Barbecues are getting smarter, faster, and more portable. Here are six tested favorites.聽
Char-Broil SmartChef Gas听($600)
The Internet of Things now includes your barbecue. pairs with an app that lets you adjust the temperature via Wi-Fi. The Tru-Infrared system鈥攁 steel plate between the cooking surface and the heat source that distributes power evenly鈥攇ot the grill hot in about eight minutes. Note: must be plugged in.
Big Green Egg MiniMax听($599)
There鈥檚 a reason the charcoal-fired has a cult following: it can smoke, grill, roast, and bake. We love that it infuses whatever it鈥檚 cooking with a rich hit of smoke. Dialing in the vent system, which controls temperature, does take some effort. But once you master it, you鈥檒l be hooked on the Egg.
UCO Flatpack听($50)
Folding up to just 1.5 inches thick, slips into even the most overstuffed packs. It deploys in a single motion (think camp chair) and cooks with charcoal or wood. The grilling surface fits a couple of steaks, and while they鈥檒l take longer to cook than with gas, the end result has smoky goodness that only flames can provide.
Coleman RoadTrip X-Cursion聽Propane听($219)
When you want to spend more time playing cornhole and less time baby-sitting your burner, is the way to go. It鈥檚 powerful and even-heated enough to cook five generous burgers or a mess of brats with minimal tending. The lid has low clearance, so if you鈥檙e grilling anything huge, you鈥檒l have to leave it up.
Primus Kuchoma听($180)
Small but mighty, the nine-pound cranks out an impressive 8,500 BTUs when equipped with a propane canister. My test grill easily charred four turkey burgers in about ten minutes and still had plenty of fuel left for bacon the following morning. With its matte black finish and oak handle, the Kuchoma is also the best-looking cooker here.
PK Grills PKTX聽($399)
Made of rustproof and virtually unbreakable cast aluminum, the will probably outlive you. While it鈥檚 not the most travel-friendly model we tested, the collapsible base means it鈥檚 as happy on uneven dirt as on your deck. It takes some fiddling to get the vents positioned just right, but once we did, the PKTX seared four big pork chops with ease.