Barbecue food tastes better when cooked on a charcoal grill. Sure, it might not be as convenient as using gas but for searing that unmistakable smoky flavor to your burger, fish or veg, it cannot be beaten.
When it comes to camping barbecues, you need a grill that is portable enough to get to your campsite. Few campers have room for the sort of grill you would use in your backyard. The good news is that even if you’re backpacking, there are grills that you can fold up and take along with you. When you’re cooking with white-hot charcoal, safety is important. You need a grill that is stable and robust. Being made of stainless steel also means it won’t rust and get corroded in the off-season. Here are the charcoal grills we would recommend.
Cuisinart CCG190RB Portable Charcoal Grill
Durable plastic with a good design
With a 150 square inch chrome-plated grate, there’s no compromise with this portable grill. It has a dual venting system giving you good temperature management. Three secure lid locks make it easy and safe to transport. The enamel-coated firebox and ash catcher make it convenient to clean up after you’ve enjoyed your charcoal-seared food.
UCO Flatpack Portable Grill Stainless Steel Fire Pit
Foldable backpacking grill
You can fold this stainless steel grill up to fit in a backpack but when assembled in around 30 seconds you get a 13 x 10 inch grilling area. It has a stable base for safety and the sides of the grill act as a windbreak. It can be used as a fire pit with the heat kept off the ground. A mini-sized version is also available with a 9 x 6.75 inch area for smaller groups.
REDCAMP Wood Burning Camp
Collapsible multi-fuel cooking cube
This portable camping stove folds up to fit in a backpack but provides a stable, safe cooking platform with an ingenious cubed design. Made from stainless steel, it will burn bright whatever fuel you use including foraged twigs and leaves. Weighing only 1.9lbs, it comes with a carry bag, ready to be quickly assembled when you set up camp.
Realcook Vertical 17 Inch Steel Charcoal Smoker
Ingenious upright smoker and grill
A built-in thermometer and adjustable air supply give you great temperature control of this outdoor smoker and grill. It has two cooking grids with a total of 453 square inches of space plus a crossbar and hangers for smoking different pieces of meat and fish. You can smoke, grill, steam, bake and roast all in one making this a versatile unit for foodies and master chefs.
Bottom line
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A good charcoal grill can produce some of the most delicious food you will ever eat. While gas barbecues are more controllable and easier to set up and put away, charcoal is the connoisseur's choice for cooking tasty food that your friends and family will love. If you want to grill when camping, which let’s face it, is the ideal opportunity, you need a portable grill. The one we would recommend is Cuisinart CCG190RB Portable Charcoal Grill. It’s a great grill from a famous brand and made to sort of high standards that will see it be part of your camping setup for years to come. It offers a decent-sized grilling area and feels very robust and stable to use.
If you want to explore the delicious possibilities of smoking your food, the Realcook Vertical 17 Inch Steel Charcoal Smoker is a great choice. It’s a versatile, cleverly designed model which you can grill on too. If you want to try creating a slow-cooked culinary masterpiece outside in your yard or campsite, this is the one to get.
