The Early Show

Pretty Grills, All In A Row

By Marianne Goldstein

May 11, 2007 / 7:39 PM EDT / CBS

The June issue of Consumer Reports magazine reviews 30 gas grills and offers some useful tips to follow when looking to upgrade.

What to look for when you're at the store: Cheaper grills often use cheaper metals, which won't last as long as higher-grade stainless steel. Consumer Reports suggests bringing a magnet to the store with you. If it holds to the grill, the metal may not wear under the weather as well.

Consumer Reports also suggests "giving it a bump" to see if the grill tips over. Hey, better in the store than onto your patio!

Does spending more money mean you're buying a better grill? Not really. In the "large grill" category, an $800 model from Kenmore outperformed the Viking, which at $3,200 didn't even have side burners!

Make your new grill last by keeping it clean. When you buy your grill, pick up a new wire brush, too. Give the cooking surface a good brushing before and after you grill. You should also keep the cooking area lubricated. Before cooking (and after heating), apply some cooking oil to prevent food from sticking.

The four grills that were the highest-rated by Consumer Reports were:

The tailgate-ready Weber Q 200 — a portable grill that runs about $180 — actually scored higher than most grills twice its size. While the grill is little more than a tailgate companion, it should provide any parking lot chef with even cooking.

The Kenmore 16237 is the top pick for large grills, those that can handle up to 30 burgers at once. Aside from its five burners, the Kenmore comes with a side burner, a rotisserie burner, plenty of shelf space, and a ten year warranty! It also beat out Viking and Weber among large grills. Though the Viking goes for $3,200 and the Weber $1,700, Consumer Reports gave top honors to Kenmore for its cooking ability, especially at low temperatures.

Only two grills tested by CR were given "Best Buy" status: the Blue Ember from Fiesta (available at the Home Depot for $450) and the Char-Broil Commercial Series (at Lowe's for $300), both of which are mid-sized. The Blue Ember tested a bit higher in the CR study — 84 vs. 79 for the Char-Broil.

Consumer Reports suggests cleaning all grills promptly after cooking. Use a mild soapy solution to remove grease from exterior surfaces. For stainless steel, use a gentle touch with some steel wool and follow it up with some polish.