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We’ve all seen those movies where people enjoy BBQing in their big backyards… But, just because you don’t have a big outdoor space doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy grilled food. A tabletop gas grill is a perfect choice for you if you don’t have lots of outdoor space to work with.
These grills don’t take up much space, and you can put them on any surface you have at hand. You can even use them on an apartment balcony! Furthermore, a tabletop gas grill is every traveler’s best friend. It’s lightweight and it fits in every car trunk. You can use it anywhere, from the beach to the mountain.
There are a lot of tabletop gas grills on the market, and it’s not easy choosing the right product. For this guide, we’ve taken into consideration all the important features such a grill needs to have, and we’ve selected five grills we believe are the best choices.
Table of Contents
Our pick: Char-Broil Grill2Go X200 Portable TRU-Infrared Liquid Propane Gas Grill
Runner-up: Weber 51040001 Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
In a hurry? This is our winner!
Runner Up
Best Tabletop Gas Grills – Comparison Table
Best Tabletop Gas Grills – Reviews
This is a grill that looks like it can survive through the apocalypse. The firebox is made out of cast-aluminum and has two stainless steel latches that keep the lid closed, while two side carrying handles make this grill perfect for camping trips. There’s also an in-built temperature gauge for easy heat monitoring and control.
This grill features 200 square inches of cooking area. The steel grate is large enough for cooking 8 to 10 burgers at a time. The unique thing about this model is the TRU-Infrared cooking system. It spreads the heat evenly across the cooking surface, and it gives you greater temperature control. The Infrared system creates a barrier between the food and the flame, which means you can forget about flare-ups and charred food. In return, your food will stay juicy and flavorful. Furthermore, manufacturers claim that the Infrared grill has up to 30% less gas consumption than a regular gas grill.
The model comes with a removable grease tray, made out of powder-coated steel. It’s easy to clean, which is an important factor, especially on field trips and camping. However, grate cleaning is not so simple. While steel is a forgiving material, it’s the triangular shape of the grates that requires a bit more time and effort. You do have a grate cleaning tool included when purchasing a grill, but even with it, it’s still difficult to reach all the corners.
- Road worthy and built to travel easy
- Cast aluminum firebox and lid with dual stainless steel latches and temp gauge
- High-impact frame with legs and carry handles
- No flare-up TRU-Infrared cooking system
- 200 square inch stainless steel grilling grate
- Sturdy design
- The infrared system keeps the food moist
- Great for trips in nature
- Somewhat difficult to clean
The first thing we notice about this Weber grill is its unique, modern design that stands out in every backyard. You can get it in several vibrant colors such as orange or green, but there are also basic color options like grey and black. Not only fancy looking, but this grill is also well made. Cast aluminum construction makes it durable with minimal maintenance requirements.
This unit has 189 square inches of cooking area, which can fit 6 burgers at a time. It comes with two porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates, which are great at retaining heat. The grates can be replaced by compatible griddles (sold separately), which allows you to make anything from eggs to pancakes on this grill.
The burner is made out of high-grade stainless steel, and its oval shape distributes the heat evenly across the grates. The shape of the grill allows the heat circulation around the food. The control settings on the burner valve let you be very precise with the desired temperature.
Both grates and the grill body are easy to clean. Furthermore, the unit has a good grease management system. The food juices are funneled down onto a removable grease tray. You can put a disposable aluminum catch pan into the tray for even easier cleanup. Once you’re done using the grill, simply throw away the pan into the garbage.
This model comes with foldable side shelves that provide you with ample prep space. Furthermore, it has a built-in thermometer, which lets you keep track of the temperature inside the grill.
- One Stainless Steel Burner Produces 8500 BTU-Per-Hour To Heat 189 Square-Inch Total Cooking Area
- Porcelain-Enameled Cast-Iron Cooking Grates And Cast Aluminum Lid And Body
- Built-in lid thermometer, folding side tables, glass-reinforced nylon frame and removable catch pan
- Dimensions - lid closed and tables out (inches): 15.5 H x 40.9 W x 16.5 D. Easy-Start Electronic Ignition And Infinite Control Burner Valve Settings
- Uses Disposable 14.1 Or 16.4 oz LP Cylinder (Sold Separately) and fully Assembled Out Of Box
- Easy to clean
- Multiple color options
- You can replace the grate with a griddle
- 5-year warranty
- One heat zone
This tabletop griddle from Blackstone comes in two sizes – 17-inch and 22-inch. In our opinion, the latter is a better choice as it gives you more cooking surface and more versatility than the smaller one.
With a cooking area of 330 square inches, this is the largest tabletop grill on this list. You have plenty of space to cook for the whole family, and since it’s a griddle, you can cook whatever you want. The griddle is great for making anything from ribs and burgers to pancakes and eggs. Furthermore, with a griddle, you can forget all about flare-ups and leaked juices.
The griddle comes with two H shaped burners which can be independently controlled. This allows you to cook versatile food at the same time without burning anything. You can also keep one side on the “warm” setting, while preparing the rest of the food on another side. This is the main feature that differentiates the 22-inch model from the 17-inch one, as the latter comes with only one burner.
The cleaning is simple with this griddle. It has a built-in grease channel on the back, which drains the grease away. The cooking surface is made out of cold-rolled steel, which is an easy-maintenance material. Let the griddle cool down after cooking, scrape stuck-on food with a spatula, and wipe it down with a paper towel. That’s it! To prevent corrosion, always keep the griddle seasoned.
- Make your outdoor adventures a delicious affair with Blackstone 22" tabletop griddle. This portable griddle has everything you need to whip up a smorgasbord of eggs, crunchy hash browns, crispy bacon and fluffy pancakes all at the same time.
- Portable convenience: Whether you are cooking in your backyard or out in nature, make sure to take this lightweight, versatile flat top griddle with you. Thanks to the compact size, you can carry it for barbecue get-together, tailgating, fishing, pool parties, and more.
- Cook for one, cook for all: 339 Sq. Inch cooking surface and 24,000 BTUs of heat mean all your cooking challenges will be met quickly. The large space of our outdoor griddle is perfect for cooking eggs, hash browns, bacon, French toast and other things yum!
- Powerful "H" burners for even heat: This heavy duty griddle is powered by two "H" style burners that ensure optimal heat distribution and even cooking. Both the burners feature built-in igniters and can be controlled independently, allowing you to cook food at different temperatures.
- Innovative grease management system: If you plan on cooking bacon or any other juicy meats, clean up can be tedious. Luckily, our heavy-duty flat griddle features a rear grease trap that collects all the mess and makes after-cooking clean up a breeze.
- Large cooking surface
- Easy cleaning
- Adjustable heat zones
- Only a 90-day warranty
This grill from Cuisinart has a rather simple design, yet it’s quite a beast. It comes with two burners that generate up to 10,000 BTUs each. This means you can reach the desired temperature in no time. Furthermore, a built-in thermometer gives you better heat control.
The grill comes with 275 square inches of cooking surface. The grates are made out of stainless steel, which makes them long-lasting if properly taken care of. In fact, the whole construction is made out of stainless steel, which means it’s quite sturdy. On the other hand, it weighs 25 pounds, which is not heavy considering the material it’s made out of, meaning it’s great for camping trips. It also has a locking cover, foldable legs, and a carrying handle.
The burners on this grill can be used independently, which allows you to create two heat zones. You can prepare both meat and vegetables at the same time, without burning anything. Furthermore, the lid is a bit rounded so it can fit a larger chunk of meat, and the locking mechanism keeps it shut without losing heat, which is great for searing.
When it comes to maintenance, stainless steel is a material that is easy to clean. However, its longevity depends on how well you take care of it, and if you keep it moist for a longer period of time, it will rust. The model comes with a removable grease pan, which you can pull out and clean after use.
- Sets up in under 10 minutes without tools
- 2 Stainless Burners total 20,000 BTUs
- Twist Start ignition and integrated thermometer
- Fits Cuisinart CGG-306 grill and VersaStand grills CGG-180 and CEG-980
- Use as a tote bag with the convenient carry handles
- Strong burners make the grill heat up fast
- Sturdy construction
- Easy maintenance
- 3-year warranty
- Stainless steel grates can be sticky
This grill from Pit Boss is another full-on stainless steel grill on our list. The manufacturers say the body of the grill is made out of type 430 stainless steel, which is a decent quality material with good corrosion resistance. The grate on this model is type 304, which is even more durable and heat-resistant, and if maintained well, it will last you a very long time.
This grill is made with portability in mind. It has a sturdy lifting handle and locking latches on the sides of the grill, so you can carry it from the patio to your car trunk without hassle. It has legs so the bottom of the grill doesn’t touch the table or whatever surface you put it on, and you can fold the legs when it’s not used.
The cooking surface is 276 square inches, which gives you plenty of space for a family meal. The grill is powered by 2 independently controlled burners that generate up to 10,000 BTUs each. That’s pretty strong for a grill this size, meaning it will heat up in the blink of an eye. There are flavor enhancers covering the burners, which prolongs their life. The food juices drop on the enhancers, vaporize and therefore spice up the food.
This portable grill from Pit Boss is rather simple, yet has everything a tabletop grill needs to have. Ample cooking area, decent construction material and strong burners. There’s a dome thermometer on the lid, which helps with keeping a close eye on the temperature. Furthermore, it has a removable grease pan, which is a must.
- 430 stainless Steel body and lid construction and 304 stainless Steel grid construction
- Two 10, 000 BTU burner design delivers the perfect amount of heat for grilling and searing
- Portable design features folding legs and latching Hood for easy carry
- Push and turn ignition and dome thermometer
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- 5-year burner warranty
- Two heat zones
- Easy upkeep
- Steel grates need careful maintenance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Kh_-ztEdM
Best Tabletop Gas Grills – Buyers Guide
What to Look for in a Tabletop Gas Grill?
Buying a new appliance is never an easy thing. More often than not, we’re torn between two or three similar models. In such cases, you need to decide which features of a grill are the most important for you, and then see which model fits your needs the best. Here are some of the features you should consider when choosing the right grill:
Size
Since you’re buying a tabletop gas grill, we’ll assume that hosting a bbq party for 20 people is not your usual weekend pastime (you won’t be needing a six burner gas grills). Still, tabletop grills come in a variety of sizes and you need to figure out how big of a grill you need.
The size of a cooking area is shown in square inches. In general, we would say that 200 square inches of the cooking surface is enough for 8 to 10 burgers. Of course, this is only a rough estimate.
Number of burners
Tabletop grills generally come with one or two burners (rarely with three burners). The main difference is that dual burners give you the option of having two heat zones, which is useful when making different types of food at the same time. You can have your veggies on one side, and meat on the other, and nothing will get burned. With one burner, you can’t do that.
Ease of cleaning
This depends on the material the grill is made out of. This is especially important when it comes to cooking grates. Porcelain-enameled grates are easiest to clean, while cast iron requires high maintenance. Furthermore, a removable grease pan is a helping hand when it comes to cleaning the grill after use.
Portability
Most tabletop grills aren’t heavy – their weight ranges from 15 to 35 pounds. They won’t break any backs, but if you plan on using the grill on the beach, camping and road trips, it’s always better to have something that you can grab and carry in one hand. Carrying handles and locking latches are always a plus.
Final Verdict
Tabletop gas grills are a great choice for everyone, whether you already have a big backyard grill (maybe the grill with the four burners) or you’re a first-time grill owner. These grills are rather versatile – you can use them anywhere – the kitchen, apartment terrace or out in the woods (or even to be built in gas grills), all you need is a propane tank (or a natural gas) and you’re good to go. One tabletop grill that stands out is Char-Broil Grill2Go X200, which is great for home usage as well as trips and campsites. It’s decent sized, sturdy, and its Infrared technology keeps the food juicy. If you’re looking for something a bit more versatile, then Weber Q1200 grill is a better choice for you. You can change the grate for a griddle, and cook whatever you want. We hope this guide was helpful and whichever grill you get, will suit you well.
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