Get a Great Grill for Summer
A great grill doesn't have to cost a lot, says an expert.
May 23, 2007 — -- Sizzling coals, smoky meat, charred vegetables: Barbecues make Memorial Day memories, and are the essence of summer. But a great grill -- one that fits your entertaining needs -- is crucial to doing them right.
Consumer Reports senior editor Amanda Walker recently visited "Good Morning America" to share her picks for this year's best grills. Walker's team tested grills exponentially to see how they held up. Read: They cooked (and tasted) over 160 pounds of hamburger, salmon, fish and chicken to work out that you and I don't necessarily have to pay a lot to get a great grill. Here's what they discovered:
Small Grills
Looking for a grill that is portable to take to the ballpark, a picnic or campground? According to Walker's team, the Weber Q200 ($180) did a lot better than most of the small grills tested. In fact, it did as well as many of the larger grills. It seared food well, cooked evenly, and its size made it convenient.
Medium-Sized Grills
Walker recommended the Char-Broil Commercial Series at Lowe's ($300) for backyard grilling. It's mostly stainless steel, which is a quality consumers should look for. "It also has a long warranty on the burners," said Walker. "And that's great because the burners tends to be the first thing to wear out."
The Blue Ember by Fiesta ($450) earned Consumer Reports' Best Buy stamp thanks to the many more features that this mid-size grill boasts compared with higher priced brands. It also scored points for its side burner and cast-iron grates that sear foods well.
Large Grills
If your summer plans include feeding a large family or entertaining a lot, the Kenmore16237 at Sears ($800) is a great option -- it can hold more than 30 pieces of meat, chicken or fish at a time. With easy-to-use features, the grill also scored high on low temperature grilling for foods like chicken and fish.
The grill of grills, the Viking T Series, which comes with a very impressive $3,200 price tag, is the machine to go for if you're looking to impress the neighbors. However, Walker's team didn't think it did as well in the cooking test as the Kenmore did as it doesn't have the side burner. It also doesn't have as long a warranty.
Viking took Walker's criticism in stride. "Viking is dedicated to delivering the highest quality and most innovative products to consumers," a Viking spokesman told ABC News.
Shopping Tips
When buying a grill, look for stainless steel. While it can still stain over time, the better the quality to begin with, the less it will stain. Bring a magnet with you to the store to test the quality of the steel -- the higher quality stainless steel will not stick to the magnet. The other thing you can do is buy a grill cover which will also protect it from the elements.
If you want to see how sturdy a grill is, just shake it. And remember, it's better to get a cart with four wheels instead of two if you think you want to move the grill around a lot.