Consumer Reports tests best gas grills

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Summer is in full swing, and you've probably already fired up the grill. Just in time for National Grilling Month, Consumer Reports put well over 100 gas grills through the paces to find the best bang for your buck.

In one test, Thermocouples measure surface temperature to see if a grill has hot or cold spots, to see how evenly two burgers cook on different parts of the grill.

"Some weren't so hot, but we did find plenty of good options, particularly among medium-sized grills, which are the most popular. They typically hold about two dozen burgers," said Dan DiClerico with Consumer Reports.

The $600 Weber Spirit, available at hardware stores, is the top-rated mid-sized grill.

But Weber is getting a run for its money from Kenmore. The Kenmore Elite from Sears offers solid construction, an LED control panel, built-in lights, a side burner, and impressive cooking performance, for $950.

For a more budget friendly option, Consumer Reports also recommends the $370 Better Homes and Gardens grill from Walmart.

"You do get a lot of features for the money. It's got the stainless steel grates, it comes with the rotisserie and there's this sliding tank tray, which makes it a lot easier to change the gas," said DiClerico.

It also has a side burner and is an excellent performer in several cooking tests. One thing to consider is that the burner warranty is five years. Burners are the most replaced part on a grill and can be an indicator of how long you can expect it to last.

The Kenmore Elite has a generous 15 year burner warranty.