Grill Buying Guide (Interactive Video) _ Consumer Reports

Reports from Tests but Over Time Those Coatings May Chip or Rust

When it comes to starting your grill an electronic igniter is the way to go one push and your burners are on. Rotary igniters built into the knobs or non-electric push-button ones may require several clicks or pushes. Burners are the most commonly replaced part on a grill you'll see many burners especially on lower price grills come with warranties of five years or less but higher end grills should come with longer ones that last at least 10 years or even a lifetime.

When it comes to the exterior of the grill many people like the look of stainless steel but not all stainless steel is created equal. Higher grades are better at resisting rust but keep in mind a better quality stainless steel grill can cost you hundreds sometimes thousands more depending on the size of the grill and its features. Porcelain coated exteriors are a less expensive alternative this type won't show fingerprints or scratch like stainless steel can but if the coating chips it can rust.

After You've Got the Basic Squared Away You Can Focus on the Fun Stuff

Serious grillers can deck out their models with rotisserie fridges and deep fryers. Some manufacturers claim better cooking hotter grilling and faster heating with certain features but you might not need all of these to grill a perfectly tasty steak for example. Manufacturers often tout British thermal units or BTUs which show you how much gas a grill uses and how much heat it can create but our tests find that more BTUs don't necessarily mean faster heating or better cooking so our experts say it's best to keep BTUs out of your buying decision.

Manufacturers Might Utilize Infrared Technology and Add a Single Rotisserie Burner or a Side Searing Burner Which Can Be Helpful

Consumer Reports experts say LED lights under the hood and on the control knobs definitely come in handy if you tend to grill after sundown. Some grills have space to work outside the cooking area fold-out shelves for instance let you prep food right next to the grill side burners are helpful when preparing accoutrements to a dish like a special sauce on some grills you can even find side deep fryers ice boxes fridges and drawers for steaming and storage.

Some Grills Even Come with a Smoke Box or a Conventional Oven A Propane Pull-Out Shelf is a Great Way to Get Your Fuel Tank Attached to the Grill with Less String

A fuel gauge can tell you when it's time to change the tank. A pullout grease tray makes cleaning up easier and look for grills with four wheels vs which makes moving your grill a lot easier remember no matter which grill you choose you can always soup it up with aftermarket accessories many can help you expand what cuisine you prepare on the grill such as rib cookers pizza stones or boxes for artisan pies baskets and walks as well as stir-fried tools and riddles.

There Are Even Robots That Will Clean It All Up When You're Done

But you might be surprised at the different foods you can cook on a regular grill without any accessories everything from a grilled Caesar salad to pound cake and fruit for dessert just watch what this celebrity chef cooked up in our labs when you crave that smoky grilled flavor only the classic charcoal grill will do they typically cost 200 to 500 dollars but you can find some for as little as $100 while high-end models can cost in the thousands cooking with charcoal takes longer but there are starter chimneys you can buy to get the charcoal hotter faster wheels make for easy moving some have moveable racks so you can add more charcoal without disrupting food that's cooking and others have removable ash catchers for faster cleanup.

An Electric Grill Can Come in Handy If You Live in a City Apartment or Condo That Won't Allow an Open Flame

Electric grills surprise use electricity to heat grill plates price ranges from about 250 to more than $500 the downside these are smaller so you can't feed an RV and you'll have to plug these grills in so you'll need access to a power source and for tailgaters campers or anyone who wants to grill on the go consider portable models they also come in handy as an extra grill when you don't want to fire up the big grill and are a good option for apartment and condo dwellers with limited space.

These Typically Cost Around $100 and Up They Use a Smaller Liquid Propane Tank and Come in a Range of Sizes Some Have Short Legs You Can Set on the Ground or a Table Others Can Fold Up and Then Open to Standing Height

Look for Models with Latches to Lock the Lid When You're Carrying the Grill No Matter Which Grill You Have Remember to Clean It After Each Use and Consult Your Owners Manual for Additional Maintenance Instructions