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It’s a cool, calm Autumn day and your favorite team has a game tonight. To get yourself excited for the game, you and your friends are tailgating in the stadium parking lot. You have your drinks. You have your music. But what you don’t have is hot food.
What you need is a tailgate grill. These grills are compact and portable, capable of being carried from place to place with ease. Allowing you to cook food in small areas, they are perfect for making hamburgers, hotdogs, and other foods before a big game.
What exactly is a Tailgate Grill?
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A tailgate grill is a grill that can be easily transported to various types of get-togethers such as pre-game tailgates. Undersized and light when compared with standard grills, they are easy to store into your car, and are capable of being operated in tight quarters.
Available in all fuel formats, including charcoal, propane, and more, tailgate grills are often accompanied by small, compact fuel sources, such as miniature propane tanks. If you’re looking to get out to the stadium parking lot in order to have some food and fun before the game starts, a tailgate grill is a vital piece of equipment to have.
What are the Benefits and Drawbacks of a Tailgate Grill?
If you’re into tailgating, a tailgating grill would be very useful to you. These types of grills have a huge advantage over standard grills when it comes to grilling in public areas. Because they are small and compact, they are very easy to transport from place to place.
Where tailgate grills pale in comparison to standard grills is in their size. Because they are compact, they are not capable of grilling large amounts of food at once. They are more appropriate for grilling a hamburger or two at a time.
Also See: The Best Charcoal Smoker (Guide)
Who are the Contenders for Best Tailgate Grill?
Weber 386002 Q 100 Portable 189-Square-Inch 8500-BTU Liquid-Propane Gas Grill
A propane gas grill with an 8,500 BTU burner, the Weber 386002 packs a lot of power in a compact cookbox. Adorned with legs that are made of a tough polymer material, it is both highly durable and easy to carry. Its cast-iron cooking grate is enameled with porcelain, keeping it hot and consistent over long periods of time, and helping to make it the best tailgate grill on the market today.
Lodge L410 Pre-Seasoned Sportsman’s Charcoal Grill
Measuring in at 19 inches x 10 ¼ inches x 8 ¼ inches, and weighing around 32 pounds, the Lodge L410 is a compact and easy-to-carry portable grill. It’s powered by charcoal and possesses a high-quality, Hibachi-style cooking grate. With a draft door that helps to regulate heat, it provides you with a precise and constant burn.
Weber 10020 Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill
With porcelain-enameled exterior coating, the Smokey Joe is designed to withstand poor weather conditions. Weighing in at a miniscule 9.5 pounds, this charcoal grill is beyond easy to transport from place to place. A glass-reinforced nylon handle makes it easy to remove the grill’s lid at any point in time.
Considerations for Choosing the Right Tailgate Grill
The primary thing to consider when looking for the best tailgate grill is convenience. You want to be able to transport it from place to place with as little hassle as possible. This means that big grills are out of the question, and that smaller grills are what you should be looking for. However, there is more to a great tailgate grill than just size and transportability. There are several other factors to consider, such as fuel type, durability, and the quality of the grill’s burner.
Portability
The absolute most important aspect of a tailgate grill is that it’s able to be transported from one place to another with little trouble or hassle. You don’t want to have to lug around a giant propane grill with you every time you cook out in public. Finding a lightweight grill with rubber-gripped handles will ensure that it can be easily transported.
Fuel Type
In general, grills are fueled by three different types of fuel: charcoal, propane, and gas. Each fuel type offers its own benefits and drawbacks to the function of the grill as well as to the taste of the food being grilled. Though propane is more convenient for its ability to start a grill quickly, you might prefer the taste that charcoal is able to produce in food. Pick at your own discretion.
Durability
As with any product, durability is something that you must consider when making a purchase on a tailgate grill. You don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a grill that’s just going to give up on you in a few month’s time. Because tailgate grills are meant to be outside, they might be exposed to poor weather. You want to make sure that your grill is resistant to rain and other extreme weather conditions.
Burner Quality
Obviously if you’re going to be cooking food on a grill, you want to make sure that its burner works adequately. If you purchase a propane grill, you probably won’t have much trouble with heat retention and consistency. But if you purchase a charcoal grill, you’re going to want to make sure that it allows you to vent heat so that you can alter temperatures and keep the burn consistent.
Conclusion: Our Tailgate Grill Reviews
Weber 10020 Smokey Joe 14-Inch Portable Grill – Best Cheap
Available at an affordable price, the Smokey Joe is a great charcoal grill for taking to tailgates and other outdoor get-togethers. With a 14 ½ inch diameter cooking surface, it provides you with plenty of room for grilling meat while sacrificing nothing in the way of portability. Its porcelain-enameled coating protects it from rain and other sources of precipitation, staving off rust and early deterioration. If you’re looking for a tailgate grill that offers high quality at a low price, you should definitely consider the Smokey Joe.
Pros:
- Safe against precipitation
- Extremely lightweight
Cons:
- No carry handles
- Has trouble maintaining a consistent temperature
Fox Outfitters Quick Grill Medium: Original Folding Charcoal BBQ Grill – Best for the Money
With the ability to be folded compactly, the Quick Grill offers great portability and storage benefits at a very reasonable price. Made of stainless steel, it is capable of burning both wood and charcoal. With a cooking surface measuring in at 12 inches x 12 inches, it allows you to grill a great deal of food compared to other portable charcoal grills. If you’re looking for a ridiculously portable tailgate grill at a reasonable price, you should take a look at the Fox Outfitters Quick Grill.
Pros:
- As portable of a grill as you will find
- Comes with a carrying case
Cons:
- Slightly flimsy construction
- Doesn’t come with clamps to attach cooking surface to legs
Weber 386002 Q 100 Portable 189-Square-Inch 8500-BTU Liquid-Propane Gas Grill – Best Overall
The premier tailgate grill currently on the market is the Weber 386002 Q 100. Fueled by propane, it makes use of a compact tank that is easy to transport and that doesn’t get in the way. With a porcelain-enameled cooking grate, it’s very durable, and provides a clean, consistent flame. Weather-resistant and large enough to grill about 6 burger patties at a time, it’s the best tailgate grill you’re going to find.
Pros:
- Very compact for a propane grill
- Weather-resistant
- Easy to start
Cons:
- A little heavy
All in all
There’s no better way to get ready for a sporting event than by tailgating. To make your tailgating experience as positive as possible, you need a tailgating grill. These grills are compact, easy to operate, and highly portable.
Small, but powerful grills such as the Weber 386002 Q 100 Portable 189-Square-Inch 8500-BTU Liquid-Propane Gas Grill can be operated seamlessly in cramped areas. Want to make the most out of your tailgate party? Purchase a tailgate grill.