten signs.
It ensures you get at least ten good years from your VEVOR 23” portable grill before needing an upgrade.
Conclusion
Are you ready to say goodbye? Because we aren’t, but we have to leave. Before going, here’s a quick reminder of what we’ve discussed in this review in case you skipped a few headings. A good portable charcoal grill
- It is lightweight and compact,
- Has a sizable grill surface,
- Has durable material, and
- It is easy to use and has good heat control.
Don’t look further than the VEVOR foldable portable charcoal grill for a brand that fits all categories. It has a 23” grilling surface, is made of heavy-duty carbon steel, has an air vent for airflow and even heat distribution, and is foldable for easy storage.
You can get it for less than $30 on the website now!
