Time for a new gas grill?

As we approach cookout season, Consumer Reports offers these buying tips for those seeking a new barbecue for the deck, patio or back yard.

"One of the biggest mistakes that people make is equating price with performance," says Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman, deputy home editor with Consumer Reports, based in Yonkers, N.Y. "We found inexpensive, mid-sized gas grills that cost $200 to $300 that did a fine job cooking and had side burners and lots of shelf space."

Mid-sized grills rated Consumer Reports Best Buys are: the Blue Ember by Fiesta (FG50069-U401) for $450 and the Brinkmann (810-8410S) for $200, both available at Home Depot, and the Char-Broil Commercial Series (463268008) for $300, available at Lowe's.

Two standout big grills with great performance and crowd-sized meal capacity are CR Best Buys -- the Kenmore (16315), $570, available at Sears, and the Char-Broil Quantum (463248208), $500, available at Lowe's.

In addition to very good overall cooking performance, the Kenmore has five main burners with a 10-year warranty, a rotisserie, a side burner and coated cast-iron grates, Ms. Kuperszmid Lehrman said.

The Char-Broil Quantum excels at low-temperature grilling and has a lifetime warranty on its five burners, a side burner and stainless steel grates.

Another mistake grill hunters make is using the number of Btu (British thermal units) as a guide. Although manufacturers claim the more Btu the better, Consumer Reports tests found that doesn't mean faster heating or better cooking, she said.

Some grills use infrared technology, which is simply indirect cooking with heat. Consumer Reports found little difference between infrared technologies, and infrared cooking wasn't any better than regular grilling.

Pick a grill with only the features you'll need and actually use.

"Are you a hamburger and hot dog person, or someone who likes to roast whole chickens and turkeys and other fancier types of cooking?" Ms. Kuperszmid Lehrman said.

Side burners are a nice feature because they allow preparation of a side dish or simply keeping something warm without taking up valuable space on the main part of the grill, she said. However, be aware of side burners' limitations.

"They don't bring water to a boil and can't keep things to a low simmer," she said. "They're better for warming and OK for [simple] cooking, but you won't want to make a sophisticated bechamel sauce on [them]."

Get a grill with coated cast-iron or stainless-steel grates.

"We found [they] tend to do a better job of searing food and maintaining a consistent temperature than porcelain-coated steel versions," she said.

Buy a cover for the grill. A cover can protect a grill from rusting before its time and extend its longevity.

Porcelain-coated steel for the grill box (body) also is becoming more popular as stainless steel prices have gone up, she said. They're easier to clean and come in bright colors, including blues, greens and reds.

Other grill-buying tips from Consumer Reports:

• Size it up: Take into account how many people will generally be around the table and how much space the grill will occupy. This will help determine the size of the grill to purchase.

• Look over the menu: Think about the grill's main use. Ask if a side burner or griddle would be useful. Consider if the grill will be used to make whole chickens, turkeys or large roasts that are best suited for a rotisserie burner.

• Bring a magnet: A great way to ensure the grill purchased is made of top-notch quality material is to bring a magnet into the store. A magnet will usually stick to cheaper-grade steel, which is more likely to rust.

• Think safety: When shopping, run a quick safety test on the grill to make sure it is stable. Check for sharp corners and see how close knuckles come to the lid when gripping the handle. Once the grill is home, place it in a low-traffic, well-ventilated area away from other structures or buildings, the side of the house and dry leaves or brush. Use a fireproof mat underneath. Most important, never grill in the garage or any enclosed area.

The full report on buying grills is in the June issue of Consumer Reports and at www.Consumer Reports.org.