Barbecues review 2007

03.Profiles

The best

Beefmaster BMH4CS

Price: $599

Good points

• Excellent for roasting a chicken and cooking steak.
• Good open access to food: the food warmer swings out of the way.
• Controls are large and clearly labelled.

Bad points

• No side panels to protect food from draughts.
• The stainless steel cupboard door requires extra attention when cleaning.

Sunbeam Innovo GB5100 #

Price: $999

Good points

• Best cooking score. It’s excellent for roasting a chicken and cooking steak, and very good cooking at sausages.
• Good open access to food: the food warmer swings out of the way.
• Very good warranty — 20 years for frame and hood, five years for burners and flame tamers, two years for hotplates, one year for other parts.
• Electronic ignition lights individual burners separately.

Bad points

• The protective film on stainless steel areas is very difficult to remove.
• The exterior stainless steel surface requires extra attention when cleaning.
• The inside of the stainless steel hood discolours (‘teastaining’), which is difficult to remove.
• The fat tray is awkward to remove (you take it out of the back of the trolley).
• The thermometer isn’t accurate. Sunbeam told us their new 2007 range has a newly calibrated thermometer.

# Discontinued.

Beefeater Discovery Package 19845

Price: $999

Good points

• Excellent for roasting a chicken and cooking steak.
• Controls are large and clearly labelled.
• Accurate thermometer.
• Glass viewing panel in the hood.

Bad points

• Cooked sausages unevenly.
• The stainless steel hood, side tables and control panel require extra effort to clean.
• You need to remove the food warmer to have good open access to food.
• The protective film on stainless steel areas is very difficult to remove.
• No handles on the side table — it’s uncomfortable to grip when moving the barbecue.

The rest 

Jumbuck B38 Endevour 4 MK11 #

Price: $399

Good points:

• Very good for roasting a chicken and cooking steak.
• Cheapest barbecue tested.

Bad points

• Cooked sausages unevenly.
• You need to remove the food warmer to have good open access to food.
• The hood tends to direct smoke into your face.
• The control panel and cupboard door are stainless steel which requires extra attention to clean.
• Thermometer isn't accurate.

Let's Live Outdoors Entertainment M55 #

Price: $449

Good points

• Very good for roasting a chicken.
• Good for cooking steak.

Bad points

• You need to remove the food warmer to have good open access to food.
• After cleaning, the instructions on control panel could be easily removed.
• Control panel is stainless steel which requires extra attention to clean.
• Thermometer isn't accurate.

Cordon Bleu CDH4C

Price: $899

Good points

• Excellent for roasting a chicken.
• Has a timer.
• Two controls have an ignition to light each side separately.
• Ceramic rocks help absorb fat and can be cleaned.
• Glass viewing panel in hood.

Bad points

• Cooked sausages unevenly.
• You need to remove the food warmer to have good open access to food.
• Stainless steel control panel requires extra attention to clean.
• No side burner.

Jackeroo Professional 4 Titanium #

Price: $599

Good points

• Good for roasting a chicken.
• Good open access to food.

Bad points

• Cooked sausages and steak unevenly.
• No food warmer.
• The fat tray is awkward to remove (you take it out of the back of the trolley).
• Thermometer isn't accurate
• No handles: you have to grip the side tables to move the barbecue, which can be uncomfortable.

# Discontinued.