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Camping With a Compact Charcoal Grill

Shared campground grills can be anything from rusted to used as a trash burner. Bringing your own small grill means you know what's been cooked on it, you can set it up where it suits your site, and you can cook whether or not the site has a fire ring grate. The Slot Grill Compact is sized for one to three people, weighs about 14 lb, and packs flat to about 1" thick, so it slides into a camp box, trunk, kayak hatch or RV storage. It assembles by hand with tab and slot construction: no tools, no hinges, no loose hardware to lose in the dirt.

"Exactly what I was looking for. Have already used twice while camping."Neil Cavazza, Compact owner

Before you go

• Check the rules. Campgrounds, parks and public lands set their own fire rules and may issue burn bans. Some allow charcoal only in fire rings or designated grills; some ban all fires in dry periods. Check the campground or land manager before you pack fuel.
• Season at home. Raw carbon steel cooks and stores best seasoned. See how to season.
• Pack charcoal dry. A dry bag or lidded bin keeps dew and rain off. Damp charcoal is miserable to light.
• Prep food at home. Marinate, chop and portion before you leave; label bags in cook order.
• Plan meals for the grill size. 146 sq in suits meals for one to three; cook in waves for more.

Camp cooking packing list

• Slot Grill Compact (and a griddle for breakfast)
• Chimney starter, charcoal, newspaper or natural starters, two lighters
• Long tongs, spatula, heat-safe gloves
• Instant-read thermometer
• Metal can with a lid for cold ash
• Cooler with ice; separate cooler or zone for raw meat
• Cutting board, knife, foil, foil pans, paper towels
• Water, biodegradable soap, a small scrub pad, trash bags
• Oil for the grates and a rag or paper towels
• Headlamp for after-dark cleanup

Setting up at camp

1. Pick bare soil, gravel, sand or a pad, away from tents, awnings, vehicles, overhanging branches and dry grass.
2. Clear leaves and debris from around the grill.
3. Assemble: hold an end piece with SLOT GRILL facing out, slide in the two-tab side panel, add the second end piece, then seat the remaining side panel. Check it's level.
4. Light a chimney and build a two-zone fire.
5. Keep water nearby.

A three-day camp menu that fits the Compact

Cook the most perishable food first, and keep the cooler cold.

Mini fire pit after dinner

Where fires are allowed, the same grill works as a small fire pit for marshmallows after dinner. Add a little cooking wood or charcoal to the remaining coals, and keep it small. Never leave it unattended and put it fully out before bed.

Wildlife and food storage

Grill smells attract animals. Clean the grates after cooking, pack food and trash away according to the campground's rules, and don't leave grease or scraps on the ground.

Honest tradeoffs

Thick steel is heavier than a flimsy folding grill. At about 14 lb the Compact is for car, truck, boat and RV camping, not backpacking. And carbon steel needs to be kept dry and lightly oiled after trips or it will surface-rust. In exchange, you get a grill strong enough to support cast iron and built to last.

Leave no trace cleanup

1. Let coals burn down completely. Never leave a fire unattended.
2. Make sure ash is cold to the touch; if allowed, drown and stir.
3. Put ash in a metal can with a lid and follow the park's disposal rules.
4. Scrape the grates, wipe them with a little oil, and pack the grill flat once fully cool.
5. Pack out all trash and food scraps.

When you get home

Wash if needed, dry completely, re-oil the cooking surfaces and store dry. See clean and store and rust prevention.

Safety basics (every cook)

• Outdoors only. Never use a charcoal grill indoors, in a garage, tent, camper, boat cabin or vehicle. Burning charcoal makes carbon monoxide, which you cannot see or smell.
• Stable, level, non-combustible surface. Bare soil, gravel, sand, concrete, pavers or a fire-safe pad. The Compact's 2⅞" air gap between the table and the bottom of the coal bed helps minimize radiant heat to the surface below, but it is still a live fire.
• Clearance. Keep it away from tents, vehicles, siding, overhangs, dry grass and anything that can burn. Keep kids and pets back.
• Follow local rules. Burn bans, campground, park, venue and HOA rules come first.
• Water or a fire extinguisher nearby, plus heat-safe gloves for handling grates and panels.
• Ash stays hot for a long time. Put it in a metal container with a lid and never pack hot steel or ash into a vehicle.

Quick-start checklist

• Grill seasoned and dry; old ash emptied
• Stable, level, non-combustible spot with clearance
• Charcoal lit in a chimney, ashed over
• Two-zone fire built, grates preheated and oiled
• Thermometer, tongs, spatula and gloves within reach
• Clean tray ready for cooked food

Common small-grill mistakes (and the fix)

1. Cooking before the coals are ready. Black-topped coals give smoky, weak heat and sticking. Wait until they glow under a light coat of gray ash.
2. Wall-to-wall coals. With no cool zone, every flare-up becomes a burn. Leave at least a third of the firebox thin or empty.
3. Crowding the grate. 146 sq in fills fast. Leave space between pieces so you can move them, and cook in waves.
4. Moving food too early. Let it sear and release on its own; it sticks until a crust forms.
5. Cold, dirty grates. Preheat for a few minutes, scrape, and wipe with an oiled paper towel held in tongs.
6. Wet food. Pat meat and vegetables dry before oiling and seasoning. Moisture steams instead of searing.
7. Judging doneness by time or color. Small fires vary. Use a thermometer.
8. Leaving ash in the firebox. Old ash chokes airflow. Empty it once cold before the next cook.
9. Putting the grill away wet. Raw carbon steel needs to be dried and lightly oiled. See rust prevention.

After the cook: burn-down and pack-down

1. Let the remaining coals burn down. Don't leave a fire unattended.
2. When ash and steel are completely cold, dump the ash into a metal container with a lid, or dispose of it where the venue or campground allows.
3. Scrape the grates, then wipe the cooking surfaces with a light coat of oil or Slot Grill Seasoning Balm.
4. Lift off the grates, slide out the V side panels, pull the end pieces and stack. The Compact packs to about 1" thick.
5. Store it dry. A bag or old box keeps soot off the rest of your gear.

Cooking in wind, rain, cold and heat

Taking this recipe on the road

The Compact packs about 1" thick and weighs about 14 lb, so this recipe travels to a campsite, tailgate, river bank or job site as easily as it cooks on the patio. A few habits make it safer and easier away from a kitchen:

• Prep at home. Trim, season or marinate meat, chop vegetables and mix sauces in the kitchen. Pack each in a sealed bag or container labeled by cook order.
• Keep raw meat cold and separate. Pack it at the bottom of the cooler, sealed, below ready-to-eat food. Keep the cooler at 40°F or below with plenty of ice, and keep it in the shade.
• Two sets of tongs and platters: one for raw, one for cooked. Never put cooked food back on the tray that held raw meat.
• Bring water and soap for hands and tools, plus paper towels and a trash bag.
• Pack the thermometer. It matters more outdoors, where wind and cold change cook times.
• Plan for ash. Bring a metal can with a lid and follow the venue's disposal rules.

For more, see the camping, tailgate and river trip guides.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring my own charcoal grill to a campground?

Many campgrounds allow it, but rules vary. Some only allow charcoal in fire rings or designated grills, and burn bans can prohibit fires. Check with the campground first.

Is the Slot Grill Compact light enough for backpacking?

No. At about 14 lb it's built for car, truck, boat and RV camping, not backpacking.

Can the Compact be used as a fire pit?

Where fires are allowed, owners use it as a small fire pit for marshmallows after dinner. Follow local rules and never leave it unattended.

How do I keep the grill from rusting on camping trips?

Season it at home, keep it dry, wipe the cooking surfaces with oil after use, and dry it fully before storing.

Slot Grill Compact

12-gauge carbon steel · about 14 lb · 16.25" × 9" cooking area · packs about 1" thick · made in Texas · ★★★★★ 4.92 (77 reviews)

$89.97$99.97

Shop the Compact at SlotGrill.comAdd a griddle

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All specs and prices are from SlotGrill.com. Always grill outdoors on a stable, non-combustible surface and follow local fire rules.