Top Small Open Grills for 2019


Our review process

After studying and researching facts on over 1,300 grills, and finding five that are small open grills, we are pleased to share with you our top picks. We accumulated and compared 89 specifications, starting from some of the most notable highlights, like its body construction and installation type, burner design and total cooking space to the less significant features like additional durability and weather-resistant features. We looked through each one of these grills and analyzed them using our artificial intelligence engine. As a result, we are thrilled to bring to you the highest rated and best suited small open grill. The following guide will display some of the previously mentioned specifications in enhanced detail.

There are both pros and cons to getting a small open grill. Open grills disperse heat evenly, so that you can achieve the perfect consistency of your meat, vegetables, or seafood dishes. They have ventilated heat regulation, ensuring a secure level of airflow. They have an extensive surface area, so you can entertain large crowds and grill more meals at once. Small grills are excellent for the whole family, so you can cook with ample room for all your meals. They typically include two burners, making them excellent for simultaneously searing at high temperatures and slow cooking at low temperatures. Generally easy to move around, they can be placed anywhere in your yard.

Our Top Ranking Grills:
Product NameBrandFuel TypeCooking AreaCooking Grate Material
Best Overall Score
1
An image of Royal Gourmet PD1300 Propane Gas Tabletop Open Grill
Royal Gourmet PD1300 Propane Gas Tabletop Open Grill
Royal Gourmet
propane gas
316 sq. in.
Runner Up
2
An image of Camp Chef YK60LWC12 Propane Gas Cast Iron Freestanding Open Grill
Camp Chef YK60LWC12 Propane Gas Cast Iron Freestanding Open Grill
Camp Chef
propane gas
448 sq. in.
cast iron
Best Affordable Option
3
An image of Dyna-Glo DGC310CNP-D Propane Gas Freestanding Open Grill
Dyna-Glo DGC310CNP-D Propane Gas Freestanding Open Grill
Dyna-Glo
propane gas
449 sq. in.
porcelain-enameled steel
Best Durable Option
4
An image of Dyna-Glo DGF350CSP-D Propane Gas Stainless Steel Freestanding Open Grill
Dyna-Glo DGF350CSP-D Propane Gas Stainless Steel Freestanding Open Grill
Dyna-Glo
propane gas
468 sq. in.
porcelain-enameled cast iron
Our Top Ranking Grills
Customer Rating
Brand
Royal Gourmet
Fuel Type
propane gas
Cooking Area
316 sq. in.
Cooking Grate Material
Customer Rating
Brand
Camp Chef
Fuel Type
propane gas
Cooking Area
448 sq. in.
Cooking Grate Material
cast iron
Customer Rating
Brand
Dyna-Glo
Fuel Type
propane gas
Cooking Area
449 sq. in.
Cooking Grate Material
porcelain-enameled steel
Customer Rating
Brand
Dyna-Glo
Fuel Type
propane gas
Cooking Area
468 sq. in.
Cooking Grate Material
porcelain-enameled cast iron
Best Overall Score
An image of Royal Gourmet PD1300 Propane Gas Tabletop Open Grill

For the perfect combination of performance and practicality, choose the Royal Gourmet Propane Gas Open Grill. This tabletop grill has a piezo starter, letting you quickly fire up your barbecue. It is designed with three burners, which allows you to produce the indirect and direct heat needed to create a two-zone cooking area. It features a tabletop design, so you can easily grill on any stable surface. Fueled by propane gas, it distributes heat evenly across the cooking area to ensure consistent results every time.

    Pros
    • Features a piezo starter, helping you quickly light your barbecue
    • Uses propane gas, distributing heat evenly across the grill
    Cons
    • Piezo starter loses its functionality very fast if it gets too dirty
    • Propane gas costs more than a grill that needs charcoal
Runner Up
An image of Camp Chef YK60LWC12 Propane Gas Cast Iron Freestanding Open Grill

If you are someone who enjoys grilling up a storm at your backyard events, the Camp Chef Propane Gas Open Grill is an outstanding choice for you. This Camp Chef grill features a freestanding design, giving you the freedom and flexibility to roll it out of your way when you are done cooking. It features two burners, letting you use the direct and indirect heat necessary for creating a two-zone cooking area. It has an electronic ignition, helping you quickly fire up your barbecue. Using propane gas, it distributes heat evenly across the cooking surface to ensure consistent results every time. This grill includes a cast iron cooking grate, offering you a high-quality surface that you can rely on for a long time.

    Pros
    • Electronic ignition makes lighting your propane gas grill quick and simple
    • Propane gas locks in juices to ensure tender and flavorful results
    • Features a freestanding design, giving you the freedom and flexibility to roll it out of the way while you are using your outdoor deck
    Cons
    • Conventional burners take much longer than infrared burners to cook your food
    • Cast iron construction has a much heavier structure than stainless steel
    • Includes a cast iron grill grate, taking a long time to heat up
Best Affordable Option
An image of Dyna-Glo DGC310CNP-D Propane Gas Freestanding Open Grill

Enjoy a perfect barbecuing experience with the help of the Dyna-Glo Propane Gas Open Grill. Made with a freestanding design, this open grill provides greater freedom and flexibility in your outdoor cooking area. It features large side shelves, which add convenience to the grilling process. Use the indirect and direct heat needed to create a two-zone cooking area with this open grill's three large stainless steel main burners. It has a porcelain-enameled steel cooking grate, providing a strong exterior that protects surfaces from physical damage or impact. With a porcelain-coated warming rack, it is ideal for keeping cooked food hot. It uses propane gas, so it can distribute consistent heat across the cooking area to reduce grill flare-ups. This open grill features a piezo starter, so you can turn it on with ease and get cooking.

    Pros
    • Features a piezo starter, letting you easily light your barbecue
    • Porcelain-coated warming rack helps you keep your food from getting cold without it overcooking
    • Includes a porcelain-enameled steel cooking grate, preventing leaching caused by toxic metals into the food, making it safe to use
    Cons
    • Piezo starter loses its ability to work very quickly if it gets too dirty
    • Propane gas is not ideal for slow roasting or for smoking BBQ
Best Durable Option
An image of Dyna-Glo DGF350CSP-D Propane Gas Stainless Steel Freestanding Open Grill

Enjoy every summer barbecue with the Dyna-Glo Propane Gas Open Grill. This propane grill has a freestanding design, which lets you push it out of the way when you are done preparing your food. It has two stainless steel burners, so you can barbecue and have more versatility and flexibility while grilling. With a warming rack, it is great for preventing cooked food from getting cold until you are ready to eat. Fitted with a side burner, this grill is perfect for cooking an entire meal all at once.

This grill has a built-in thermometer, so you can maintain the ideal temperature to cook your meat to perfection. It features a piezo starter, helping you quickly fire up your barbecue. Using propane gas, it distributes heat evenly across the cooking surface for consistent results every time. It features heat tents, helping to cook your meat to perfection.

    Pros
    • Heat tents help grill your meat evenly
    • Piezo starter ignites the grill quickly
    • Warming rack helps keep your food at the perfect temperature without it overcooking
    Cons
    • Stainless steel construction tends to fade with extended use
    • Porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grate won't let you sear any food items
    • Piezo starter loses its ability to work very quickly if it gets too dirty
If You Need Help Making Your Choice, Here's Some Additional Information About the Small Open Grills Available:
Find Out What Kind of Cooking Grates You Need for Your Small Open Grill
Grills with Cast Iron Grates

If you want a small open grill with a cast iron grate design, you can find a high-quality one here. Cast iron grates are heat retentive, minimizing the fuel required while grilling. These grates have even heat circulation, making them excellent for ensuring that meat is thoroughly cooked. Including a non-stick coating, they keep your grilling surface as clean and smooth as possible. However, they need a good amount of maintenance since they can rust and corrode easily if they're not oiled before use and can't be cleaned with all kinds of detergent. Moreover, they have a heavier design, so you may need a special tool to lift and replace them on the grill.

Grills with Porcelain-Enameled Cast Iron Grates

If you want a small open grill with a porcelain-enameled cast iron grate design, you can find a great one here. Porcelain-enameled cast iron grates feature a high-quality construction for superior grilling, and long lasting durability. These grates are heat retentive, reducing fuel consumption while cooking. They are non-stick, which will prevent meat from sticking to the grate after grilling. Something to consider is that they require careful maintenance since they can rust and corrode easily if they're not oiled before use and need to be cleaned immediately after.

Grills with Porcelain-Enameled Steel Grates

If you want a small open grill with a porcelain-enameled steel grate design, you can find a great one here. Porcelain-enameled steel grates have rustproof properties to protect the grates from high heat or harmful weather. The grates are heat retentive, decreasing the fuel required while cooking. They are built with a non-stick coating, which will stop meat from sticking to the grate after cooking. The grates are simple to clean, which means that a variety of grill brushes will do the trick. They have a low maintenance build, making it easy to keep them in great condition over time.

What Type of Installation Do You Need?
Freestanding Grills

Want to learn more about freestanding grills? Well, keep reading the following paragraph to learn more about them, specifically in concurrence with small open grills. Freestanding grills are particularly great for grilling novices since they don't demand the same long-term commitment that built-in grills do and don't come with the same price tag. They are easy to move, allowing you to save space in your outdoor area. They have internal storage units, so you can easily store and access all your extra cooking tools. They are compact, so you can move the grill into any for grilling, then move it into storage when it's not in use. One downside is that freestanding grills don't have any prep space, unlike built-in grills, so if you're trying to install an entire outdoor kitchen, they're not the ideal choice. Thinking about getting a freestanding grill? Here's one to take a look at.

Tabletop Grills

Want to learn more about tabletop grills? Well, keep reading the following section to learn more about them, specifically in concurrence with small open grills. Featuring a portable construction, tabletop grills are great to bring with you on your next picnic. They need minimal energy and fuel to run, which saves energy and money. They have a smaller design, so they will use up less space in your yard area and are easier to install. They are compact, so you can make more space of your patio during the off-season. Thinking about getting a tabletop grill? Check out this one.

Body Construction for Small Open Grills
Stainless Steel Grills

There is one small open grill with a stainless steel design. Manufactured with weather-resistant materials, stainless steel grills can tolerate rough conditions. They are corrosion resistant, so they can be used for many years to come. Stainless steel grills are easy to clean, saving you time dealing with messy spills and leftover residue. They are bacteria-resistant, so you can enjoying eating your food that you know is clean. However, they aren't great at retaining heat, so they are harder to keep hot as opposed to cast iron grills, which can reach and maintain incredibly high temperatures.

Cast Iron Grills

There is one small open grill with a cast iron design. Cast iron grills have flame-resistant material, protecting against the damaging effects heat can cause. Manufactured with heavy-duty materials, they withstand the stresses of frequent use. With heat retaining technology, they will remain hot for longer. However, cast iron grills require more maintenance than other types of grills, requiring cleaning while the grates are still warm in order to take off the residue. Also, cast iron grates tend to rust easily, but this can be somewhat prevented if you don't leave them outdoors and always dry them right after you wash them.