Able to deliver considerably more heat than others in its price range, the Camp … Cost: $300 to $2,000. Check the cart, wheels, lid, and firebox. The portable grills in our ratings range in price from about $120 to more than $400, and we test models from Broil King, Char-Broil, Coleman, Cuisinart, Landmann, Napoleon, Nexgrill, and Weber, among others. About Burners We also assess the ease of cleaning each model, as well as conveniences, such as locking casters, hooks, and side shelves. Midsized grills: large enough to hold 18 to 28 burger patties Weber grills are widely available, making the brand one of the top sellers. You’ll see basic grills and souped-up models with plenty of storage, plus LED lights and backlit knobs for cooking after dusk. First, you'll need to choose among gas, charcoal, and a relative newcomer to the market, pellet grills. Dyna-Glo gas grills are widely available and cost around $200 to $600. Classic kettle grills are round, and widest at the cooking grates—they taper down near the coal bed. Larger grills in this price range put off a tremendous amount of heat – up to 32,000 BTUs per hour, which is four times the amount of cheaper and portable models. They hold more food than kettle or kamado grills, and many have helpful features, such as a door to add charcoal and adjustable cooking grates. Here are key features to consider. By Roy Berendsohn and Bradley Ford. Temperature range: Look for a pellet grill with the broadest possible temperature range. Weber LP Gas Grill | Editors’ Choice. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. Readers gave top marks for appearance and high marks for grilling performance, durability, ease of use, and ease of cleaning. For searing, you’ll want a model that has a dedicated searing zone, which allows you to remove the heat deflector, so foods such as steak can be directly exposed to the flame. Check how the grills do in our indirect-cooking tests. Expect them to last two to 10 years. CR’s advice? KitchenAid gas grills cost between $400 and $1,500. Prices for models in our tests range from $400 to $1,200. Readers gave high marks for grilling performance, ease of use, and appearance but were lukewarm about durability and ease of cleaning. Because of these differences, we test each type differently. We assess the construction of gas grills in our sturdiness test. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. The deep, narrow shape allows you to build a deep coal bed for searing or prolonged cooking. Cost: $100 to $1,000, This is the most widely sold grill size. Char-Broil Classic 360 3-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill; 1.3 3. You can buy the pellets at a home center or hardware store. Look for a model with a tight-fitting lid and solid dampers or vents. Hopper: The hopper size determines how many pellets a grill can hold, and in turn, how long the grill will run before you need to add fuel. But a portable grill might prove ideal for this summer. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. Blackstone Tailgater. Many mid- to higher-priced gas grills have burner warranties of 10 years or longer. If burgers are the mainstay of your cookouts and backyard barbecues, this Weber gas grill is one of the best gas grill choices for your outdoor grill needs. ... Let Consumer Reports help you buy right every time. You can skip to chapters based on your interests, such as grill basics; accessories; charcoal, gas, and other types; and other topics. We tested it, and it appears in our gas grill ratings. Char-Broil is one of the top-selling brands and has a wide product range that includes a hybrid grill that allows you to cook with charcoal and gas. Readers gave top marks for appearance and high marks for grilling performance, durability, ease of use, and ease of cleaning. Camp Chef SPG90B. Best for Tailgating: Coleman RoadTrip 285 Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill Buy on Amazon Buy on Dick's Get excited for the big game with the Coleman RoadTrip Portable Stand-Up Propane Grill. Jostle the assembled grill from several points to test sturdiness; the more stable the better. Below is more detailed information about gas, charcoal, kamado, and pellet grills, including factors to consider when deciding which type of grill to buy and the various features of each. 2. We also check the temperature range for each grill to make sure you can get it high enough to sear a steak and low enough to slow-cook ribs. Safety Recipe for Safety You’ll see brand reliability information in our gas grill ratings. Readers gave high marks for Dyna-Glo’s ease of use and appearance but were lukewarm about grilling performance and ease of cleaning. We skip the preheat test that we perform on gas because we’ve found that most pellet grills heat up quickly. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Cook with these gas and charcoal models anywhere—or use them in your own backyard. Big Green Egg is one of the first widely sold kamado grills in the U.S. Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. For charcoal … Accessible Coal Bed Cook a kettle of corn or keep the baked beans warm while grilling the main course. BEST VALUE. Some kamado grills also have multiple dampers, which makes it easier to fine-tune the temperature you’re shooting for. We tested this model, among other Char-Broils, and you’ll see it in our gas grill ratings. And wheels with a full axle are better than those bolted individually to the frame. You are in RIGHT PLACE. Consumer Reports recently tested nine portable grills, and our experts found that performance varied widely. We also test portable gas grills, which are not divided into different size categories. These rectangular grills offer an alternative to the classic kettle grill. Note that our brand reliability survey found that Kenmore gas grills were among the more repair-prone, and we cannot recommend them at this time. But they hold less food than most barrel grills, and most of the three-legged kettle grills we’ve seen aren’t as sturdy as barrel-style grills, which generally have four legs. And the dampers allow you to fine-tune the temperature for cooking. We spread the layer of coals evenly across the base of the grill and wire the grates with thermocouples to measure how evenly the coals provide heat across the surface. It even has two side slide our tables to set things on. Most grills use propane, but some have dual-fuel valves for conversion to natural gas. Weber 741001 Original Kettle 22-Inch Charcoal Grill. Gas grills are classified by size. For preheat performance, we measure how hot the surface gets at the 10-minute mark because that’s when our data says most folks like to start cooking. An electronic igniter draws out these pellets and lights them, creating heat and smoke, which imparts a distinct flavor to your food. When you cook for a prolonged period, you’ll need to add coals. A dual-fuel grill that allows you to grill with charcoal and gas has been added to the lineup. To find out how the gas, charcoal, and pellet grills we test perform, see our grill ratings. And we collect data from more than 38,000 CR members about their gas grills to see which brands are more likely to last. They tend to weigh less and to be more maneuverable. CR test engineers wire a pellet grill with thermocouples to measure the evenness of heating across the grill’s grates. We also assess how evenly each model heats—if you’re cooking a giant batch of burgers, you want them to finish at the same time. 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