Putting this barbecue together is quite fiddly and time-consuming, especially as some of the screws don’t thread through properly, but the instructions are mostly clear and although no tools are provided, all you need is a Phillips screwdriver. Once built, it can stay assembled and has two small wheels to help you push it in and out of storage. Alternatively, there’s a (some what pricey) cover to protect it from the elements available to buy from Everdure. This roundup was put together by The Spruce Eats commerce writer Jason Horn, who’s been writing about food and drinks for almost 20 years, and grilling for a lot longer than that. He chooses gas over charcoal for control and ease of use, plus he’s come up with a pretty solid method of smoking on a gas grill. The RoadTrip 225, unsurprisingly, offers 225 square inches of cooking space and is great for a road trip. The grill is compact and lightweight but has two separate burners that put out 11,000 BTUs of heat. It got to seriously high temperatures in our testing—650 degrees created a beautiful sear and crust on a steak—but the temperature dropped precipitously and became uneven from one side to the other after adding food and leaving the lid open for a few minutes. With its smooth exterior and removable cooking grid, it's easy to keep everything clean. Remember to store this barbecue indoors between uses, waiting for it to cool before moving and removing the gas cylinder. Size. Bigger isn’t always better. A small gas BBQ with one or two burners is all you need for entertaining a family of four. This is especially true with gas BBQs, which need somewhere to store propane too. If you’ll be entertaining a larger gathering of upwards of 6 people, opt for a gas BBQ with at least four burners. Height is also crucial here. You don’t want a barbecue that’s too high or low for you to use comfortably. Bigger barbecues also need more assembly time, so factor that in if you’re planning to build a barbecue on the same day you’re cooking.

The Magnum 3 is a well thought out gas barbecue with a lot of features for the price. It has a large cooking area, with a removable grill that can be swapped with a griddle or pizza stone for an additional cost and it also comes with a charcoal basket to fill with charcoal briquettes to get that traditional smoky charcoal flavour from the ease of a gas grill. There’s a detailed thermometer in the hood, with helpful markings for types of cooking and it has a side burner for sauces or charring aubergine, tool hooks, even a bottle opener. Performance and cooking results: we wanted to see even and well-defined grill marks and fully cooked food at a steady and consistent temperature – no burned sausages here! One downside during assembly was the drip pan didn't fit properly, which necessitated a small trim to get it to slide in. Out of the box, this can be powered by 1-pound gas canisters, but Weber does sell an attachment if you want to use 20-pound tanks. We also tested and recommend the Q 1200, which has 189 square inches of cooking space and a 8,500-BTU burner. Don't forget your BBQ Cover (BG01-200 - available separately) to significantly increase the lifespan of your BBQ.

Let the good times roll

You should never use a propane-powered grill indoors. These grills require open air for proper ventilation, as they can give off carbon monoxide. If you want to cook inside, you'll want to look for an indoor grill, which are typically electric. Value for money: we considered whether the price of the barbecue was consistent with its performance and versatility in use Besides its high price, the two main complaints we have about this grill are that it heats somewhat unevenly when the lid is open and that it’s tough to clean. The first issue can be solved pretty easily by just leaving the lid closed while you’re cooking, especially at high temperatures, but the second one is kind of annoying. You’re not supposed to remove the grate to clean it, and its small holes catch a lot of food bits, so there’s a lot of scrubbing involved. Portable gas grills are generally designed to be used with small 1-pound propane tanks, and with these, a regulator is not needed. However, if you want to use a larger propane tank—such as a 20-pound tank—with a portable grill, you'll need an adapter and regulator. Most brands sell the appropriate attachment for their portable grill models.