ARTICLE

Best portable BBQs for outdoor cooking

December 17, 2020 - 7min read

Whether you’re after outdoor BBQs for cooking and camping, or in the mood for a BBQ at home, you’ve come to the right place. Many contemporary BBQs are packed full of features, so choosing one can be difficult. To help you narrow your search, let’s explore the wonderful world of portable BBQs and check out the wide range of options.

What are portable BBQs?

Put simply, portable BBQs are moveable BBQs you can take camping, to a friend’s house or even move around your patio or yard. They’re light enough to transport but powerful enough to cook all your meats, vegetables and BBQ essentials. Typically less expensive than a full BBQ, they’re a great option if you don’t have a big backyard or are working with a smaller outdoor space.

Using a portable BBQ for outdoor cooking

Sizzling snags, grilling steak and frying up your favourite veggies – is there anything better or more Australian than a summer BBQ? Outdoor cooking on a portable BBQ in warmer weather gives you the opportunity to entertain friends and family, whip up a feast at the campsite or just enjoy those BBQ flavours on your own. Depending on the type of small BBQ you choose, all you’ll need to fire up the barbie is either a gas bottle, some charcoal or access to electricity (plus those tasty ingredients and cooking utensils).

The types of portable BBQs

When it comes to portable BBQs, there are three main options for fuel: electricity, LP gas and natural gas. Next, you’ll need to pick a size – think about how many people you’ll be cooking for and where you’re going to use your portable BBQ.

If you’re cooking for less than five people on a camping trip, a smaller BBQ will suffice, but if your plans are much grander (like a Christmas BBQ for the extended family) you might need to look into bigger options. To learn more about the different types of BBQs, check out which type of BBQ do you need this summer.

Best portable LP gas BBQs

One of the best and most trusted BBQ brands nation-wide is Weber. Their range of portable BBQs are great for any cooking skill level and can turn any meal into an outdoor cooking experience. Let’s take a look at our top picks for portable gas BBQs and some of their key features.

Weber Baby Q Titanium LPG

Some might consider this BBQ the best portable gas BBQ for camping. Feed up to six people quickly using natural convection cooking, but don’t stress about the gas, up to 100 meals from just one bottle. With a removable drip tray for no fuss cleaning and a single spark ignitor, you can get things going fast so your hungry crew aren’t waiting long.

Weber Baby Q Black LPG

The Baby Q also comes in black, making it a stylish option to match with most outdoor entertainment areas or aesthetic. Another benefit of this portable BBQ is that you can turn it into an oven in seconds with the optional Baby Q Convection Tray and Baby Q Half Hot Plate (sold separately).

Weber Q Titanium LPG

Slightly bigger than the Baby Q, this portable BBQ can feed up to 10 people at home and is lightweight enough to pack up and take away on your next family vacation. One of the most versatile BBQs on the market, you can switch out one side of the grill for a Weber Q hotplate (sold separately) and sizzle some chicken skewers or whip up a stir fry at the same time.

Weber Q Black LPG

Also available in black, the Weber Q has convenient swing out work tables to hold your utensils and other cooking accessories while you grill. With a durable cast aluminium lid and body, this is a BBQ that’s built to last.

Best portable electric BBQ

Another popular option for portable BBQs is to choose electric, especially if you want to enjoy outdoor cooking on an apartment balcony. Electric BBQs offer that beautiful BBQ taste but are often easier to store and keep clean, plus you don’t have the hassle of lighting charcoal (like a regular BBQ) or connecting a gas bottle.

Weber Pulse 2000 Electric BBQ Black

What makes this BBQ so impressive is the amount of temperature control you can have between the different cooking zones. Grill steak on one side and cook eggs or vegetables at a lower temperature on the other. Designed for urban living and the tech savvy chef, you can monitor temperatures via the Weber iGrill app, right on your smartphone

Best portable natural gas BBQ

Another option to consider for your portable BBQ is natural gas. It’s cheaper than propane and there’s less exhaust (so less of an obvious odour), plus it connects right into your home gas tap.

Weber Q Black NG

Much like its LPG gas counterpart, this Weber Q is great for everyday barbecuing at home or out on the road. You can fire it up in less than 10 minutes and keeping the lid down will turn it into a fast cooking oven!

Weber Q Titanium NG

Also available in titanium, the natural gas model of the Weber Q has a cool touch thermostat handle so you can check on your food without touching the lid.

What to look for in a portable BBQ

When you’re researching portable BBQs, here are a few important things to look out for:

• Cooking surface: If you want to cook multiple things at a time, check for grills that can be modified, and make sure the BBQ has a removable drip tray for ease of cleaning.
• Hood: Picking a BBQ with a hood gives you more options for cooking on top of grilling and frying.
• Accessories: Weber is a great example here because they have a range of attachable accessories so you can expand your cooking experience, like rotisserie racks and hotplates.
• Ignition: A one-touch spark button makes for a quick start to cooking and decreases the amount of time you have to wait for the BBQ to warm up.

Which is the best portable BBQ for you?

When you’re looking to buy a portable BBQ, first take into account how much space you have and where you’re going to use it. A great place to start your journey is by reading our BBQ Buying Guide. It gives you a run down on the different types of BBQs and what to look out for.

Are you looking for something a little more permanent? If you’re renovating or wanting to build an outdoor kitchen, check out our tips on what to consider when creating a DIY outdoor kitchen.

Shop our range of portable BBQs at The Good Guys

We love our BBQs. It’s why we carry some of Australia’s best brands – Weber and BeefEater – both in store and online. We also offer a range of delivery options to get you up and grilling in no time.