About Barbecue & Grilling Product Evaluations
For more than two decades I have been testing, evaluating, and gathering information on every type of outdoor cooking equipment, accessories, foods, and, well, anything else barbecue and grilling. When I test a product, I look for not only how well it does what it is supposed to do, but also what is the value. For grills and smokers, this means looking at how it is made and by who. How long will it last? What will be its biggest problems? Is this really what people are looking for? I have had a lot of feedback from users. I have talked with retailers and repair persons. I have toured factories. And I have done a lot of cooking. Lots and lots of cooking. I try my best to be objective, to tear away the hype and get down to the nitty-gritty details. I track products back to their factories. You'd be surprised how many 'brand names' correspond with generic companies.
The icons I put with my reviews are here to help you quickly identify the best from the not so great. Of course, there are also full reviews of these products with detailed evaluations and breakdowns of the most important aspects of each item. For these symbols, I have chosen a variation of the USDA grading system for meat. Explanations of each symbol follow and I hope that it makes sense to you.
If you are a manufacturer, retailer, or distributor and would like to use these symbols on your website or in your marketing, please contact me. There is no charge for their use, I only ask that you link back to the pertinent page for additional information.

Prime
These are the best of the best and as such tend to be the most expensive products in their category. That is not to say that the most expensive items are the best, or that the best are the most expensive. Prime means luxury, and products listed with this grade are luxury products. Only a handful of items deserve this designation and if you find it, you have found one of the best barbecue & grilling products on the market.



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