Consumer Reports Grills Up Ratings For Gas Grills

Consumer Reports

checked out 21 gas grills for performance including Char-Broil, Weber and Sunbeam. The prices ranged from $120 to $2,200.

Testers found new grills, even the less expensive ones, offer more features, like stainless-steel trim and side burners. Another convenient feature is the battery-operated pushbutton igniters.

But features aside, how well do the grills operate?

Testers came up with a high-tech machine to see how evenly the grills heat.

Sensors monitor the temperature and the information is then fed into a computer. Different colors show the temperature on the grill's surface.

All the grills fell within a good temperature range. After cooking chicken, burgers and salmon steaks, testers found nearly all the grills cooked evenly.

Consumer Reports

recommends the $200 Sunbeam Grillmaster 6522. It has some nice extras, like a side burner and an electronic starter.

Consumer Reports

also recommends the Weber Genesis Silver-B is an excellent grill, but it is more expensive at $450. It has many nice features, including a fuel gauge, a fold-down front shelf and a removable grill base for easy cleaning.

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