YONKERS, NY — Americans love their grills!  A new poll from the Consumer Reports National Research Center indicates that 41 percent of outdoor chefs nationwide grill all year round with more than two-thirds (68%) of respondents reporting having grilled in the rain, 26 percent having grilled while it was snowing, sleeting, or hailing, and 32 percent having grilled in temperatures below freezing.

Consumer Reports’ tests of 37 gas grills, in sizes from portable or small to large, revealed that a premium price doesn’t guarantee a better grill: Some mid-priced grills outperformed grills costing hundreds more.  Consumer Reports’ tests also found that a higher Btu level (British thermal unit) – once touted by manufacturers – doesn’t guarantee faster heating or better cooking.  Shoppers will also find that many grill makers have turned to infrared technology to create buzz.  But, CR notes that infrared is just another way of saying indirect cooking with heat, and that when it comes to grills, there are several ways to generate it.  Consumer Reports’ tests revealed little difference between infrared technologies.  It also found that infrared cooking was no better than regular grilling.

“Americans love their grills – so much so that 69 percent of households that grill have more than one type,” said Bob Markovich, home & yard editor at Consumer Reports.  “Shoppers need to be well informed before heading into the store to shop for a new grill. There are many features on grills now that look and sound great, but our tests show that they do not always live up to their claims.”

How They Rated

Spending more does not necessarily ensure getting a better grill.  Consumer Reports’ top-rated midsized and large grills are about half the cost of some of the other models.   Three midsized grills have been designated as CR Best Buys:  the Blue Ember by Fiesta FG50069-U401, $450, available at Home Depot; the Brinkmann 810-8410S, $200, also available at Home Depot; and the Char-Broil Commercial Series 463268008, $300, available at Lowe’s.  The Blue Ember shined for cooking food evenly. The Brinkmann combined fine cooking, a side burner, and lots of shelf space at a lower price.  The stainless-steel Char-Broil offers excellent grilling, a side burner, and an abundance of shelf space.

People grilling for a crowd should consider these CR Best Buys:  the Kenmore 16315, $570, available at Sears; and the Char-Broil Quantum 463248208, $500, available at Lowe’s, are both stainless steel.  The Kenmore provides very good performance with five main burners and a 10-year warranty.  It also has a rotisserie and side burners, and plenty of shelf space. The Char-Broil excels in grilling, provides infrared heat, and a lifetime warranty on its burners.
 
Consumers who tailgate or have a tight space will be interested in the $190 Weber Q 200 (396002), a portable grill that is very good at cooking food evenly, an important characteristic.  A cart and an adapter for a larger propane tank are available separately for this grill.

Choosing the Right Grill

The Consumer Reports’ poll found that many consumers (55%) look to buy a new grill once their old one is rusted or corroded.  However, 53 percent of consumers indicated that they parted with their previous grill because they were ready to upgrade to a new model.  No matter what grill consumers are looking for, Consumer Reports recommends the following tips:

• SIZE IT UP. Take into account how many people will generally be around the table and how much space the grill will occupy. This will help determine the size of the grill to purchase.

• LOOK OVER THE MENU.

Think about the grill’s main use.  Ask if a side burner or griddle would be useful in helping with warming side dishes.  Consider if the grill will be used to make whole chickens, turkeys or large roasts that are best suited for a rotisserie burner.

• BRING A MAGNET.

A great way to ensure the grill purchased is made of top-notch quality material is to bring a magnet into the store.  A magnet will usually stick to cheaper-grade steel, which is more likely to rust.

• THINK SAFETY.

When shopping, run a quick safety test on the grill to make sure it is stable. Check for sharp corners and see how close knuckles come to the lid when gripping the handle. Once the grill is home, place it in a low-traffic, well-ventilated area away from other structures or buildings, the side of the house, and dry leaves or brush.  Use a fireproof mat underneath.  Most important, never grill in the garage or any enclosed area.

Additionally, during testing Consumer Reports found one grill that posed a safety risk.  As previously announced, the midsized Broil King Signet 90 986784LP has been judged “Not Acceptable” after its firebox melted during a routine test for flare-ups. CR contacted Canada’s Onward Manufacturing, which makes the grill. The company said it is developing a free retrofit kit to resolve this problem. Consumer Reports hopes to test the kit when it becomes available. Onward also said it would contact the CPSC as well as Onward’s dealers. The company said it would ask dealers not to sell this model until it has been retrofitted. Consumers who already own the grill and have sent in warranty information will automatically get the kit. For more information, consumers can contact Onward at 866-434-7455 or send an email to kit@omcbbq.com.  Consumers can find more information online at www.ConsumerReports.org/broilking.
The full report on grills is in the June 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, which is available wherever magazines are sold and online at www.ConsumerReports.org.

Consumer Reports Grill Poll Methodology
The Consumer Reports National Research Center conducted a telephone survey of a nationally representative probability sample of telephone households. 1,001 interviews were completed among adults aged 18+. Interviewing took place over March 27 – March 30, 2008. The margin of error is +/-
3.2% points at a 95% confidence level.