GREENSBORO, N.C. — What shape is your grill in? There are five signs Consumer Reports says you need to look for to find out if you need to replace or repair your grill.
#1 Rusty or cracked firebox. You can remove a little rust, but if you have layers of rust or the box is cracked, it's time to buy a new grill.
#2 Yellow or uneven flames. If you see that, there's a clog in the burner. Try cleaning the holes in the burner bar with a toothpick. If the flames go back to blue, you're good, if not you need to buy new burners. ( $40 - $180)
#3 Flaking or cracked grates. Those flakes can get into your food. You'll want to replace the grates. ($40-$200)
#4 Leaking or a cracked hose. You don't want a gas leak near an open flame.
#5 An iffy ignitor. If it clicks slowly or not at all or fails to light the gas, the ignitor needs to be replaced immediately.
Consumer Reports tests gas grills and looks at pre-heat performance, how evenly the grates heat up, whether the grill can cook over indirect heat, and how broad a temperature range the grill has, as well as convenience and sturdiness for every grill.
Weber grills consistently earn high marks for owner satisfaction and reliability, but they cost over a thousand dollars. Consumer Reports found a Monument grill for $420. It performs just as well, but is not as sturdy as the Weber.
CLEANING YOUR GRILL
"Some of the brushes we tried were really effective at cleaning while others were either ineffective or just hard to use. We also found that price is really no indicator of performance," said Paul Hope, Consumer Reports.
The CR pick is a $10 Nylon bristle brush from Room Essentials.
PRO-TIP: STOP YOUR FOOD FROM STICKING TO THE GRILL
CR says you should pre-heat the grill for 15 minutes before putting any food on it. That will help the sticking.