Shop the best portable grills for summer, according to experts

Summer is here, and that means it's prime time for grilling. If you haven't invested in a great portable grill yet, now is the time!

To help you shop, we consulted with experts in the grilling field to find out what to look for when beginning your grill-shopping journey. From the materials used in its construction to the age-old charcoal vs. propane debate, here's what they had to say.

Meet our experts

First up, we spoke with Myron Mixon who is known as "the winningest man in BBQ" thanks to five world champion titles alongside " 200 grand championships resulting in over 1,800 total trophies, 30 state championships, 8 Team of the Year awards, and 11 national championships," per his official bio.

Mixon is also a New York Times best-selling cookbook author with a portfolio including such popular titles as "Smokin’ with Myron Mixon: Recipes Made Simple, from the Winningest Man in Barbecue" and "Myron Mixon’s BBQ Rules." You may also know him from television shows like "BBQ Rules," "Smoked" and a judging stint on "BBQ Pitmasters."

Our second expert is Gordon Maywald, general manager at Jetmore Fireplace and Barbecue Center in Wantagh, New York. The shop has been servicing customers in the New York area for more than 40 years and has grown to become the largest independently owned barbecue and fireplace center on Long Island.

Who is the best candidate for a portable grill?

In short, anyone who likes grilled food! Mixon noted there are generally two kinds of grillers: One who wants to create an elaborate setup in their backyard to show a bit, and another who wants to bring the grill out for events and then store it in the garage. The latter will doubly appreciate the portability factor of these grills, as most are compact enough to stash away easily and won’t take up too much space.

Portable grills are also incredibly handy for camping, tailgating, fishing and any other outdoor activity where you and your friends or family can enjoy a delicious meal together.

As Mixon pointed out, you can expect the same results from a portable grill as you would a standard-sized model. The only difference is how many people you plan to feed, so couples and smaller families can save thousands and experience the same great taste with a portable option.

What are the different types of portable grill?

Portable grills come with many different cooking methods from wood pellet-burning to electric. This roundup focuses mainly on propane and charcoal portable grills since they tend to be the most familiar and popular among buyers.

Should I choose a propane or charcoal portable grill?

Some of the main issues to consider with propane vs. charcoal are taste, ease of use and the repairs they'll need.

"With a charcoal grill, there's no real working parts per se," Maywald explained when we asked about the repairs he sees for various types of grills, calling those the most "trouble-free" to invest in.

Pellets grills are slightly different though, as Maywald says users frequently don't maintain them through proper cleaning (such as a weekly ash vacuuming) or they store pellets in a way that allows moisture to seep in and cause incorrect heating and jams in the auger, a piece that helps move the pellets through the machine.

He also cautions users that "the number one thing that goes wrong with gas grills is usually the ignition." Moisture in the air can corrode battery components in ignitions; grease can also pose issues over time. Plus, periods of inactivity (such as winter) allow spiders to build nests in burner tubes which can cause a backfire and ruin the grill controls.

Taste-wise, Mixon offered an easy question to ask yourself when choosing between charcoal and propane: Do you prefer Big Macs or Whoppers? If the answer is Whoppers, consider a charcoal grill while Big Mac lovers should consider propane.

As both of our experts pointed out, propane grills require a commitment to safety and following guidelines that buyers should familiarize themselves with. As long as you read the directions thoroughly before attempting to set up your grill and keep safety in mind, propane grills are a perfectly safe way to cook foods with heat only.

Speaking of safety, Mixon offered another bit of advice: Invest in a meat thermometer. He noted they're easy to find and can be purchased for cheap, and doing so can help prevent foodborne illness when you follow proper heating guidelines such as those outlined by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Using advice from both experts as well as real-life reviews from across retailers, we've selected a variety of grills that use both cooking methods to help you select the perfect portable grill ahead of summer.

Keep reading to shop our picks!

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Portable charcoal & wood grills

Portable propane grills

Grilling gifts, accessories & more

Now that you've selected a grill to handle all of your outdoor cooking needs, make sure to stock up on all the proper accessories like grill brushes, meat thermometers, spices and more to create your best meals.