Gas BBQ Grill Review

How much grill do you need?

Despite a surge in sales of charcoal grills, gas grills are still used more frequently because they are easier to light and control, and much quicker to heat up. Though they cost more than charcoal models, about 60 percent of grill purchases are gas grills. Grilling experts and product reviewers agree that a more expensive grill doesn't guarantee better outdoor cooking. In tests, cheaper models often outperform more expensive grills that cost three to five times as much, at least in the short term. Durability over the long haul, on the other hand, is a more open question.

This report covers gas grills. ConsumerSearch covers charcoal grills in a companion report. We found ConsumerReports.org to be the best reviewer of gas grills, with testing updated annually. For its most recent test, ConsumerReports.org tests and rates 40 grills, ranging from small portable grills to big backyard models. Each is tested for cooking performance and ease of use, as well as evenness of heating when cooking beef, chicken and fish.

We found an excellent collection of articles at About.com from BBQ guide Derrick Riches. Riches has covered the outdoor cooking industry for a decade, and he has some good information about grill manufacturers, along with analysis and reviews. The reviews are detailed, but Riches doesn't conduct head-to-head cooking tests on the grills. Riches does a much better job than other leading review sources in covering the high-end of the market, which is helpful if you're considering a showpiece grill that costs more than $1,500. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Other reviews cover far fewer gas grills and aren't as up to date as the reports at ConsumerReports.org and About.com. Choice magazine, Australia's version of Consumer Reports, tests and reviews a number of gas grills, but only a few are available in the United States. ConsumerGuide.com, Good Housekeeping, MSNBC.com, Better Homes and Gardens, The Toronto Star and Cigar Aficionado cover a good selection of models. However, these reviews don't always explain testing methods, and models aren't as current. Coverage is also fairly minimal.

Rounding out our sources are the grilling websites HomeBarbequeGrilling.com, Bobby'sBest.com and Gas-Grill-Review.com, as well as user reviews from Wize.com, HomeDepot.com, Lowes.com, Walmart.com and Amazon.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission lists several gas grills recalled in the past 18 months: the Blue Ember FG50057 and Blue Ember FG50069; the Perfect Flame Double Lid Four-Burner Gas Grill GAC3615 (sold only by Lowe's); the Char-Broil Two-Burner Gas Grill 463720108 (sold only at Mills Fleet Farm Stores); and three Broil King Gas Grills -- the Signet, Sovereign and Sovereign XL series. All pose potential fire risks due to improper assembly or defective parts. Another grill, the OutdoorChef Roma 570MX2, failed a safety test conducted by ConsumerReports.org. The recall for the Blue Ember FG50069 applies only to models sold from November 2007 through June 2008.

The recalls illustrate why it's a good idea to register your new gas grill with the manufacturer so you can be notified of recall or repair issues.