Top 7 Best Portable Flat Top Grill for 2021
What makes a man a man? Is it him being able to provide for his family? Is it being big and robust and always angry? Those are quite cliches. Some might say it’s being able to whip up a delicious meal on a flat-top grill that has no business tasting as good as it does. drip tray side tables easy to transport super easy.
While we certainly can’t teach you how to cook better, we can help you get the best portable flat-top grills in 2021.
Without further ado, let’s get on with how to become a man that can cook a fine tasting meal. If there is a lady in your life you want to impress, trust us, cook her a home-cooked delicious meal, and watch her swoon.
7 Best Flat Top Grill (Portable )
Here’s a question; which is the best flat top grill to buy. There are a lot of options out there. So, below is a roundup and an in-depth review of the 7 top choices.
1. Blackstone 1554 (Best Flat Top Gas Grill)
When it comes to the flat-top grill, Blackstone is a known brand name. They make some of the best grills around with premium quality and a lot of cool features.
This Blackstone is the best flat-top grill model is no different from what we have come to expect from the manufacturer. Let’s start with the most obvious part. This is a portable grill but slightly on the larger side. It is a 36-inch outdoor flat top gas grill that is perfect for those outdoor grilling sessions.
If you have a backyard or extra space for a grill like this, it’s a no-brainer. Have family and friends over? Why not impress them with a delicious meal cooked on this grill?
The size isn’t its only selling point, though. Far from it. 4 stainless steel burners can be individually controlled and together they produce 60,000 BTUs of cooking power. The versatility is elevated with precise temperature settings. Cook slow and steady with low heat, or use a high heat setting when needed.
Starting it is as easy as cooking on it. It has quick ignition and also may come with a front grease drain. This means you do not have to worry about cooking grease getting stuck on the grill.
Right out of the box, Blackstone’s impeccable design prowess shows. It is easy to assemble and durable too. Thanks to its solid stainless construction, it not only will last you a long time, but the rolled steel griddle surface also distributes heat evenly.
There are 2 shelves on either side of the grill. You can store cooked food on them and serve them while they’re hot. This, hands down is one of the better stainless steel flat-top grills units you can get.
PROS
- Sturdy build quality
- Evenly distributes heat
- 4 individually controlled burners producing 60,000 BTUs
- Large cooking space
- Effortless to assemble
- Easily removable gas griddle top
- Might be too large for some spaces
2. Blackstone Table Top Grill 17-inch
Blackstone doesn’t just make large portable grills. In fact, their smaller ones are just as durable and high quality. If the first one is too big for you, but you still want that Blackstone quality, these 17-inch tabletop flat grills will do perfectly.
Right off the bat, you’ll notice its sleek and compact design. It has clean lines with a very modern design aesthetic. If you’re someone who likes well-designed cookware, Blackstone has you covered here.
For households that do not have much space to spare yet want to enjoy a quality grill, this one provides an easy ignition option, with the capabilities of holding a 1-liter propane gas tank.
It has a built-in grease catcher as well. We appreciate small, thoughtful additions like these. The BTU output tops off at 12,000. That is quite a lot and will make sure your food cooks fast and evenly.
One of the worst parts of cooking a delicious meal is the cleaning that comes after. Well, not with this one. This grill is one of the easiest to clean. You can just use a paper towel, and you’re done. It is as simple as that.
This flat-top grill is perfect for outdoor activities like camping or hiking. No one said you couldn’t enjoy a well-cooked meal when you’re out camping. From super durable build to even cooking, this Blackstone is the best flat-top grill for those who want a slightly more portable option.
PROS
- Lightweight and portable
- Durable build quality
- 12,000 BTUs
- Cooks food evenly
- Perfect for camping or hiking
- Easy cleaning and maintenance process
- Not the best if you want a large cooking space
- Some customers have reported that the gas dies quicker than usual
3. Royal Gourmet PD1300
Taking our number 3 spot in this review roundup is the 3-burner Royal Gourmet PD1300. This is also a portable grill with one cool trick up its sleeve.
The burner gives you a total cooking power of 27,000 BTUs. That is quite an insane number for such a portable grill. There are the 3 stainless steel burners that deliver this immense power.
You can individually control them too. So, one can be slow cooking a steak while the other can be cooking something on high heat at the same time. This makes it a very versatile cooker. Each burner can provide 9,000 BTUs of power if you were wondering.
Heat distribution has been impressed with this one. So, you can be sure whatever you’re cooking on it will be cooked evenly and thoroughly. The cooking surface is spacious too. Well, at least for a portable grill, that is.
You get 316 square-inches of cooking area surface. The porcelain-enameled flat top is also detachable. This makes cleaning it as easy as it gets. Speaking of cleaning, there is a removable oil cup. All unwanted and excess oil can accumulate in the cup. When you need to clean it, just remove the cup and dispose of the excess grease and oil.
When was the last time you used a flat top grill that is this easy to use and clean? The feature set doesn’t stop here. It has what the manufacturer calls a ‘Piezo ignition.’ It makes igniting this thing easy and works every time.
The build quality of this one is on par with other grills in the review. Made from stainless steel, you can be sure it will last you for a while.
PROS
- 27,000 BTUs
- Piezo ignition system
- Cooks evenly
- Very easy to clean
- Lightweight and portable
- The removable cup can be lost easily if not careful
4. Cuisinart CGG-059 Propane Grillster Portable Gas Grill
You’ve been seeing us rave about the design and build of the other grills so far. But compared to the sheer artistic brilliance of this one, other cookers have their work cut out for them.
Starting with the design, we absolutely love it. It’s a chef’s style of design that looks elegant and professional. It has a silver finish with a cover for the cooking grill surface area. Whatever you’re cooking on it can be kept safe from dirt and debris.
The silver finish isn’t just for show either. This CGG-059 Grill is made from durable enameled steel. So, it can walk the talk as well when it comes to longevity. A lot of non-name brand grills will look robust and well designed, but give it a couple of months, and they start to fall apart.
We don’t see that happening to this beast anytime soon. Propane tank-like build aside.
Each makes 8,000 BTUs. Do some quick mathematics, and that gives you a total of 16,000 BTUs of cooking power, all from relatively portable flat-top grills. Lighting the burners up is easy too.
There is a start button to ignite. Even if you don’t have matches on hand, you can light it up easily. Once the burners are lit up, it offers even more control over your cooking.
The heat is adjustable.
Its lid is a locking one. This makes it quick and easy to carry. In addition to this, the size is compact and lightweight too. Coming in at only 10 LBS, this is quite the little performer if you ask us.
PROS
- Durable and portable
- Ultimate Portability
- 8,000 BTUs
- Easy to cleaning
- A fairly large cooking surface
- Might be a bit tricky cooking food on low heat
5. Blackstone 1666 (Best Indoor Flat Top Grill)
Take everything we love about the Blackstone 17-inch tabletop and add 5 inches to it. You’ll have the 1666 22-inch flat grill. It features all the great things about the 17-inch model but is slightly larger. This is the best indoor flat top grill if you have a little more space and want more versatility.
You get 330 square inches of cooking thick cold-rolled steel space. This allows for even heat distribution, which aids in whatever you’re grilling. The size is perfect when we tested it – neither too small nor too bulky that you can’t store it properly.
Build-wise, this is the best flat-top grill, that features the same robust quality and durable materials – as all Blackstone models do. It’s made of steel, which makes it rigid and long-lasting. This one is slightly heavier than the 17-inch model, though. The weight is 32 LBS.
You get a cooking power of 24,000 BTUs. Couple this amount of cooking prowess with its even heat distribution, and you have quite a formidable little grill right here. The burners can be controlled individually as well.
It is powered by propane gas. You can get a small propane tank to complete the setup. That should easily get you up and running to cook your favorite meals.
The burners feature an ‘H-shape’ design and help in further heat distribution. One thing it lacks is a hood. The lack of a hood is made up by how easy it is to clean. Blackstone’s patented ‘rear grease’ system is present here.
So, after cooking, you don’t have to break your back, spending hours cleaning up the thing.
PROS
- Durable build quality
- Light and portable but not too small
- Easy to clean and maintain thanks to its patented technology
- 24,000 BTUs of cooking power
- Comes with individually controlled burners
- Doesn’t come with a hood
6. Blackstone Tailgater Grill and Griddle Combo
It seems like Blackstone is dominating our reviews. We can’t hold that against them, though. When you have such a high-quality lineup of products, it’s quite hard for others to compete.
This has a flat top grill griddle for a gas grill combo and it is one of the best outdoor flat top gas grills. This combination makes this one of the most versatile products we have tested so far. Blackstone managed to fit all the functionality in a relatively compact body too.
The dimensions are 52” X 24” X 38.5”. Speaking of versatility, this grill and gas grill griddle combo allows you to set it up in different combinations. You can use the portable griddle and the grill at the same time. Or maybe one at a time.
If you don’t want to use the grill, you can remove both and use the burners only. You can put pans and pots on the burner that way.
The out of the box experience is also impressive. There is little assembly required. You should be ready to go in a matter of minutes. On top of that, the legs are adjustable. If you take the thing outside on the uneven ground, you can adjust the leg height to keep it in place.
Let’s be honest, the last thing you want is a grill with hot oil and food cooking on it falling over. Not only will it ruin your hard work, but it can also be very dangerous.
The build is excellent as well. You get a cast iron grill and a girdle made from rolled steel. If that wasn’t enough already, it comes with a heavy-duty grill box and handles.
There are 2 burners. The cast iron burner can churn out an impressive 20,000 BTUs and the H-style one produces 15,000 BTUs.
PROS
- Durable build quality with cast iron/rolled steel construction
- Comes with a heavy-duty grill box with handles
- 2 adjustable burners
- Easy to clean and maintain
- 35,000 BTUs of cooking power
- Portable but heavy, coming in at 75 LBS
7. Cuisinart Flat Top CGG-0028
Ending our roundup, we have the CGG-0028 from Cuisinart. This one of the best flat-top grills might look unimpressive but has quite a lot of features under the hood. It’s a metaphorical hood, though. This model lacks an actual hood.
Surprisingly, this grill has one of the largest cooking spaces, given how compact it is. You get a very roomy 664 square inches of cooking area to cook whatever you like. Be it breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this capable little grill will support you all the way through.
Supporting it are its sturdy legs made from durable materials. For maximum portability, you can also fold this thing to make it even more compact. How cool is that?
This folding feature alone makes it one of the best camping buddies to take with you (apart from your real human buddies, of course). And when you’re done cooking, cleanup is a breeze as well.
There are 2 burners on this one, capable of producing 30,000 BTUs. You get 2 grease cups with this one. Normally, you would get a single grease cup, but it seems like Cuisinart didn’t leave any stone unturned here. The 2 grease cups allow all the grease to accumulate neatly.
What’s even cooler is it comes with wheels. So, if you need to move this grill in a pinch, you can do so easily. The wheels are only on one side. And the way you move it is by lifting the side that doesn’t have wheels and pushing it like a trolley.
You might think that it is cumbersome, and they could have put wheels on both sides. But having wheels on both sides for a gas grill can be dangerous. It might start to roll. We think Cuisinart went with the best possible solution here.
Now, you can take these out and get rid of the excess grease that you don’t want. 2 grease cups might seem a bit overkill to some. But this is the type of feature that you don’t know you missed till you use it once.
PROS
- Portable and lightweight
- Folding design
- Dual innovative grease management system
- Durable build quality
- 2 burners produce a total of 30,000 BTUs
- Even if the grease cups are easy to clean, the whole grill might be a bit difficult
What to Consider When Buying the Best Flat Top Grills? (Buying Guides)
When you know what exactly to look for, buying anything gets much easier. Even though we included the best ones you can buy, here are some of the things you need to look out for when buying the best flat top grill but the portable one.
Portability and Size
The first thing you should consider is the size of the grill. This will depend on the type of grill you want – do you want a portable or a large one with lots of cooking space.
Analyze your needs, how much space do you have, and where do you plan on placing the grill. This will make it easier to choose between a slightly large grill and a smaller one.
BTUs and Burners
Next up comes the power. Or rather specifically cooking power. Here, there are 3 things you need to consider. First is the number of burners, then the individual adjusting options, and also the BTUs.
Whatever flat top grill you get, make sure the burners cover the entire cooking grill surface. You also want one that allows you to individually control each burner. This way, you can have multiple cooking zones.
Then there are BTU ratings. This is a measurement of the heat that the burners generate. The more the BTUs, the faster the grill griddle will heat up. This will make the food cook quicker too.
Ease of Cleaning and Maintenance
Anyone who has grilled in their life knows the cleaning part afterward can be quite the chore. Get yourself a grill that is easy to maintain and clean. You’ll mostly find that all the grills have removable grease cups.
Or they have some way of grease management. This is very important and makes your day a whole lot easier.
Build Quality
Flat top grills last for a long time; good quality flat top grill, that is. They are an investment. Check the durability and build quality of the grill you’re getting. If you buy one that is built with care and robust materials like stainless steel or cast-iron parts, chances are you won’t be needed to buy another any time soon.
Brand and Price
When it comes to settling on a brand name and considering the price, the best approach is to pick between reputed brands. Choose the one that fits all the features within your budget and pull the trigger.
All the brand names we mentioned in our reviews for the best portable flat top grill are some of the most reputed and highest-rated brands you can find right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the best flat-top grill?
With its large cooking area and an impressive 60,000 BTU power output, it’s hard to beat the Blackstone 1554. For something on the smaller side, you can go for Blackstone Table Top Grill 17-inch.
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What is the best portable gas griddle?
The Blackstone 1666 22-inch is quite a power powerhouse despite its size. It’s compact and lightweight and also has a hood. It only has 2 burners though. Another good option is the Blackstone Table Top Grill 17-inch.
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What are the flat grills called?
Flat grills may be called griddle for ones that have a flat cooking surface. They are also just referred to as flat-top grills.
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Do flat-top grills rust?
Yes, some flat-top grills may rust over time in areas made of iron. That is mostly the griddle. But it only usually forms on the top layer. So, you can scrape it off.
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Is Blackstone a good brand?
You bet they are. They have been in the business for a while and made quite a name for themselves. Their products are durable and packed with useful features.
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What is the best Blackstone griddle to buy?
The Blackstone 1666 22-inch checks all the boxes in terms of features you would want from a griddle.
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Why did my griddle warp?
Your griddle can warp if it’s heated unevenly. You can use all the burners to make sure the heat distribution is even. Another reason could be rapidly cooling and heating the griddle.
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How do you season a Blackstone flat top grill?
If you’re using your Blackstone flat top grill for the first time, you’ll need to season it. Start by taking a damp cloth and giving the griddle surface a nice clean. Then, turn your burners on high.
Wait till you see the griddle top get darker and discolor. When you see that, put oil on the top. Distribute the oil on the griddle top, sides, and also outer sides. You can use a thick wad of paper towels for this. But make sure not to burn your fingers!
Keep the burners on high, and when you see the oil is mostly burnt off, repeat the process. Doing it 2 to 3 times should do the trick. Your Blackstone flat top griddle is now seasoned.
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How long does propane last on the Blackstone griddle?
The duration for how long your propane will last depends on the size of it and also how much you’re burning it. Typically, a disposable 16-ounce propane tank will last about 1.5 to 2 hours.
- How many hours will a 20 LBS propane tank last?
A 20 LBS propane tank will probably last you anywhere between 18 to 20 hours.
Final Words for the review of Best Portable Flat Top Grill.
There you go, that was everything on this best portable flat-top grills review. There is an option for everyone to get the information of outdoor electric flat top grill. Whether you want a bigger, more powerful portable grill or a very compact yet capable one, there is one for you. Pick the one that suits your needs, and you’re golden. Moreover, if you want to know the history and other related info for research you may refer here for more results.