Portable BBQ’s – Are They Right For You?

October 9, 2021 Stan

Now this is a diverse group, given that it covers pretty much every type of BBQ available, only smaller. So, given that I’ve discussed the features of each style elsewhere, I will just go over the advantages of the portables and the traps to watch out for.

I’ve used most of the varieties available, over the years, and have even carried the Weber kettle around to a few different places, though I wouldn’t call it a true portable – luggable, maybe!

Pros:

First of course is that they allow you to have your favourite style of BBQ wherever you are.
Every type of heat source is available in a portable format – giving you a great degree of flexibility in regard to costs, availability, and safety aspects.
Sometimes the only time you can get together with some friends is at some central location – frequently a park so that the kids can run around and wear themselves out. If you can BBQ there as well I always find that a big bonus.

Cons:

Dues to their size there are of course limits on the amount of food you can cook at any one time.
Avoid the cheap, round, three-legged gas grills you can get a K-Mart, Target, etc… They just do not put out enough heat and the cheap aluminium trays have very little thermal mass. The end result of this is that you cannot sear a steak, it just stews. If there is much wind around, you cannot cook anything as the heat is simply blown away. With a bit of a sea-breeze it can take over an hour to cook a few snags (sausages).
In virtually all cases, smaller does not equal faster. Example; if you have a Cobb, it’s still going to take 2 hrs that cook that free-range chicken.

Comments:

I have a Cobb oven and love it – slow roasting wherever you are – though they’re not cheap ($230 Australian). I thoroughly recommend these or any similar equivalent.
Small smokers such as the portable, galvanised (zinc-alum) box fish smoker sold in camping and fishing stores ($20-30 Australian)are hot smokers, i.e. they cook and smoke at the same time, so are actually very handy as little ovens. Rub a few spices into some chicken drumsticks and you’ve got some great tasting food in 20 minutes.
If a gas grill is what you’re after, buy as good as you can afford because, as mentioned above, the cheap ones are just rubbish. A good model will last you a life-time and can be used in a multitude of situations.