A portable grill is another excellent option for people looking to cook outdoors. While these appliances come in a compact size, they help make tasty meals anywhere from your backyard to the lake’s shore.
Also, they come in handy when you are hosting a big cookout, portable grill to lend extra firepower. However, there are hundreds of this model on the market, which makes decision making a bit tricky.
Nevertheless, we are here to help you make the right choice. Check out our detailed reviews of the best tabletop top gas grill and our buying advice to guide you through selecting a model that works best for you.
Things to Consider to When Purchasing a Tabletop Gas Grill
To pick the right model, you need to consider a couple of factors to ensure you get the most bang for your buck.
In this section, here are some of the main areas to put into consideration when trying to pin down the right tabletop gas grill.
Portability
One of many reasons to own a tabletop gas grill is because of its impressive portability. This appliance is suitable for small outdoor space like an apartment and also great for on the go grilling.
Moreso, they are an excellent choice for outdoorsy people looking to grill on their camping or adventurous trips, thanks to their easy-to-grab design for convenience.
Cooking Surface Area
if your next cookout includes more than ten people, then you should consider a model with sizeable cooking space. There are a plethora of cooking spaces and sizes to pick from, despite their small size design.
The cooking space of a model is measured in square inches, which is a bit abstract and may require to map it out. Nevertheless, you can make sure of this benchmark as a guide: 150 sq inch grilling area can accommodate 6 – 10 chicken breasts or eight burgers. When trying to pin down the right grill space, you need to consider the number of people you are looking to feed.
Warming Rack
another handy feature to consider is a warming rack. This space is an additional cooking space designed to allow you to keep the food warm while you are still cooking on the main grilling area. This aspect of the grilling area makes culinary multitasking easier and palatable. Besides, the warming rack helps finish cooking chicken breast and other items without drying them out.
Number of Burners
most people often think, the number of burners and cooking space are related, but there are not. The number of burners a grill has, the more control it offers over the heat. Each burner offers a specific range of heat levels for a precise area.
Some tabletop gas grill comes with more than one burner to provide you with multiple heat areas; therefore, allowing you to cook different food items simultaneously without any hassle.
Ease of use
also, before splurging on a unit, you should ensure that the model makes grilling easier and convenient. Some of the tabletop gas grills require matches or lighter to get the grill started. However, models with easy lighting and auto igniting offer optimal convenience.
Best Tabletop Gas Grill – Reviews by Consumer Reports
Bull Outdoor Products 87049 Lonestar Select Natural Gas Drop-In Grill Head
The Bull Outdoor Products 87049 Lonestar Select comes with four stainless steel burners, each offering an impressive cooking power of 15000 BTU. This means you get a whopping 60000 BTU cooking power, which should be more than enough to cook any type of dish to restaurant grade.
That’s not all; each burner comes with a zinc knob and Piezo igniters, to allow you to cook multiple dishes at the same time and different heat levels. Also, like most models on this list, Bull Outdoor Products 87049 Lonestar Select features 304 stainless steel construction to ensure impressive durability. The great are also made of solid stainless steel for hassle-free cleaning.
One of the many bells and whistles this model features is it to the lighting system. This feature is worth talking about as it allows you to grill at night with ease. Even better, there is a 210 square inch warming rack to toast your buns and keep other food items warm while cooking on the main 810 square inch grilling surface area.
Pros:
- Even heat distribution
- Large cooking space
- Lighting systems for night grilling
- Solid stainless steel construction
Cons:
- Not very compact and portable
Bull Outdoor Products 26038 Liquid Propane Outlaw Drop-In Grill Head
Another spot, another tabletop gas grill from Bull Outdoor with an impressive 60,000 BTU’s heat capacity. This unit is designed to sear your favorite cut of meat with quick heat up time. It comes with four porcelain-enameled ba burners to offer trouble-free grilling and even heat for many years to come.
Outlaw Drop-In Grill from Bull Outdoor features sturdy 304 stainless steel construction the brand is known for. Plus, there’s a single-piece dual lined hood that lifts easily for easy access to the cooking grates made of stainless steel.
Like Bull Outdoor Products 87049 Lonestar Select Natural Gas Drop-In Grill Head, this tabletop grill comes with an ample 810 square inches of grilling space plus a warming rack for more cooking options. Further, each burner includes a Piezo igniter to offer reliable, quick start at all times.
Pros:
- stainless steel construction
- 60,000 heat capacity
- even heating
- ideal for outdoor cooking
Cons:
- Poor customer support
Solaire Anywhere Portable Infrared Propane Gas Grill, Stainless Steel
Next up is Solaire Anywhere Portable Infrared Propane Gas Grill with reliable, convenient start-ups – thanks to its electronic push-button ignition. It offers a cooking space of 155 sq inches, which holds eight hamburgers for your family dinner. Under this reasonably-sized cooking grates is a huge 14,000 BTU heat capacity to cook any meal to restaurant grade.
That’s not the best part, Solaire Anywhere Portable Infrared Propane Gas Grill features the brand’s V-shape stainless steel grids to minimize flare-ups and increase flavor. Also, it comes with a carrying bag for easy transportation and storage when not in use.
Here’s the good news: this unit is accompanied by a year limited warranty, which protects your investment. Coming with a commercial-grade stainless steel welded construction, you should expect this model to be quite durable.
Pros:
- electronic push-button ignition
- 14,000 BTUs of infrared power
- 140 sq inches of grilling area
- high-temperature range
Cons:
- heat distribution could be better
Solaire SOL-IR17BWR Anywhere Portable Infrared Warming Rack Gas Grill, Stainless Steel
Another tabletop Grill ideal for picnics, RVs, balconies, boating, camping, tailgaters, and backyards is Solaire SOL-IR17BWR. This model will make a good take-along on any trip that requires great juicy tasting grilled food.
While this unit comes with a sizeable 140 square inches of cooking space, it is equipped with 14000 BTU of infrared power, which allows you to cook just about anything. This portable grill heats up in less than 5 minutes to a high searing temperature, which helps lock in more juice. Not only that, but it also helps eliminate flare-ups and improve flavor, thanks to the brand’s V-grate.
Similarly, Solaire SOL-IR17BWR Anywhere Portable Infrared Warming Rack Gas Grill comes with an electronic push-button ignition to eliminate the hassle associated with lightning a grill with matches or lighter. Besides, it makes it much easier to get this grill started since it requires less assembling.
Pros:
- Made from 20 gauge type-304 stainless steel
- electronic push-button ignition
- Includes a warming rack
- Easy to carry and store
- Quick heat up
Cons:
- cleaning is a bit trouble
Cuisinart CGG-306 Professional Tabletop Gas Grill
With two powerful burners, dedicated control knobs, and electronic ignition, this model has everything to make grilling outdoors great. On top of that, Cuisinart CGG-306 Professional Tabletop Gas Grill does not require any assembly and ready to use out of the box.
Both burners deliver 20,000 BTU cooking power for cooking your large cuts of meat on the stainless grates. Its lightweight and portable design allow easy transportation. Thanks to its convenient carrying handle, folding leg and locking cover, this grill is easy to take anywhere.
Pros:
- easy and fast setup
- powerful two-burner system
- impressive heat control
- lightweight and compact
Cons:
- Poor customer support
Cuisinart CGG-059 Grillster 8,000 BTU Portable Gas Grill
Cuisinart CGG-059 Grillster 8,000 BTU Portable Gas Grill is our top choice with several bonuses without a step up in costs. This model comes with 146 sq inches of enameled steel cooking grates to offer ample cooking space to cook more than a family-sized meal and big slabs of meat.
While this unit comes in a compact design, it’s not really a grab-and-go option considering its weight. In addition, this model does not take a lot of space, unlike most tabletop grills out there.
It’s common to have a tabletop grill that fails to get hot enough to deliver that premium, restaurant-quality sear. With this appliance, you don’t have to worry. It is equipped with 8,000 BTU burner compatible with a 1lb. Propane tank for optimal portability.
For the sake of convenience, Cuisinart CGG-059 Grillster 8,000 BTU Portable Gas Grill features a push-to-ignite start button and dishwasher safe component for hassle-free cleaning. On top of that, there is a hood that lifts for easy access to the grates and features a lock with easy latch for secure carry and storage.
Pros:
- easy to set up
- 146 sq inch cooking space
- dishwasher safe
- 8,000 BTU heat capacity
- stainless steel construction
Cons:
- not ideal for a large cookout
Masterbuilt SH19030819 Smoke Hollow PT300B Propane Grill, Tabletop
Some models are not an ideal choice for outdoor use, but Masterbuilt SH19030819 Smoke Hollow isn’t one of those. It is built with stainless steel to offer BBQ grillers on the go grilling. This long-lasting construction allows users to enjoy an amazing grilling experience for many years to come.
This tabletop is a go-to tailgating, boating, camping, backyard, and picnic. Regardless of your grilling needs, this model’s stainless steel firebox is up for the task. With a large 205 square inches of cooking space, Masterbuilt SH19030819 Smoke Hollow is enough to cook meals for your family and a couple of extra friends.
To support culinary multitasking, this unit is equipped with a stainless steel “U” burner bringing a whopping 10,000 BTU of cooking power to the table. Also, it is designed with compactness in mind. It features foldable stainless steel legs, locking lid, and large carry handle on the front for easy carry and secure storage.
On top of that, you always enjoy the included warming rack to keep your dishes warm while you make use of the main grilling area to prepare other cuisines.
Pros:
- Chrome-plated warming rack
- Solid stainless steel construction
- 10000 BTU cooking capacity
- sizeable cooking space
Cons:
- the igniter is not very reliable
Conclusion
that’s all on the best tabletop gas grill. Now, it’s up to you to make a choice that caters for your outdoor cooking needs. Still, having trouble choosing a grill? Then check out our buying guide.
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