Memorial Day BBQ equipment, gadgets and tips

Memorial Day is fast approaching, and the experts at Consumer Reports have the gear, gadgets, and tips to help you get ready for the opening day of grilling season!

Before you start cooking on your gas grill for the first time this season, carefully inspect it, clean it thoroughly and look for any parts that need replacing.

If it’s time for a new grill, Consumer Reports testers have been reviewing grills all year long and can help you choose.

In the case of gas grills, testers check the efficiency of preheating, even heating of the grates, the ability to grill over indirect heat and the wide range of grill temperatures. Testers also pay attention to the comfort and durability of each grill.

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CR also surveys its members about their experiences with various grills. Weber grills consistently earn high marks for owner satisfaction and reliability. And the most effective mid-sized grill Weber Genesis Smart Grill EPX-335 35810001 for $ 1,400 is no exception.

However, CR’s testing also showed that you don’t have to spend thousands to have a grill with excellent performance. While not as durable as the Weber, the $420 Monument Grills 25392 performs just as well for hundreds less.

To keep your grill operating at peak efficiency, keep it clean. CR tried out different grill brushes to see which one would remove messes like stuck-on chicken skins, salmon skins, and melted cheese, foods that tend to stick to the grill grate.

The Grill Daddy Metal Grill Cleaning Brush, which retails for $100, made it easier for us to deal with the mess; however, it is expensive. The Room Essentials Nylon Grill Cleaning Brush is a $10 alternative. A brush with nylon bristles also does the job, but you’ll need to replace it more often because the nylon can melt on the hot grill grate.

To prevent food from sticking to the grates, preheat the grill for about 15 minutes before grilling.

CR recommends that you always wipe down your grill grates after using a metal bristle brush because the bristles can break off and end up in your food. A damp cloth will do this. If you have a grill with bare cast iron grates, use an oiled cloth.