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In this report

See Also

Gas BBQ Grills: Ratings of Sources
Total of 17 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
June 2009
Gas Grills
by Editors of ConsumerReports.org
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

The latest roundup at ConsumerReports.org includes ratings of 40 gas grills in a variety of price ranges and sizes. Models are tested for heat distribution, ability to cook different kinds of meat and fish,… sturdiness and ease of use. ConsumerReports.org updates this report annually, and a chart ranks performers in each category. One gas grill is rated "not acceptable" because it failed a safety test.

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2. About.com
Not Dated
Before You Buy a Gas Grill
by Derrick Riches
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Derrick Riches is a grilling enthusiast and industry consultant who has been covering gas grills for About.com for more than 10 years. In this article, Riches gives his picks for the 10 best gas grills in… five price categories, along with the best portable grills. Focus is on build quality and features, but he does not reference much testing or comparison. Picks appear to be loosely ranked based on personal preference. The commentary contains lots of insider information, company history and coverage of high-end grills. In general, Riches says that Weber grills are more expensive, but adds that they have better build quality. Riches also tends to review a lot of the same grills covered by ConsumerReports.org, so it's helpful to get another perspective. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

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3. ConsumerGuide.com
As of May 2009
Gas Grills Reviews and Prices
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

ConsumerGuide.com's reviews generally do not include testing information, but gas grills are an exception. Still, the reviews are more descriptive than evaluative, explaining how quickly and evenly each… grill heats. Build quality is addressed, and specific details such as, "We had to press the button several times to light the grill," are very helpful. Ratings for performance and ease of use valuable, and some models receive Best Buy or Budget Buy designations.

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4. Choice magazine
Nov. 2008
Small Barbeques: Review & Compare
by Editors of Choice magazine
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Choice magazine is Australia's equivalent to ConsumerReports.org. In this article, editors test and review eight small grills, seven of which are gas-powered. Test results are based on cooking performance,… ease of use, gas consumption and features such as main grilling space, warming rack and thermometers. Editors list the pros and cons of each grill, test scores and comparative product specifications. While most of the grills are not available in the United States, the popular Weber Q-200 takes top pick.

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5. Good Housekeeping
July 1, 2008
Great Grills (Under $500!)
by Editors of Good Housekeeping
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This brief article showcases five grills, four of which are gas-powered. The Char-Broil Commercial Series Grill with Infrared is deemed Best Overall, and the Uniflame 3 Burner Gas Grill wins the Budget Pick designation. Testing is referenced for both cooking and assembly, but we aren't sure if other grills were compared or which ones didn't make the cut.
6. MSNBC
Updated May 7, 2008
Fire It Up! The Top Grilling Gear and Tools
by Elizabeth Karmel
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Elizabeth Karmel -- a grilling expert, contributor to Epicurious.com and author of "Taming the Flame" -- provides essential tips and tricks for buying grills and accessories. She and the Epicurious.com team… recommend a basic and a luxury gas grill based on features and the ability to configure the grill to individual cooking needs. However, they don't say if the models were tested or compared to market rivals. The pick for best basic grill -- the Kenmore 711-inch Grill -- is still available, but is being phased out.

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7. Cigar Aficionado
July/Aug. 2007
Great Grills
by David Savona
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment David Savona and his grilling team test "four propane burning behemoths," comparing construction, heating methods, features and ease of use. He does not indicate, however, the logic behind selecting these models over other industry leaders. The Weber Genesis E-320 is considered the most compact, and the Viking VGIQ4103RT1N is the most versatile.
8. HomeBarbequeGrilling.com
As of June 2009
The Best Small Gas Grills
by Editors of HomeBarbequeGrilling.com
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment HomeBarbequeGrilling.com recommends its picks for the best small gas grills. The reviews, however, don't appear to be based on testing. Instead, they focus on construction, features, cooking options and ease of use, with a dollop of comparison among the different grills. Write-ups also provide links to customer reviews at Amazon.com.
9. Better Homes & Gardens
June 2008
Fired Up! Grills & Gear for Summer
by Editors of Better Homes and Gardens
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Better Homes and Gardens selects five grills based on price and cooking features. Information is limited to a few sentences that describe each grill's appeal factor --such as solid construction, a uniform cooking system or special options like an ice bucket. However, the editors don't explain selection criteria or testing methods.
10. The Toronto Star
May 16, 2009
Barbeque Season is Heating Up
by Vicky Sanderson
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Sanderson offers recommendations for various types of grills -- portable, eco-friendly, mid-priced, premium and alternative. Although she provides a brief description of key features, there's no indication that the grills have been tested or compared to other products. Some of the grills, such as the Napoleon Travel Q and the Weber Genesis series, are available in the United States.
11. Gas-Grill-Review.com
As of June 2009
Natural Gas Grills: The Ease and Convenience
by Editors of Gas-Grill-Review.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment While Gas-Grill-Review.com offers information on a wide range of brands and models, the reviews are limited to discussing features. The Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet 450HT Freestanding Hybrid Gas Grill and Weber Genesis E-320 are recommended models, although the choices appear to be based on the conclusions of other reviews versus direct testing by the unidentified editors.
12. Wize.com
As of June 2009
Grills and Smokers
by Contributors to Wize.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Wize.com collects reviews of gas grills from retail websites. Normally this would not be as useful as checking the individual sites, but in this case, no retailer (or other website) has enough user reviews to identify patterns with many products. Wize.com links to the individual reviews on the original sites. A formula generates product ratings based on an average of ratings.
13. Lowes.com
As of June 2009
Gas Grills
by Contributors to Lowes.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Like other retail sites, Lowes.com allows users to review products, including gas grills. The bummer is that the site is just poorly organized for finding those reviews, which aren't viewable until you click on a specific model, then a reviews tab on the page. That makes comparing overall ratings tough. Still, it's worth checking if you're considering a grill sold at Lowe's.
14. HomeDepot.com
As of June 2009
Grills & Accessories Reviews
by Contributors to HomeDepot.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

HomeDepot.com is one of the leading retailers of gas grills. Its website is a moderately useful source for gauging owner satisfaction with specific models, but it doesn't have enough user reviews to… identify common problems or to determine which grills to buy or reject. Gas grills, charcoal grills and accessories are grouped together in this category, and too many products average five-star ratings. The inexpensive Brinkmann 810-8410-S receives the most reviews, and the Weber Genesis grills receive the highest ratings.

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15. Amazon.com
As of June 2009
Propane Grills
by Contributors to Amazon.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

While helpful, owner reviews of grills are limited to products sold by Amazon.com, which leaves out a large number of brands. The older Weber Q models have many comments from owners, but other models have… an insignificant number of user reviews. Many of the complaints about grills in general have to do with assembly, shipping and customer service. Amazon.com is a better place to check once you've narrowed down your choices.

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16. Cook's Illustrated Magazine
July 1, 2003
Testing Gas Grills
by Adam Ried and Garth Clingingsmith
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This is a wonderfully detailed and balanced review that's based on hard-core grill testing. Unfortunately, it's also painfully outdated, and most of the models featured are no longer available. For this article, Cook's Illustrated tested eight gas grills by cooking steaks, chicken thighs, eggplant and salmon, as well as fitting 12-pound turkeys in them.
17. BobbysBest.com
As of June 2009
Weber Grill Reviews
by Robert Glazer
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This website is essentially a blog geared toward selling products. Bobby Glazer offers some good information and balanced product reviews, but hands-on testing is limited to models he owns. Glazer primarily reviews Weber grills, and he recommends all reviewed products. He offers some comparisons, but does not document experience with other brands.

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