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Bring the heat to game day with our favorite portable grills.
Credit: Southern Living/Tara Massouleh McCay
In This Article
Fall in the South is a showcase of long-held sports rivalries.
No great tailgate happens without a grill.
One thing about having a grill around for tailgating is that we get to enjoyhotfood, says ChefRoscoe Hall.
Credit: Amazon
A portable grill can crush all things.
It becomes your stove top from breakfast through dinner.
We evaluated each for design, ease of use, performance, and value.
We used the Weber Traveler’s ample cooking surface for sausages and burgers. We did find there was a significant loss of heat when the lid was raised.Credit: Southern Living / Tara Massouleh McCay
The large wheels were very sturdy, making it easy for us to move over a myriad of surfaces.
We found transporting the grill in the bed of a truck and trunk of a sedan mostly effortless.
Though there was a significant loss of heat when the lid was raised.
The one-knob temperature and igniter switch were both reliable and easy to use.
The temperature gauge on the lid stayed mostly true to our infrared thermometer readings which we found very helpful.
Cleanup was very easy with the Weber Traveler when the grates were oiled prior to grilling.
Overall the Traeger is a solid choice, especially if you want the dual function of smoker and grill.
We found the temperature controls were straightforward, allowing us to adjust the temperature easily.
The grilling performance was also impressive and our burgers and chicken cooked evenly.
Cleaning the Weber Go Anywhere was easy thanks to the smooth porcelain coating over the stainless steel.
The grates also cleaned easily when coated in oil prior to grilling.
Grilling for a crowd is easy with theWeber Traveler Portable Gas Grill.
One-hand set-up and a handy folding prep table allow many standard grilling comforts with the benefit of portability.
Simply unfold the legs and dial in your desired temperature and you are grilling in a snap.
We assessed the design of each grill noting different factors for cooking and transport.
The capacity for any grill is mostly based on the size of the grill itself.
A 16-ounce tank is available at most dealers.
It is light and portable for smaller grilling needs, mostly under two hours.
Charcoal, whether briquettes or lump, requires more monitoring for temperature over time.
Briquettes and lump both tend to burn fast and hot, making them great for burgers and hot dogs.
Certain types of lump charcoal are also commonly used for smoking and long, slow grilling.
Pellets can be a happy medium for avid smokers and grillers.
With pellets you are going to get a smokier flavor due to the wood pellets, says Hall.
They are light and portable with lots of flavor options.
They burn hot and work well on ribs and larger cuts that require more time.
Consider your cooking needs before you choose your grill.
Knowing that cooking and prep space are guaranteed to be limited, successful tailgating heavily relies on good planning.
Figaro says to prep the night before.
Itll make game day so much easier.
Portability
Portability is the primary feature of a tailgate grill.
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Look for one that is light enough to move easily over different surfaces.
If you plan to carry it alone, walk it around the store assessing the handle comfort and weight.
If you will have help, take someone to the store and try it out.
The Traeger Tailgater was able to grill a turkey breast, whole chickens, various chicken cuts, sausages, and hot dogs over four occasions for a group of six.Credit: Southern Living / Russell Kilgore
If it comes with wheels, be sure to try the over several surfaces to gauge their durability.
Foldable legs or a fully collapsible frame help to keep the grill compact and therefore, easier to transport.
It can grow bacteria even just a few days closed and dirty.
With so much emphasis on cleaning, it is important that the grill is easy to clean.
Questions and Answers
Are grills for tailgating as durable as full-size grills?
Can you put a tailgate grill on a plastic table?
Regardless of your table, you should always read the limitations in the grills instructions for tabletop materials.
How much do tailgate grills cost?
Why Trust Southern Living?
Tiffany Vickers Davisis a chef and writer based in Birmingham.
She is a seasoned product tester and writer, evaluating products over multiple categories.
He is also a celebrated artist.
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Despite its small footprint, the Weber Go-Anywhere was large enough for us to cook six chicken breasts or burgers at a time.Credit: Southern Living / Nellah McGough
We grilled and smoked a variety of proteins for groups of four to 10 people to assess the capacity of each grill.Credit:Southern Living / Russell Kilgore
