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Top-rated grills for summer cookouts

Many people don't realize it's not just grill skill, but the equipment itself can make or break your meal.

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Many people don't realize it's not just grill skill, but the equipment itself can make or break your meal.

Consumer Reports tested more than 100 gas grills. The most important check—how evenly they cook.

"Barbecue is so appealing; great char, great flavor, and that smokiness is just so essential,” Peter Crawford, a veteran griller said. “You can't replicate that in a kitchen."

The Weber Spirit is top-rated by Consumer Reports and costs $600. With an LED panel, built-in lights and a side burner, the Kenmore Elite priced at $950 is also a top choice.

Consumer Reports also recommends the Better Homes and Gardens grill, available at Wal-Mart for $370.

"You do get a lot of features for the money,” Dan DiClerico of Consumer Reports said. “It's got the stainless steel grates, it comes with the rotisserie and there's this sliding tank tray, which makes it a lot easier to change the gas."

The warranty of the burner—the most commonly replaced part of a grill—can be an indicator of how long customers can expect a grill to last.

The Kenmore Elite carries a 15-year burner warranty. Better Homes and Garden’s grill warranty is only five years.

Brinkmann’s patio gas grill, priced at $130 and sold primarily at Home Depot, initially failed Consumer Reports’ safety tests. However, the company modified the grill recently and is now a recommended buy, according to Consumer Reports.

If customers own an older Brinkmann’s model, contact the company for replacement parts at 1-800-527-0717.

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