Keeping the Castle - Housekeeping & Homemaking Tips

Pricey Grill Not a Guarantee of a Tastier Outcome

by Maricar on June 27th, 2006

These days, grills have taken on massive proportions and have more bells and whistles than their older counterparts. Food writer Sharon Thompson of the Lexington Herald-Leader investigated whether the size (and price) of a grill makes a difference in the taste of the finished product.

Two grills were compared: “a $1,599 Firestone Legacy grill top and the Big Green Egg, a ceramic cooker designed for smoking, grilling, roasting, baking and barbecuing”.

Guess who won that contest? The Big Green Egg, which costs $240 to $990.

Consumer Reports found out the same thing.

The CR experts tested 44 models costing $100 to $3,200, and their Best Buys cost $200 to $500. Their advice is to “assess features, quality and value independent of brand, which we found an inconsistent indicator of quality or performance.”

CR’s quick picks combine high performance and value. The highest scoring mid-size grills are Vermont Castings, $400; Char-Broil, $270; Thermos, $300, and BBQ Grillware, $200. For cooking for a crowd, two grills ranked high: Great Outdoors, $500, and Brinkman, $300. For smaller groups and tailgating, the portable Weber, $180, is a good choice.

So, don’t get grill envy. You’ll be paying more for the convenience features in a more expensive grill. But your steak will taste just the same in your dad’s old standby.

Tags: grills, grill comparison

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