Gas grills.(RATINGS)(Buyers guide)

You'll pay $300 to $500 for a grill that can handle most of your cooking needs. Spending more will get you stainless styling and additional convenience features, but not necessarily better performance. Several midsized models for less than $500 performed as well as others that cost much more.

Guide to the Ratings

Overall score is based on performance, features, and convenience. Evenness reflects the evenness of heating over the grill's surface at high and low settings. Grilling measures each model's ability to cook chicken and fish on the grill's low setting. Convenience evaluates construction and materials, useful accessory burners and shelves, rack space, and ease of use, as well as propensity for flare-ups. Stainless-steel grates are generally sturdier than those made of coated steel and resist rust even without a porcelain coating. Coated cast iron grates may be made of porcelain-coated cast iron, which generally sears meats better and keeps grilling temperatures more consistent than grates made of porcelain-coated steel. All or mostly stainless includes more than just a panel or other trim. Based on our limited tests, nonmagnetic stainless is less likely to corrode. Burners remain the grill's most-replaced part, but most are guaranteed for only 3 to 5 years. Long-warranty burners are covered for 10 years or more. Price is approximate retail.

Quick Picks

Best for most; all are midsized: