Best Grills for 2025: Grilling Season Is Back and So Are My Top Recommendations

We use thermocouples linked to computer software to measure internal grill temperatures. Brian Bennett/CNET We test the main types of grills differently, but for most, we include a high-heat test like searing steak or grilling burgers, a medium, indirect heat test like grilling a whole chicken for more than an hour and a low-and-slow test with racks of ribs. With over 30 grills tested, we've got this down to a tee. To determine what should be the best outdoor barbecue grill, we collect data including total cooking time, temperatures inside the grill and temperature inside separate pieces of meat. All that information helps us find where grills might have hot spots or thermometer inconsistencies. High heat test: Cooking 5.3 oz burger patties until they reach 145 degree internal temperature. Indirect heat test: Cooking a 5.5-pound chicken off the flames to 160 degrees. Low and Slow: Cooking a rack of pork ribs at 225 for 3 hours and taste testing. Temperature consistency James Bric ... Read full article.