Best Portable Pellet Grills for Camping in 2022

best portable pellet grills

Pellet grills in wood are available in a range of models. Year after year, this number seems to rise. You might not need a huge pellet grill to go camping, but only a small device that fits in your car. The portable pellet grill fills this need. You may find it difficult to decide between buying natural grills or gas grills. Read our blog on propane grills vs. natural grills to choose better.

These portable pellet smoker grills are not only convenient, but they’re also simple to use. You just need to fill the hopper, plug it in, and set the temperature to get started.

How To Choose the Best Portable Pellet Grills for Camping?

Cooking Space

A big cooking surface allows you to cook a large dinner simultaneously to save time and money on pellets and supplies. Some types include retractable racks for more storage and warming racks to keep the cooked food warm. Others have shelves where you may keep your ingredients and tools. Traeger grills are easy to use, and they cook like professional grills. Read through our comprehensive guide on everything you should know about traeger grills to understand the product better.

Temperature Control

Temperature range can be important depending on the type of cooking you intend to conduct. Every pellet grill is capable of indirect cooking at temperatures ranging from 180°F to 425°F. This is suitable for smoking, roasting, baking, and grilling. It is, however, insufficient for searing, which requires a temperature of 500-550°F.

The greater the temperature range of a pellet grill, the more it can accomplish. Upper temperatures on performance pellet grills vary from 500°F to 700°F. It is high enough for a proper sear and fire-bake pizza. Many pellet grills also have a direct grilling option that allows you to cook directly on an open flame.

Portability

Regardless of how good a pellet grill is if it isn’t portable, it isn’t suitable for camping, tailgating, or any other type of mobile necessity. Remember that the purpose of a portable barbecue is to take it with you wherever you go. Why would you desire something difficult to pack and take with you? Don’t be misled by companies that just include the term “portable” in the title and then try to sell you a big grill with wheels and/or a handle. Consider where you’ll be taking it, how you’ll get it there, and what size grill you’ll need.

Pellet Hopper Capacity

The size of the pellet grill hopper influences how long you may leave it unattended. It also influences how frequently you’ll need to buy new pellets and refill the hopper. A larger hopper allows you to smoke for longer periods without having to inspect the grill every second. Depending on the grill and pellet, the number of pellets used per hour varies. It also fluctuates depending on the intensity of the temperature employed. Higher temperatures burn more pellets than lower temperatures, but lower temperatures mean longer cook times and more pellets.

Design and Features

Aesthetics is important, but the utility is more important. Consider how you want to cook and seek elements that will help you have a pleasant grilling experience. Workspaces, hooks, handles, auto-ignition, and feeders are examples of convenience features. Remember that this is a portable grill, so features like folding legs, lid locking, and high-quality wheels may be desirable.

Warranty

When you purchase a product, you want it to function flawlessly for the rest of your life. That isn’t always the case. You want to know that if something goes wrong with your portable pellet barbecue, the manufacturer will back you up. What is the length of their warranty, and what does it cover? You could also want to look into people’s comments on how good their customer service is. You should never buy anything substantial unless it comes with a reasonable guarantee.

We have also reviewed some of the best pellet grills based on their maneuverability that you can consider buying.

Best Portable Pellet Grills for Camping

Green Mountain Pellet grill

The Green Mountain Pellet grill’s reviews claim that it has a unique power source. You can plug it into a 12V outlet in your vehicle, generator, or battery pack in addition to a conventional wall plug. Use the alligator clips that come with it to clamp it to your vehicle’s battery if that fails. The support legs are cleverly folded up and over the cooking chamber to use as carrying handles. A temperature probe that attaches directly to the digital display on the auger controls is also a great addition. This is one of the better solutions for the on-the-go griller, especially if you’re camping rather than glamping.

Traeger Portable Wood Pellet Grill

The Traeger Portable Wood Pellet Grill is ideal for small camping trips. They’ve included accessories, such as a meat probe, to go with the barbecue. Its designed lid latch may give customers peace of mind when using the portable pellet grill while camping in the woods. They also used porcelain to cover the grill grates, making them easy to clean after each use. The Scout may be modest, but it can grill with the best of them. It’s because of Digital Pro control and an extra meat probe to monitor your cooking. 

ASMOKE AS300BBQ Pellet Grill

The ASMOKE AS300BBQ Pellet Grill can Bake, Roast, Braise, Smoke, Sear, Broil, and Char-Grill. Use all-natural ASMOKE applewood pellets to achieve a rich, mouth-watering flavor. You will notice the difference if you try it. Advanced car darkening feed heating and system fans maintain temperatures between 180°F. The 500°F, LCD control maintains precision within +/- 10 levels, and temperatures are displayed in real-time. Simply turn the knob to the desired temperature. The unique stainless steel slide-plate fire broiler supports both indirect and direct cooking.

Camp Chef 20″ Pursuit Portable Pellet Grill

Camp Chef 20″ Pursuit Portable Pellet Grill comes with a PID controller for consistent temperatures. It offers a 160º F – 500ºF temperature range. This model offers easy of use menu dial, high-visibility, low-glare digital display. It also comes with a locking chamber & hopper lid for easy transport/storage.

ASMOKE Electric Portable Wood Pellet

The customer reviews of ASMOKE Electric Portable Wood Pellet show that it is ideal for backyard BBQ entertainment, camping, parties, RVs, or traveling. Its two tiers of porcelain-coated cast iron cooking grid offer enhanced grilling space. The meat probe port display of this grill makes it easy to track when the meat is cooked.

REC TEC Grill

REC TEC Grill features 2 mesh non-stick grill mats that make it easy to clean. This grill is made with high-quality material that does not wear out easily. It is equipped with ultimate blend pellets that help in enhancing flavor. This grill also offers a great capacity and design.

Conclusion

A pellet grill is an ideal option to consider if you’re shopping for a new grill or smoker. This is because it combines the functions of a grill and a smoker. Don’t let the price tag deter you; it will be well worth it. Its ease of use and the flavor it imparts to your cuisine are unmatched. A pellet grill is an excellent investment that will provide delicious cuisine for many years. It’s also a secure addition to your home.

BestViewsReviews rates and ranks the best grill thermometers and charcoal grills based on overall performance, build quality, and controls.

Know All About Kamado Grill

kamado grill

A kamado grill is a barbecue grill that uses a light source (such as a lamp or light bulb) to cook food. It has a covered oven-like structure of clay, ceramic, or metal with thick walls. The ceramic-made grills are popular for their high heat retention properties. The kamado grills use either charcoal briquettes or hardwood as fuel. You can use these grills for smoking, baking, roasting, and grilling your foods. The versatile nature of these grills makes them perfect for outdoor cooking. We also have a dedicated blog on portable grills, in which we have listed all the best-selling portable grill options for you.

What’s So Special About Kamado Grill?

Heat Retention and Preserves the Smoky Flavor

Kamado grills are a brand of barbecue that uses ceramic to transfer heat. Ceramic keeps heat for longer than metals or other heat-conducting materials. This means that food doesn’t lose as much heat, and the grill will require less fuel. The Kamado Joe KJ15040320 Charcoal Grill comes with an efficient ceramic firebox that allows for longer cooking times using less charcoal.

Can be Used for Both Grilling and Heating

Kamado grills like Joe KJ13RH Joe Jr. are versatile kitchen equipment that you can use for both cooking and heating. A Kamado grill is a mixture of a smoker and a grill. It is used for cooking and heating food, just like a conventional grill.

Safer than Other Smoker Grills

Kamado grills produce smoke that contains fewer carcinogens than a traditional charcoal grill. That is why using this grill is an effective way to reduce carcinogens in your diet. This is an advantage if you are trying to reduce your exposure to cancer-causing chemicals. You can go with top-selling kamado grills like Kamado Joe KJ23RHC.

Convenient to Use

Kamado grills are easy to assemble and set up. They offer outstanding heat retention and exceptional cooking efficiency. You can conveniently regulate the temperature of these grills to suit your preferences. Reviews of Char-Griller E56720 show that this model is a perfect choice for your outdoor cooking needs.

Cons of Kamado Grills

Creates Pollution

The Kamado grill is a tabletop grill that uses charcoal, vents, and dampers to regulate heat. Charcoal or wood pellets alternatively fuel these grills and can cause a considerable rise of pollutants in the air.

Fragile

Kamado grills are made of ceramic. This makes them fragile and delicate. This creates hesitation in the mind as it can easily break if subjected to higher pressure.

Slow to Cook

The kamado grill is a modern grill that uses the ancient method of cooking over an open fire. It is popular for its ability to cook with indirect heat, which means it cooks your food at a lower temperature than other grills and at a slower rate.

Can You Smoke Food in a Kamado Grill?

The answer is Yes. Using a Kamado grill like Char Griller E16620 is a great way to get the smoky flavor you crave. A Kamado grill is as close to the traditional smoker as you can get. it is easy to smoke on a Kamado grill. You need to get the airflow system right and start a fire to smoke food on a Kamado grill.

The first few times you smoke food on a Kamado grill, start with an easy, non-greasy food like eggs or fish. Once you have smoked food on the grill a few times, you’ll be ready to try smoking fatty meats like bacon and sausage.

Can You Use Regular Charcoal in a Kamado Grill?

The answer is Yes. You can use regular charcoal in the kamado grill but we suggest you use hardwood lump charcoal. Charcoal briquettes consist of wood dust, small shards of wood, and other filler materials. Regular charcoal may produce more ash and that is why it is not considered the best fuel for kamado grills.

Can You Burn Wood in a Kamado Grill?

You can add wood chunks after starting the fire with lump charcoal. Adding wood to your fire will help you achieve the right flavor. Make sure you look for odorless and clean-burning wood chunks.

How Long Does Kamado Grill Last?

The kamado grill can last for a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. Usually, the gas grills have a life of up to 10 or 15 years if you maintain them properly.

The best pellet grill is an important outdoor cooking appliance. It helps you cook your meat steaks with the natural wood-smoky flavor. Read our buying guide on portable pellet grill and know everything about it.

What Makes a Kamado Grill Unique?

A Kamado grill comes with a unique ceramic construction used to hold heat rather than the heat resting on the food, like other grills. Kamado grills like Char-Griller E6520 are made from a ceramic material called “Kawartha stone.” This material is baked until it forms a high-quality ceramic that is heavy enough to cook but light enough to be portable.

The ceramic material is also extremely porous, allowing for even heat distribution. The design of Kamado grills is based on traditional Japanese cooking styles, and most of the materials used in their construction are sourced from Japan.

Conclusion

Experienced chefs widely considered Kamado grills to be the absolute best grills on the market. Kamado grills have been widely used in Japan and other parts of Asia for centuries but only became popular outside of Asia a few decades ago. Read our other blog and know about the best small pellet grill for smoking and grilling.

BestViewsReviews rates and reviews hundreds of the best charcoal grills and top-rated propane grills based on build quality, heat retention, and ease of use.

Propane Vs Natural Grill: Which is Best for You?

propane vs natural grill

Do you love grilling food? Shopping for grills, propane and natural grills are considered the top choices. Both propane vs natural grills have ergonomic designs and emit a tiny amount of smoke, so choosing one is even more difficult. Traeger grills are an option that is easy to operate and cook like professional grills. Learn everything about Traeger grills on our blog.

Natural gas grills cook with hydrocarbons while propane gas grills cook with propane. Most households today have a grill as a favorite appliance. Gas grills offer a variety of benefits, this blog is focused on a comparison of propane vs natural grills.

What Is a Propane Grill?

Propane grills use propane gas, which has a higher energy content than its natural counterpart. Grilling and barbecuing with propane gas is more efficient because of its power and ability to heat rapidly. The propane grill also offers indirect heating and multi-zone cooking functions. They are also easy to use, starting up with just a turn of a dial. Even though propane is more expensive than natural gas, it is readily available at any store, and you will never run out. Compared to other barbecues, propane grills are much easier to clean.

What Is a Natural Grill?

The natural gas grill may be less popular than a charcoal grill, but it still has several advantages. It will be necessary for you to install a natural gas line in your home to use a natural gas barbecue. This option seems more expensive at first glance. The long-term cost of purchasing propane gas for a home may be less than purchasing it daily. Gas grills are easy to maintain and are just as eco-friendly as propane barbecues. It will take some time to set up a natural gas grill. Many natural gas grills come with a kit that makes the operation as simple as possible.

Advantages of Propane Grills

  • Easy to Use

Propane grills are easy to use, easy to light, and offer uniform heat throughout. The Blackstone 1554 has got positive reviews for its easy operations.

  • Heat Point of Propane Grills

Such grills reach their heating point within 10-15 minutes, unlike natural grills that take longer.

  • Easy to Clean

Gas grills have a cleaner fuel as compared to natural gas that uses coal. This makes them easy to clean and maintain.

Propane Grills Vs. Natural Grills

  • Propane VS Natural Grill- Energy Consumption

People prefer gas grills over natural gas because of a good supply of energy. Gas grills like Weber 49010001 are equipped with a powerful Gs4 high-performance grilling system. Gas grills also consume less energy per hour making them quite cost-efficient.

  • Propane Vs Natural Grill- Cost

The upfront costs of natural grills are higher than those of gas grills. It will be necessary to install a natural gas line if you don’t have one already. The installation services can be quite expensive. Although there is a significant cost while investing in a propane grill like the Napoleon P500RSIBNSS-3 Gas Grill, they are a one-time investment and require no prior installation.

  • Propane Vs Natural Grill-Refueling

As compared to natural gas grills, gas grills like Weber 57060001 Q3200 Liquid Propane Grill have propane tanks from which they get their source of energy. Once the propane tank runs out, you need to take it to the nearest store to refill. A natural grill involves coal that does not easily exhaust. A natural gas grill is a better option for people who grill frequently.

  • Propane Vs Natural Grill-Portability

Natural gas grills aren’t portable and can’t be moved around. Reviews of Blackstone 1666 Station are great because they can be used at any place you want to cook. You can remove the tank and reconnect it to the gas grill when you want to use it.

  • Propane Vs Natural Grill-Environment Friendliness

Natural gas grills like Monument 41847NG Grills are more eco-friendly as the gas stays underground and the emission is lesser as compared to propane gas grills. Both the grills emit carbon monoxide.

Can You Run Natural Gas in a Propane Grill?

You should never connect a propane gas grill to a natural gas line without first converting it. The process is quite simple, follow the steps outlined below.

  • Check to see if your grill is dual-fuel capable and can run on natural gas. Check your owner’s manual first since not all propane grills can use natural gas.
  • Invest in a conversion kit.
    You can convert a propane gas grill to a natural gas grill using a conversion kit. You’ll need to look at the rating label on your grill to determine the conversion kit.
  • Place the converter kit in place.
    You may convert your propane gas barbecue to natural gas after disconnecting the natural gas line. 
  • Begin grilling.
    CharBroil is the foundation for delicious meals and memorable parties. Whether you’re looking for a new gas grill or a conversion kit for one you already have, CharBroil can assist you. Propane grills give you the delicious taste of barbecues in the most convenient way. Check our blog on why you should switch to propane gas grills.

Conclusion

It doesn’t matter which grill you choose, both deliver excellent results in terms of taste. You can choose a grill that fits all your needs based on your budget and other requirements. Natural gas grills are an eco-friendly option that will allow for more savings in the future. Gas grills are ideal for those who cannot get a natural gas line installed and like portability.

BestViewsReviews rates and ranks some of the best charcoal grills and top-quality grill covers based on their durability, performance, and convenience.

Why You Should Switch to Propane Grill

propane grill

A propane grill is a type of gas grill that uses propane as fuel. It offers a large cooking area with heavy-duty grates, made of steel and cast iron material. Propane grills often come with 4 gas burners that produce even heat in the chamber. These grills give you the delicious taste of barbecues in the most convenient way.

The food gets cooked more quickly and efficiently in propane grills as compared to other outdoor grilling techniques. You can make delicacies like hamburgers, steaks, and chargrilled veggies in less than 20 minutes.

Buying the best gas grills is easy with our informative buying guide. Read our blog to know all about weber grills.

Benefits of Propane/Gas Grills

Convenience

Propane grills like MASTER COOK Grill are easy to start. They cook your food evenly and efficiently by maintaining a steady temperature. A propane grill also ensures that your dish exhibits a consistent woody flavor.

Easy Cleaning

Propane grills like Weber 51010001 Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill are easier to clean when compared to charcoal grills. Charcoal grills get deposited with the lumps and briquettes of coal, along with the ash and oil. Propane grills do not encourage the deposit of food debris and grease and you can clean them with one good wipe with a damp cloth.

Control

Propane grills reach the optimum temperature within a short span of fifteen minutes. These grills help you choose between indirect or multi-zone cooking with so many different controls, like in Char-Broil 463377319 Gas Grill.

Accessibility

Propane gas grills are expensive but are readily available in stores like Walmart and Home Depot. That is why you don’t have to worry about running out of propane.

Efficiency

Propane grills like Blackstone 1650 Tabletop Gas Grill work on propane gas as their source of energy. Propane gas is an efficient fuel and provides a lot of power to your grill at once.

A good-quality grill provides 2500 BTUs while a low-end models offer 1000-1500 BTUs. BTU is the conventional measuring unit for the amount of heat. We suggest that you go with Blackstone 1554 propane grills for the best results.

What to Consider While Buying Propane Grill?

Heat Distribution

Propane grills with heat retention design, heavy-duty grates, and high-quality burners are great for cooking versatile food items. Such grills offer even heat distribution and provide you with a wide temperature range for grilling different food contents.

Durability

The long-lasting nature of your selected propane grill is a must. Burners are often the most replaced part of the grill. You should look for burners that come with 7 to 10 years of warranty. The stainless steel propane grills have a sturdy and stable structure. The average life of a propane grill is around 7 to 15 years.

Safe Operation

You should look for grills that are safe to use. The grates should not have sharp edges. Check the distance between burners and grates. There should be a significant gap to avoid rapid flame flare. You can also go with handles that don’t touch the hot lid of the grill.

Size

The large-sized grills are good for cooking for a large group or family. These grills can easily grill about 20 or more burgers. Small and average-sized propane grills have generally 3 or 4 burners, while the large size burners can even have up to 6 burners. The small grills have a cooking chamber of up to 25 inches in width.

Stand–Alone Vs Built–In

The stand-alone grills are freestanding grills that are installed on a movable cart with wheels at the bottom. These grills are easy to maneuver and you can place them anywhere as per your convenience. Built-in grills are embedded in a kitchen island or kitchen countertop. Such grills add more aesthetics to your kitchen space.

Where to buy propane tanks for gas grills?

You can find propane in almost all utility stores around you. Knowing a propane cylinder exchange near you will be helpful too.

Should You Refill or Exchange Your Propane Tank?

You can go for refilling if you want to save a few bucks. Make sure you check your tank for leaks before refilling. If you’re a beginner, then exchanging would be the best option for you.

Final Verdict

Grilling is the preferred form of cooking to prepare delicious meals in just some minutes. Propane grills are an easy-to-use, convenient, and popular cooking appliance. it is important to understand the workings of a gas grill if you are a beginner. You can look at the color of the smoke to know if you are cooking correctly or not. The white smoke means the grilling is going well but if it is black smoke then the grill needs to be set right.

BestViewsReviews rates and ranks hundreds of best propane grills and top-rated portable grills based on build quality, design, and convenience.