10 Best Camping Grills

Cooking the old-fashioned way while camping certainly makes any camping experience more memorable. For outdoor adventurers, cooking over an open fire is part and parcel of any camping trip. However, this requires much time, effort, and skill. You’d have to keep an eye on your food to make sure that it cooks properly. Moreover, campfires aren’t that easy to manage and can even pose hazards for the inexperienced.

This is why many opt to bring their own camping grills. The chances of ending up with charred, tasteless food is almost nil. Wet climate and damp air won’t be any problem as well. Most importantly, a variety of food can be conveniently cooked with a camping grill.

Then again, with the hordes of camping grills out there, it can be confusing to choose the best one to use. Here, we’ll go over a few things you should consider when buying a camping grill, our top picks, and how to take care of your grills so they last a lifetime.

Basic Types of Camping Grills

While there’s a plethora of camping grills you can choose from, they all basically fall into two types according to the kind of fuel they use.

Propane grills

Propane camping grills are the quickest and most convenient way to cook while camping. Compared to other types, they’re easier to light, heat faster, and able to maintain constant heat throughout the cooking process.

Liquid propane is affordable and comes in handy cylinders that don’t take up too much space. Just one 16-oz cylinder can last two to six hours, depending on the BTU (British Thermal Unit) of the grill. Moreover, propane burns clean and doesn’t add any unwanted flavors on your food.

The only downside to propane camping grills is that they tend to be heavy and aren’t that portable.

Charcoal grills

Charcoal camping grills are often the choice of backpackers because they’re lightweight and portable. They’re also ideal for those who avoid gas for ecological reasons.

However, carrying a load of charcoal can be a hassle. One 16-oz canister of propane would be equivalent to about 5–10 pounds of charcoal. So while the grill itself is handy, lugging that much coal may not be that easy. Another downside to charcoal grills is that they require more attention when cooking. You need to get the charcoal hot enough, manage airflow to maintain a constant temperature, and watch the food to make sure it doesn’t burn.

Nonetheless, even with these disadvantages, they trump propane grills when it comes to flavor. You can get that rich smoky flavor and unique taste of charcoal-grilled food only from using real coals.

Aside from these two types of grills, there are also those that you can prop right over the campfire such as grill grates or tripod grills. While they’re smaller and easier to carry, you risk getting charred or unevenly cooked food because campfires are hard to regulate.

What to Look for in a Camping Grill

With hundreds of options available in stores, choosing a camping grill can be daunting. Before making your purchase, there are several factors to consider. Among these are:

Grate size or grilling surface

This determines how much you can cook at a time, how fast the grill heats up, and how much fuel you’ll need to cook all your food. The bigger the grate size, the more fuel it needs, and the more people you can feed.

Grate material

Stainless steel types are easy to clean and rust-resistant. Porcelain-enameled ones are the easiest to clean but also require much care. They lose their nonstick ability when they get scratched or worn away. Another option are cast-iron grates which are durable and have excellent heat retention.

Temperature control

With built-in thermometers, you avoid undercooking or overcooking your food even without hawking over it while it’s cooking.

Ignition button

If you prefer a gas grill, look for one with an ignition button or switch. These no-flame ignitions are easier to light up. Plus, you can use them even if you forget to bring matches.

Portability

Among the most common problems campers face is having to haul too much equipment to the campsite. You can avoid this problem by choosing a grill that’s compact, lightweight, and easy to carry.

Ease of use

You don’t want to waste hours of your precious camping time setting up the grill instead of enjoying the great outdoors. Get something you can set up in just around five to ten minutes.

Ease of cleaning

Avoid the stress of having to clean messy grills by choosing ones that are in stainless steel or are porcelain-enameled. Non-stick surfaces make clean-up a breeze. Removable drip trays or grease traps also shorten clean-up time.

Shelving

Space for food preparation can be limited while camping. A grill with side tables that extend or fold away can give you much needed space to prepare your food or hold your cooking utensils.

Burner power

The amount of heat that a grill fuel source puts out is measured in BTUs. The more BTU a grill has, the hotter it can get, and the faster you can cook your food.

Aside from these, there are also other features unique to individual grills. With so many features and options to consider, how do you know which grill is the best for you? You can narrow down your choices by asking the following questions:

Where will you use the grill?

If you’re going to a car camp or an RV camp, you can opt for bigger grills that are highly versatile. Choose one that can also be used with pots and pans and even as an oven. Size wouldn’t matter much in this case because you’d have plenty of storage space in an RV or a tailgate.

However, portability becomes an important factor if you’re trekking to your campsite. For this, you’ll need a lightweight grill that you can easily pack in your bag along with other essentials. In either case, charcoal grills that can double as a firepit for campfire are good choices.

How many people will you be cooking for?

It’ll be cumbersome to cook so many batches on a small grill if you’re feeding a squad. So, take note of the amount of food you’d be cooking, and get a suitably sized grill.

Which do you prefer, gas or charcoal?

Grills that work on propane gas are the most convenient to use. You can easily control the cooking temperature, and there won’t be any ash or residues to clean up after. On the other hand, charcoal gives your food that wonderful smoked flavor and aroma. So, decide which one is more important to you: convenience or smoky flavor.

What other features do you really need?

Depending on where and how often you’ll be using your camping grill, some features may be necessary while some may not. Make sure you consider how you’re going to use the grill long-term and not just for the first camping trip.

How to Make Your Camping Grill Last a Lifetime

When you invest in any camping equipment, you’d want to get your money’s worth and make it last as long as possible. That’s why durability is among the factors we all consider when buying equipment. To make your grill last longer, here are some precautions and care you should take:

Always observe proper safety practices when using your grill.

Keep away from hanging branches. Set up your grill about 12 feet away from any hanging branch.

Ensure stable footing when setting up your grill. Stomp the topsoil into the ground. Adjust the grill legs properly to prevent it from tipping over when you load your food on it.
Clear leaves and twigs nearby.

Keep your grill clean.

Clean your grill before you use it. Any grease or dirt left on the grill can send pillars of smoke and tongues of flame into the sky.
Clean your grill after using it. Use a grill brush to remove fat. Wipe the rest of the parts clean.

Store your grill properly.

Thoroughly clean your grill before putting it in storage. Brush off leftover food scraps and grease. Soak and scrub removable burners, and clean out all debris.
Coat burners and other metal parts with cooking oil to repel moisture and prevent rust.
If you’re using a gas grill, remove the propane tank, and tape a plastic bag over the opening to keep insects away from the gas line. Store the propane tank upright.