Fire and burn hazards prompt recall of 665,000 Perfect Flame gas grills sold at Lowe's

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission yesterday announced the recall of about 665,000 Perfect Flame gas grills, which were made in China and sold exclusively at Lowe's stores nationwide from September 2005 through May 2009 and in Canada from December 2007 through May 2009.

According to the CPSC, the grills pose fire and burn hazards—burners on the grill can deteriorate and the lids of some models can catch fire. As of the recall date, Perfect Flame had received about 40 reports of fires from the burners deteriorating and about 23 reports of the lids catching fire.

Recalled models include the SLG2006B, SLG2006BN, SLG2006C, SLG2006CN, SLG2007A, SLG2007B, SLG2007BN, SLG2007D, SLG2007DN, and SLG2008A (shown).

Get more details on the Perfect Flame recall and some of the background surrounding it by reading "Fires and Burns Prompt Recall of 665,000 Perfect Flame Grills Sold at Lowe's" on our Safety blog. | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're planning to grill your turkey for your Thanksgiving and holiday meals, follow our advice for safe grilling. And if you're in the market for a new gas grill, check out our free buyer's guide to gas grills.

Weekend Project: Plan ahead for the Thanksgiving holiday

With Thanksgiving just over a week away, this weekend my wife and I will put the finishing touches on plans for our holiday gathering. We'll check on the wines in the wine cellar and clean the stemware, add the extra leaves to the dining-room table, get the house in order for the big day, and take care of a few other odds and ends.

When it comes to the holiday meal itself, I'm a pretty traditional guy, but this year I'm going to change things up a bit. Since one of my kids has become a "fishetarian"—that is, she eschews beef, chicken, and turkey but eats fish—I'll make a poached-salmon dish to accompany the turkey instead of a rib roast. And I'm considering grilling the bird outdoors instead of roasting it in the oven. Even though I have double ovens, I'd like to free up some cooking space for the array of side dishes I'll prepare.

Turns out I'm not alone when it comes to not oven-roasting the bird. According to a recent poll by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, more than 70 percent of respondents said they won't use the oven to cook their turkey: 18 percent plan to grill, 25 percent expect to smoke, and 28 percent intend to deep-fry. (Americans are expected to cook 46 million turkeys this year.)

These alternative cooking methods appeal for a number of reasons, says a National Turkey Federation survey. Fifty-four percent of respondents are looking to try something new; 54 percent think grilling, smoking, or frying produces a more-tender or juicier turkey; 53 percent want to free up oven space; and 52 percent envision easier cleanup. This last one sounds like another compelling reason to grill the turkey.

Here's hoping your Thanksgiving is a joyous occasion. The advice here might help with the planning and take some of the stress out of your day:

• If you need a new grill to cook your turkey, check out our free buyer's guide to gas grills.

• If you want to smoke your bird, take a look at the Traeger Lil' Tex BBQ070 pellet-fueled cooker.

• If you're considering deep-frying a turkey, don't miss "A Safer Way to Fry a Turkey" and watch the accompanying video for important safety advice. You can also "deep-fry" your turkey without oil.

• If you need some basic wine advice for the holiday, read about the right wines to serve.

• And if your knives have seen better days, read our ratings-based report on kitchen knives.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

More turkey talk: • Time- and money-saving steps for a better Thanksgiving • Holiday eating without the guilt • Turkey tips for Thanksgiving and beyond • Lab-tested turkey advice • Learn how to sharpen your knives (video) • Find an accurate meat thermometer

Essential information: Stay on top of the news surrounding Black Friday by reading Tightwad Tod on our Money blog.

Tailgating Alert: Gasoline-powered blender banned by California Air Resources Board

With football season in full swing, you might be doing a little weekend tailgating or entertaining at home. If you need a new blender or gas grill for your football fiesta, check out our buyer's guides to these appliances and try these easy, delicious grilling recipes. If you live in California, where the strict air-quality standards set by the California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District have an impact on the outdoor power equipment, paint, and other consumer goods available, there's one margarita or daiquiri maker you won't be able to buy.

The Los Angeles Times' Up to Speed blog recently reported that CARB fined Lake Forest, California-based On the Edge Marketing and CSK Auto Inc. of Phoenix $240,000 for selling a gasoline-powered "Party Blender" (shown) to California residents because the souped-up appliance is equipped with an illegal, uncertified two-stroke engine that runs afoul of CARB's regulations.

CARB maintains that the type of two-stroke engine used on the blender can produce emissions 10 times higher than those produced by engines approved for use in the state. "Gasoline-powered blenders may be this year's tailgate sensation, but drinkers should not be polluting our air while having a good time," said CARB Chairwoman Mary D. Nichols.

Many outdoor-power-equipment manufacturers are phasing out two-cycle engines as local, state, and federal emissions standards get tougher. Lawn-mower-exchange programs are one way states and municipalities can get consumers to replace old lawn mowers with greener models.

Note that our ratings of string trimmers and leaf blowers (available to subscribers) do not identify whether an engine is a two- or a four-cycle type. The Cub Cadet 4125, Craftsman 79614, and Troy-Bilt TB465SS string trimmers have a four-cycle engine. In our testing we found these models to be a little heavier at the handle, and their engines were as hard to start as a two-cycle engine. The John Deere BH25LE and Craftsman 79498 leaf blowers have a four-cycle engine.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Check out our free buyer's guides to string trimmers and leaf blowers.

Mastering the art of everyday cooking

Meryl Streep has been acclaimed for her performance as Julia Child (shown) in Julie & Julia, a charming film about the legendary cooking-show host/cookbook author and Julie Powell, who in one year cooked her way through the 524 recipes in Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and blogged about the experience.

But the movie's real star is the food—the boeuf bourguignon, the sole meunière, the butter. It's enough to inspire you to speed home from the theater, scour your cookbooks or an online site for just the right recipe, and create a memorable meal. (If your kitchen is not exactly an inspiring venue for preparing masterpieces and you're considering giving it a face-lift, check out our Kitchen-Planning Guide.)

While the following myth-busting advice might not turn you into a Cordon Bleu-caliber chef they can help you avoid some common cooking goofs:

Myth: Baking soda and baking powder are interchangeable.
Reality: You can't substitute baking soda for baking powder, but you can make a baking-powder substitute, according to Arm & Hammer. Mix 5/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda to get the equivalent of 1 teaspoon of baking powder.

Myth: You should rinse pasta under cold running water after you drain it.
Reality: Don't rinse pasta unless you're making a cold pasta dish or if you are not adding sauce or won't serve it immediately, according to the National Pasta Association.

Myth: Baking a cake and cooking another dish in the same oven at the same time is a great time-saver.
Reality: This isn't a good idea, since most cakes need to bake with enough space around them for the air to circulate, according to cookbook author Rose Levy Beranbaum. What's more, the cake could absorb the aroma from the other dish.

Myth:  You can't salvage a soup, stew, or sauce that's too salty and have to start the recipe again.
Reality: Try adding a whole peeled raw potato or even a chunk of one to the soup, stew, or sauce, depending on how much you're cooking. "The potato is low in sodium and soaks up some of the salt," says Seth Phillips, associate professor of culinary arts at the Culinary Institute of America; note that the spud will impart a slight flavor. Remove the potato once the taste has been corrected. Otherwise, add some unsalted butter or vinegar or lemon or lime juice if the sauce can tolerate it; the acid remedy works well with tomato sauce.

Myth:  Add salt to tame an overly spicy sauce or stew.
Reality: Don't add salt; it increases the spiciness. But if the stew or sauce can tolerate it, add a little milk or cheese to tone down the spiciness, says Phillips.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential reading: Check out our free buyer's guides to cookware and knives and our latest report on cookware (ratings available to subscribers). And while they might not cry "Julia Child," these easy, delicious grilling recipes are ideal for your end-of-summer outdoor feasts.

Forum Friday: Gas and charcoal grills cook up loads of discussions

Last weekend, we shared some late-season tips on keeping your gas grill in peak working condition. The discussions in our gas-grills forum reflect what's been hot this past season. If you're hoping to get a good deal on an end-of-season grill purchase, watch the video (right) and check out our free buyer's guide to gas grills. Our latest report on grills covers gas models as well as charcoal cookers and the Traeger Lil' Tex BBB070.

• Some posters are comparing notes on how specific 2009 model gas grills are faring this season

• Other commenters are complaining of being overcharged or underfilled when refilling or exchanging their propane tanks.

• There's also a heated debate over natural gas and liquid propane.

•Other readers have strong feelings about stainless-steel and cast-iron burners and infrared grills.

• On the customer-service front, one commenter had a good experience dealing with a manufacturer over a defective fuel regulator; another hasn't been as lucky with a Blue Ember grill, but some readers offered their own solutions.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Try our easy, delicious grilling recipes. And if you have a grilling tip or tale of your own, leave a comment below or on the forum.

Tip of the Day: Be safe when grilling

Your grill might have served you well so far this summer, but a little bit of servicing now will ensure safe and effective cooking and protect its looks far into the fall and beyond. Here's how:

If your grill has become hard to light or the flame isn't as strong as it could be, check for blockages in the tubes that lead to the burner. Clear obstructions by using a wire or pipe cleaner and pushing debris through to the main part of the burner. Spiders love to build webs and nests in these areas; be sure to check for these, especially if you've just returned from vacation. You'll also want to inspect the hoses for cracks, holes, and sharp bends and replace it if necessary. Then do the following:

• Check the grills for gas leaks by mixing a small amount of dishwashing liquid and water in a spray bottle. Spray the hose and connections, and with the hose connected to the propane tank, open the gas. If bubbles appear, you need to replace your hose or fix a loose connection.

• Have your grill serviced if the burner flames are not blue. A yellow flame indicates clogged air inlets or that burners must be adjusted. 

• Clean the drip pan and remove the grates and burners and clean the firebox; grease and food often collect there.

• Clean both sides of the grates before cooking and after, too. Use a stiff wire brush, or a nylon brush for porcelain-coated, cast-iron grates. (Hint: To keep food from sticking on grates and making them harder to clean, fold two paper towels into a pad and dip in a little bowl of neutral-flavored vegetable oil, like canola oil. After you've preheated the grill and right before you cook, draw the pad across grates using a pair of tongs.)

• Examine the propane tank. Heavy rust, dents, or greenish-orange corrosion means you need a new tank.

If a fire does break out and you can safely turn off the gas, shut it down, the National Fire Protection Association advises. If flames are contained in a grill, close the lid to smother the flames. Douse small flare-ups with a spray of water, a bucket of sand, or the hose or fire extinguisher. If a fire breaks out and moves beyond your grill, call your fire department immediately and keep away from the grill.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Find out how to avoid the five most common grilling mistakes and watch the video above for more grilling advice.

Inside Consumer Reports Test Labs: Outdoor electric grills

For apartment and condo dwellers or those who live in communities where gas or charcoal grills are banned, electric grills offer sizzle without a lot of fuss. No big bags of charcoal or heavy propane tanks to lug home, no gas leaks to repair. Just plug in the grill, let it heat up for about 15 minutes, and cook away.

To see how well the Weber Q-140 (left in photo) and the Dimplex PowerChef (right in photo) electric grills can cook, we grilled chicken breasts, salmon steaks, burgers and rib-eye steaks on them.

The Weber Q-140 ($195; a rolling stand is sold separately) is a basic portable grill—it lacks shelves and a warming rack—that fits nine to 12 hamburgers. The single control knob has no settings, so you won't be able to load the grill and cook foods at different temperatures.

This no-frills grill delivered very good cooking performance and was easy to use and clean. It served up chicken and salmon that was juicy and lightly browned and burgers that were evenly cooked. Flare-ups weren't a problem when we cooked steaks on high, a common occurrence when cooking fatty foods on many gas and charcoal grills, but the searing on this Weber wasn't as good as gas models we've tested. (See our latest report on gas grills, available to subscribers.)

Grills typically require preheating, about 15 minutes according to Weber, but the Q-140 needed some extra time to cook steaks, and chicken took about 10 to 20 minutes longer compared with most of the gas grills we tested earlier this year. That added time could be a problem, since Weber warns not to cook longer than 60 minutes at a time. That means the Q-140 isn't designed for cooking whole chickens or meats you want to slow-roast or grilling in batches.

The Dimplex PowerChef, $800, also fits about nine to 12 hamburgers and has a cart, storage, shelves, warming rack, one control, and optional rotisserie kit. You can use its preset programs to eliminate some grilling guesswork.

The chicken breasts we cooked with one of the programs was only fair; they had some charring and were not particularly juicy inside. The salmon was excellent, lightly browned and seared outside, moist inside. And steaks didn't flare up. The burgers were very evenly cooked and had some searing.

Cleaning the Dimplex was similar to cleaning a gas grill, except the cooking grid on the Dimplex can't be removed so you have to clean it in place. The Dimplex doesn't offer as much cooking space and versatility as lower-priced CR Best Buy gas grills (ratings and recommended models available to subscribers), but if a gas model isn't an option and you need more than the Weber can offer, consider the Dimplex.—Kimberly Janeway | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: Check out our free buying guide to gas grills, try our easy, delicious grilling recipes, and learn how to keep your outdoor cooker in peak condition.

CPSC announces recall of 113,000 Fiesta Blue Ember gas grills

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada yesterday announced the recall of about 113,000 Fiesta Gas Grills' Blue Ember gas grills. The hose on the gas tank can get to close to the grill's firebox, which poses a fire hazard.

In the U.S., the recall involves models FG50045, FG50057, and FG50069; in Canada, models C1072-30744 and C1072-30754 are part of the recall. Read the recall notice on the CPSC site for the specific serial numbers being recalled.

If you own an affected grill, stop using it immediately and contact Fiesta to obtain a free replacement grease-pan assembly and instructions for installing the pan and the gas tank. For more information, call 866-740-7849 (8 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday) or send an e-mail to mnorman@fiestagasgrills.com.

Read "After Reported Injuries, Fiesta Again Recalls Blue Ember Grills" on the Consumer Reports Safety blog for all the details on this recall, and follow this advice for safe grilling. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're in the market for a new outdoor cooker, read our June 2009 report on gas grills (story and ratings available to subscribers) and check out our free buyer's guide to grills.

Fourth of July Grilling: Find a great deal, then become a master griller

If the down economy is forcing you into a Fourth of July staycation or paycation, use your at-home time to master the art of grilling.

Before you shop for a new grill, check our latest report on gas grills, which includes ratings of dozens of models (report and ratings available to subscribers), and our free buyer's guide.

With Independence Day upon us, many retailers nationwide are lowering prices on grills that in our tests outperformed models costing hundreds of dollars more. Sears is giving a 5 percent discount on the Kenmore 16641, $349, a CR Best Buy. And Home Depot has dropped the price on the Char-Broil Red 463250509 grill, $450, also a CR Best Buy. Lowe's is offering free assembly on all grills, including the CR Best Buy Fiesta Blue Ember FG500069-U403, $449.

The video above will show you how to grill the perfect steak. Also, avoid these common grilling mistakes and use these tips if you want to give food a real smoky barbecue flavor.

Expand your outdoor-cooking repertoire beyond steak with these easy, delicious grilling recipes, including grilled corn on the cob, chicken grilled with rosemary, vegetable skewers with garlic-and-fennel-seed marinade, lime-and-tequila-marinated flank steak, Argentinean short ribs, chimichurri sauce, and our own recipe for barbecue sauce. And remember, before you grill, follow these safety precautions.

Celebrate the holiday with wines that are ideal for warmer weather. Make sure the wine is at the ideal serving temperature and store your favorite bottles in a wine cellar.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: These 15 top-rated products for summer will save you time and money on the household chores you need to catch up on this weekend.

With Perfect Flame SLG2006 and SLG2007 grills, be wary of fire and burn hazards

If you own a Perfect Flame SLG2006 or SLG2007 gas grill (shown), be especially cautious whenever you use the grill. What appeared to be limited fire and burn hazards with some models might be much wider than anyone realized, according to this recent item from the Consumer Reports Safety blog.

Last August, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of the Perfect Flame GAC3615 due to fire and burn hazards. The cooking chamber of those grills can "melt or ignite” according to the recall notice.

But our readers are telling us that’s not the only volatile model. In fact, after our August 13, 2008, "Does the Perfect Flame Grill Recall Go Far Enough?" blog post suggested that the recall was too narrow, we received more than 100 responses from readers whose Perfect Flame SLG2006 or SLG2007 melted or caught on fire.

The number of complaints and severity of the incidents are very concerning to our safety experts, who are collecting additional information they hope will be used to address the hazards with these Perfect Flame grills.

Read the rest of the story on the Consumer Reports Safety blog, which includes precautions to take before using a Perfect Flame SLG2006 or SLG2007 grill. e-mail | Twitter | Forums | Facebook

Essential information: If you're in the market for a new outdoor cooker, read our latest report on gas grills (story and ratings available to subscribers) and check out our free buying advice.