Camp grills are portable devices designed for cooking food directly over a heat source. "Camp grill" is used to describe a variety of portable grill types, from a simple metal rack used to cook over a campfire to a free-standing, gas-burning grill similar to backyard barbecue grills. Camp grills are used by campers, hunters, fishermen, tailgaters, and other people who want to cook on an open flame in locations where grills are not normally found.
Purpose
Like backyard and kitchen grills, camp grills are for cooking food directly over an open flame or on a heated surface. Camp grills are used to cook outdoors, away from the amenities of civilization. They are usually designed to fold, collapse, or otherwise pack up into a portable package that can easily be slipped into a vehicle for transportation.
Construction
The most basic camp grill is a metal rack made of extruded metal or wires welded together to form a grid, often with folding legs. Box grills include a metal box to hold charcoal briquettes. Gas grills are plumbed to burn a gas flame. Box and gas grills typically have legs that hold the box off the ground.
Types
Campfire grills are used to cook over a campfire. The grill rack is balanced on rocks or sits on legs above the coals. Portable charcoal grills are to grill over charcoal contained in a metal box or bowl below the rack. Attached legs prevents the hot box from burning the surface the grill sits on. Gas grills are used for grilling using compressed gas fuel, such as propane.
Fuel
Campfires typically use tree wood, and are built in a fire ring on the ground. Hot coals from the fire are used as the heat source under the campfire grill. Box grills use charcoal briquettes, lit with charcoal lighter fluid, and burned until hot coals remain. Gas grills most commonly use propane using an attached disposable or small refillable canister.
Benefits
Campfire grills fold up into a thin, light package. Charcoal grills can be used nearly anywhere, including campsites, back yards, and tailgating parties. Both wood and some charcoal briquettes impart a smokey wood flavor to grilled foods that many people prefer over gas flames. Gas grills require nearly no warm-up time, little clean-up, provide consistent heat, and often can be used in situations where wood and charcoal are not permitted.
Considerations
Wood and charcoal are time consuming, messy, and dangerous. Both require long burning periods before hot coals are ready for cooking. Wind can blow sparks from burning wood and charcoal, burning people and objects or starting fires. Wood and charcoal fires must be carefully monitored, completely extinguished, and the remains buried or otherwise disposed safely.
Warnings
Never use a camp grill in a building, vehicle or tent. There is a high risk of fire, asphyxiation and carbon monoxide poisoning. Coals from wood and charcoal fires can flame up and start fires. Completely extinguish coals, and bury or dispose of properly. Use only specialized lighter fluid designed for lighting charcoal fires. Other flammable liquids, such as gasoline, can explode.
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