What You Should Know Before Buying a Brinkmann Grill

What You Should Know Before Buying a Brinkmann Grill You’ll might see some tempting prices on Brinkmann gas grills at Home Depot. But before you buy, here’s something to keep in mind: Brinkmann filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October and stopped selling products in November, according to its website. Four Brinkmann models landed on the recommended list in our gas-grill Ratings. The Brinkmann 810-6550-S was the best large gas grill Consumer Reports tested. It originally sold for $350 and now is listed at Home Depot for $239. Among small grills, the $130 Brinkmann Patio 810-6230-S was also impressive. It’s now priced at $69 at Home Depot. Home Depot says it’s selling the inventory in stock and it’ll honor the warranties.  “We have universal replacement parts for Brinkmann grills, not all parts, but burners, regulators, and cross-channel parts” says spokesman Stephen Holmes.  If Home Depot doesn’t have the parts, it will make concessions to take care of customers on a case-by-case basis, which could mean a refund, says Holmes. You can call Home Depot’s customer care department at 1-800-466-3337.  Brinkmann, now called Outdoor Direct Corp., according to its website, didn’t respond to a request for comment. If you’re shopping for a gas grill, check our Ratings. We tested dozens of grills that cost $115 to $2,600. You’ll see familiar brands such as Weber and Char-Broil and newer names too. Any questions? Email me at kjaneway@consumer.org. —Kimberly Janeway Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

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Top 10 Food Stories of 2015

Top 10 Food Stories of 2015 This year, Consumer Reports has covered a wide variety of food stories, from food safety issues (mostly based on research conducted in our labs) to expert tips for eating a healthier diet. In cased you missed them, here’s a list of our top picks for 2015. 1. Another Reason to Cut Back on Soda Following up on our research into caramel color, which may contain a potential carcinogen called 4-MEI, in foods and beverages, Consumer Reports’ food safety experts published a study that shows that more than half of Americans drink soda in amounts that could expose them to enough 4-MEI to increase their cancer risk. 2. So Long, Trans Fat Consumer Reports has voiced concern about the link between trans fat in food and heart disease for more than 20 years, so we were pleased when the Food and Drug Administration announced that food manufacturers will have to eliminate trans fat from their products. 3. Prevent Food Poisoning From Listeria Bacteria The outbreak of illnesses and deaths from contamination of Blue Bell ice cream with Listeria monocytogenes raised awareness of this rare but dangerous bacteria. But ice cream wasn’t the only food where listeria was a concern this year. Our food safety experts offered tips to help you protect yourself and your family. 4. America’s Best and Worst Supermarkets Clean eating and freshness were big dietary trends this year, and they were top of mind for the 62,000-plus Consumer Reports subscribers who participated in our annual supermarket survey.   5. Eat the Peach, Not the Pesticide Our food safety experts analyzed 12 years of data from the Department of Agriculture’s Pesticide Data Program and calculated the risk of pesticide exposure from eating 48 fresh non-organic fruits and vegetables grown in 14 different countries. 6. How Safe Is Your Shrimp? Consumer Reports took an in-depth look at shrimp from a testing, tasting, and shopping viewpoint. We unearthed some worrisome findings about bacteria and other problems in our shrimp supply. 7. GMO Foods: What You Need to Know The fight for GMO labeling heated up this year, and the FDA approved the sale of genetically modified salmon. This primer answers all your questions about GMOs. And for the latest developments on the GMO front, consult our GMO Guide.  8. How Safe Is Your Ground Beef? Consumer Reports tested for the prevalence and types of bacteria in ground beef and found that the way cattle are raised influences both measures.  9. Food Trends That Aren’t Always Healthy The truth about ancient grains, high-protein diets, and all-day snacking. 10. Healthy Eating Made Easier Five research-proven ways to eat smarter without a lot of extra effort. Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

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Hot Smartphone Tech for CES 2016

Hot Smartphone Tech for CES 2016 We don’t expect to see many new smartphones from the big phone makers at CES 2016. But we do expect to find more evidence of the best developments in smartphone design to come along since 4G networks. The show floor and back rooms should be overflowing with accessories from charging mats to new cables that support a new kind smartphone mobility. We’ll have the details on product launches once we’re at the show. But smartphone owners are already starting to see the kind of mobility that gives them more options regarding where they can bring their phones, how they can charge them, how to connect them, and more. Here’s what I mean. Multi-network Smartphones Since the early days of cell service, carriers have trapped consumers into their plans through draconian two-year contracts, proprietary networks, and phone locks that couldn’t be removed without a hassle and quite a bit of groveling. Well, the restrictive contracts are rapidly giving way to more flexible, less binding plans, and a growing number of smartphones are taking advantage of this new service freedom. First, many of the latest models, such as the Motorola Moto X Pure Edition and iPhone 6s, are being sold unlocked to any provider’s service. They also come with the radios and other hardware necessary for handling the voice and high-speed LTE data services of various cell providers, including the major ones: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Changing services is often as easy as swapping one nano-SIM card for another. And when you’re traveling abroad, you can avoid expensive network roaming charges by popping in a prepaid SIM card from a local carrier. Multi-SIM Smartphones OK, what if you really need two phones, such as for travel or business use, but you only have the budget—or pockets—for one? We’re seeing more phones with dual SIM-card slots that allow you to add a second phone account—even from a different provider. So, is this really like having two phones in one? Actually, it’s like having 1-½ phones in one. That’s because the second phone line on the models we’ve seen does not support cellular data connections for e-mail, Web browsing, and other Internet-dependent functions. Some dual-SIM phones force you to make additional sacrifices. For instance, on the Huawei P8 Lite, to install the secondary SIM card you have to remove the phone’s microSD memory card. That’s a big loss for a phone that comes with only 16GB of on-board storage. Most of the phones now are GSM-based, which means you can use them with AT&T and T-Mobile, but not Sprint or Verizon, which use CDMA cellular tech. But since GSM is the most popular network technology around the world, it’s not a big deal. Multi-function Connector We’re starting to see a growing number of smartphones, including the Microsoft Lumia 950 and the Nexus 5X, come with a new type of connector: USB Type-C, which has a multitude of advantages over the microUSB connectors you’ll find on most smartphones that aren’t iPhones. First, just like the Lighting connector on an iPhone, USB-C connectors can be inserted into the phone no matter which way you hold it; there is no “wrong-side up.” That eliminates the fumbling and squinting that has become a ritual on phones that use micro USB cables. But here’s how Type-C is better than the iPhone’s Lightning connector. Type-C has a potentially much larger transfer rate—up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps)—versus Lightning’s speed limit of about 4 Gbps. That should mean nearly instant transfers for the mega-size photos and HD videos produced by today’s high-resolution smartphone cameras. What’s more, USB Type-C supports bi-directional power. That means your phone will receive a charge while it’s transmitting files to a compatible TV, printer, or other accessory over the same cable. The bad news: Once your new phone has this connector, you’ll need to buy a whole bunch of Type-C adapters to connect them to your old PCs and accessories. Multi-charging options Sadly, we’re seeing fewer smartphones these days with user-replaceable batteries, which allowed you keep fully charged spares on-hand for when the original battery ran down, or outright died. But a growing number of phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the Motorola Droid Turbo 2 have a rapid-charging capability that can bring a near-dead handset to about 50-percent capacity within about 15 minutes—though only if you use the special, high-output charger they come with. Better yet, these and other models support both Qi and PMA wireless charging standards. And with wireless charging spots popping up all over the place these days, it’s nice to know that the phone in your pocket will pretty much work with any of them.  Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

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6 Products on Deep Discount in January

6 Products on Deep Discount in January This time of year you see plenty of “Sale” signs in stores. You might think just about everything is on deep discount after the holidays. Have you made a New Year’s resolution to get back in shape? You can even get a great deal on a gym membership in January. Health clubs sign up more new members early in the year than at any other time, and they’re all competing for your business. However, there’s no need to rush; gyms have monthly new membership quotas to meet, so you’re most likely to get a deep discount if you sign a contract toward the end of January. Despite all the sale signs, some items are more deeply discounted later in the year. Consumer Reports product research experts, who track prices all year long, have compiled a list of items that are typically at their lowest price in January. So if you’re shopping for the best deals, here are the products to put on your list.   Want to know what’s on sale the rest of the year? See our calendar of deals. 1. Bargains on Bedding Ever since Philadelphia department store pioneer John Wanamaker decided he would increase store foot traffic by decreeing January the time for a “white sale” in 1878, sheets (which were available in white only then) have been sold at a deep discount this month. But buying new sheets might not be as simple as checking the price tags. Shopping tips Don’t shop on thread count alone. Our tests have confirmed that higher thread count doesn’t guarantee better sheets. In fact the top-scoring percale sheets in our last test, which had a claimed thread count of only 280, were strong, shrank very little, and easily fit mattresses up to 17 inches high, even after we washed and dried them five times. Make sure you can return them. Only 4 of 23 sets of queen-size sheets performed well enough for us to recommend them in our last test. As for the other 19, we found a litany of problems: Some fitted sheets easily ripped or came apart at the seams in our strength tests. Other sets had fitted sheets that popped off the corners of mattresses they claimed to fit, or flat sheets that fell short on the sides of the bed. And some wrinkle-free sheets weren’t. For more shopping tips, check out our sheet buying guide. Our Ratings show which sheets did best in our lab tests. If you’re shopping for young children, see our crib bedding buying guide. 2. Elliptical Deals Ellipticals mimic the motion of running but without the impact. The moving hand grips and adjustable resistance on these machines allow you to turn cardiovascular exercise into a full-body workout.   Shopping tips Every model is a little different. Don’t buy an elliptical before using it in the store. That’s especially important with elliptical exercisers because the movement is less familiar than walking or running, and each machine has a slightly different pedaling profile. See our elliptical buying guide for more shopping tips. What price can tell you. In our tests we’ve found ellipticals that cost $2,000 and up were well-built and felt stable to our testers, more like the $5,000 machines at gyms. And they were less likely to have defects. But you can still get a good basic model for less. In our elliptical Ratings (available to subscribers), the quality score reflects the severity and frequency of those defects. 3. Discounts on Toys Now that the holidays are over you should be able to find great deals on most toys, although popular stuff, like anything with a Star Wars label on it, may still be full price for awhile. Shopping tips Check age suggestions When toy shopping for young children, follow the manufacturer’s age recommendations displayed on the package. Although you might think that a more “advanced” toy will present a welcome challenge, in reality, it could be a source of frustration.   Look for hazards Avoid magnets and toys that have them. Small magnets can be accidentally swallowed by children and they can do tremendous harm. The CPSC recommends keeping toys with magnets away from children younger than six. For more shopping and safety tips, read our toy buying guide. 4. Price Cuts on Treadmills Spending several thousand dollars on a treadmill can get you sturdier construction, better hardware, and more features. But you can get a decent machine that provides a great workout for much less. Shopping tips Take factors besides cost into account before buying. One important consideration is the amount of space you have for a treadmill. Non-folding models take up as much floor space as a couch or dining room table. A folding treadmill can save you about six-square-feet. Decide where you want to shop. Budget and mid-priced treadmills are sold at large retailers such as Dick’s Sporting Goods, Sears, Sports Authority, and Walmart. For more expensive brands, you’ll generally need to hit a specialty fitness store. Whether you want to shop online for the best price or in a store, try the machine in person first. You might notice a problem–the deck is too short for your stride, for example–that you can’t detect by sight or user reviews alone. Our treadmill buying guide provides more shopping tips; subscribers can also take advantage of our treadmill Ratings to make wise buying decisions. 5. TVs for Less It’s possible to find a good television selling for a few hundred dollars, while others go for several thousand, and there are many sets that fall in between those extremes. Screen size, features, brand, and more affect the price. Our TV buying guide will help you get the most bang for your buck, no matter how much or how little you want to spend. Shopping tips It’s hard to judge TVs well in stores. That’s because televisions are usually set to a Retail or Store mode, which pumps up brightness and color to a level that looks great under fluorescent lights. Subscribers should consult our TV Ratings to make sure you get a set that performed well in our lab tests. Consider the size. Budget and room size permitting, we believe most consumers would be best served by at least a 40- to 42-inch screen for a primary television. A 46- or 50-inch set is often preferable in rooms where you’ll be sitting 8 to 10 feet or so from the screen. Consider an even bigger set for spacious family rooms. Just don’t buy a jumbo screen and sit right on top of it: If you sit too close to a TV screen you might notice the picture elements (pixels) that make up the images, which can be distracting, especially with lower-quality content like you might get when streaming video. Ultra HD TVs, which have four times the number of individual picture elements (or “pixels”) as 1080p models, allow you to sit closer to the TV without seeing the pixel grid; as a result, you may opt for a larger set without changing your seating distance. 6. Sales on Winter Clothes As temperatures plummet, you’ll find good deals on winter clothing. In order to make room for new spring merchandise, stores will deepen discounts on winter apparel this month. Shopping tips Time your visits. Shopping at the right time can save you even more. Kohl’s fans, for example, should check out the “Gold Star Clearance” racks, where prices are slashed up to 80 percent on weekend nights. Every Wednesday, shoppers who are 55 years old and older get an extra 15 percent off (customers should bring ID to verify their age). At many large retailers, items are marked down on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Markdowns at Marshalls and T.J. Maxx usually happen on Wednesday, for example. Look for deals in other departments. Another clothing item that will be cheap this month: Swimsuits.   Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

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Most doors can be defeated so a good lock is key

Most doors can be defeated so a good lock is key A lot has been said about sprucing up the entrance to your house to improve its curb appeal. But when choosing a new door and lock, make sure you’re not also creating an attractive target for break-ins. In Consumer Reports past tests of entry doors, most eventually failed when our testers used a battering ram, regardless of what the door was made from. That means the lock you choose can be the key to your safety. To be safe and secure, Consumer Reports recommends you do the following: Use a lock with a 1-inch-long dead bolt and a reinforced-metal box strike. Install the lock with 3-inch-long mounting screws to lodge in the framing beyond the doorjamb. Do the same with the door that leads from the garage into the interior of your house. Any dead-bolt lock is better than the common key-in-knob variety, which can easily be opened with a credit card. The dead bolts we tested are single-cylinder and operate with a thumbturn. High-security locks have hardened cylinders, unique pin configurations, and other defenses. Our testers spent weeks prying, hammering, picking, pummeling, and drilling. Here are three to consider. High-security lock. Medeco Maxum 11*603, $190. It costs significantly more than a standard door lock, but this high-security winner excelled in all our tests, resisting picking, kicking-in, and drilling admirably Standard door lock. Kwikset 980, $30. This standard door lock topped our tests. It came with a sturdy strike plate and resisted all of our assaults—including picking and kicking-in—except for drilling. Connected door lock. Schlage Camelot Touchscreen, $200. This top-rated, app-enabled connected door lock withstood our simulated kick-in test admirably, but a cordless drill disabled it in two minutes. A caution. Double-cylinder dead-bolt locks need a key to open whether you’re inside or outside. Homeowners like them because a burglar can’t simply break the glass and reach in to unlock the door. But some municipalities ban them because they may make it harder to get out in an emergency. Be sure to check the requirements with your building department and, if you install one, always leave a key within arm’s reach of the interior lock. —Adapted from Your New Home, published by Consumer Reports Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

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Most Innovative Home Products of 2015

Most Innovative Home Products of 2015 This was the year that outdoor equipment and large appliance makers started thinking outside the box in a big way. The refrigerator box. The dishwasher box. The space heater box. The result was some interesting and innovative products that maximize space, use new technologies, or just have a fun twist. Like a refrigerator that makes hot coffee and a washing machine that brings back the old washboard. Robotic mowers and vacuums cleaned up with little effort on our part and we found appliance doors that open in new or unusual ways. Here are some of the most creative products that Consumer Reports brought into the Home and Appliance labs this year. A Refrigerator Gives New Meaning to Instant Coffee A GE refrigerator equipped with a single-serve Keurig coffee maker has just arrived in our labs for testing. GE already makes a refrigerator that dispenses hot and cold water so this takes that idea one step further. Why we like it: It saves counter space. Plus GE claims the GE CYE22USHSS refrigerator uses an advanced water filtration system that removes 98 percent of five trace pharmaceuticals from water. The dispenser is also Wi-Fi enabled, meaning you can preset the brew time via your smartphone so that water in the reservoir is hot when you’re ready for your morning cup. Here’s the score: Our test results aren’t in yet but the feature will be available on two GE Café Series French-door bottom-freezer models, including the GE CYE22USHSS, $3,300. The First 5-Door Refrigerator in Our Tests Door? drawer? In the world of refrigerators they’re considered the same. It used to be all refrigerators were two-door then came the three-door French-door models and now four-door and even five-door have hit the market. Why we like it: We tested the KitchenAid KRMF706EBS, $4,000, which has French-doors on top and three drawers on the bottom. The side-by-side middle drawers have multiple settings for meat, drinks, deli items, produce and so on and the bottom drawer is a freezer. Here’s the score: While the KitchenAid didn’t rise to the level of our top refrigerator picks list, it has excellent temperature control and was quite quiet. It struggled with energy efficiency and we estimate it would cost $88 a year to run, more than many French-door models in our tests. Knock, Knock. Who’s There? Your Clean Dishes. Your hands are messy but you have to stick one more dish in the dishwasher. With a gentle rap of your knuckles you can open the door of the Miele Futura Lumen G6595SCViK2O dishwasher. Why we like it: It’s a fun feature and makes it easy to leave the door slightly ajar as your dishes cool and dry. Other fancy features include a lighted interior and a lot of flexibility such as adjustable racks, tines, and 11 different wash options. You can add a custom panel so it matches your cabinets. Here’s the score: The $1,800 Miele didn’t make our list of top dishwasher picks but got excellent marks on our wash test and very good scores for energy efficiency and noise. A Swanky Wall Oven With French Doors Wall ovens are convenient because you can place them at a comfortable height so you’re not stooping over to put a roast in the oven, as with a range. But you still have to lift heavy pans over the swing-down open door. Why we like it: Enter the GE CT9070SHSS wall oven, which has French doors that swing open, borrowing a design from some commercial ovens. With its narrow door clearance, the sleek oven can also be a space saver in smaller kitchens. Here’s the score: A top pick, the 30-inch oven was impressive at baking and broiling and superb at self-cleaning. There’s a touchpad for setting cooking time and two dials for setting temperature and mode. The convection option cuts cooking time on some foods and you can control the oven from your smartphone, and for that price—$4,000—you should. A Coffee Maker Puts on a Slow Show The KitchenAid Siphon Coffee Brewer is a throwback to simpler times when brewing coffee was both an art and a science. But with the continuously growing coffee craze, such brewing methods are coming back. Why we like it: KitchenAid claims the coffee maker is theatrical and we agree. The whole show takes eight minutes. The brewer has two sections connected by a siphon tube—an upper spherical chamber and a lower carafe. As water in the bottom section gets warmer, vapor forces it through into the upper chamber where it mixes with the grounds. The circulating vapor swirls the water around. When the heat below is turned off, a vacuum is created that draws the coffee back down into the carafe. What’s the score: The retro KitchenAid Siphon Coffee Brewer, $250, doesn’t fit neatly into any category of our tested coffee makers—drip, pod, and electric French press. To compare its brew performance to other machines we measured the temperature range and how long the machine maintained optimal brewing temps, and it brewed close to industry standards. A New Spin on a Blender Unlike most blenders that click on to a base, the pitcher of the KitchenAid Torrent Magnetic Drive KSB5010 blender slides in like a coffee maker. A magnetic drive locks the pitcher in place and the controls are on top rather than the bottom. Why we like it: The new design lowers the profile of the blender so it fits on the counter under most cabinets. And you don’t have to hold down the top with your hand as you make your mixture. What’s the score: While the KitchenAid was excellent at pureeing and very good at crushing ice, it was only so-so at making icy drinks and smoothies and was a bit noisy. A Washing Machine Does Double Duty Pedestals were originally designed to raise washers and dryers off the ground making them easier to load. Some incorporated a storage drawer but LG decided to maximize the space and add another washer. Why we like it: The 1-cubic-foot mini-washer can be used at the same time as the front-loader so together they’re called the LG TwinWash. The $700 mini can be paired with any LG front-loader made from 2009 on. It has six cycles and is intended for lightly soiled clothes. What’s the score: The $1,800 main washer, the LG WM9000HVA, is one of the most expensive of our top picks and was superb at cleaning. It has a jumbo capacity and fits about 26 pounds of laundry. Gentle on fabrics, it’s relatively quiet, and vibration wasn’t an issue. Despite its convenience, the mini-washer doesn’t deliver the cleaning power of the front-loader. With This Washer, Everything Old Is New Again It’s called a built-in sink but the top insert in the Samsung Activewash looks more like an old-fashioned washboard. And its function is the same as you’re encouraged to rub stained clothes on the ridges before tossing them in the washer. Why we like it: The washboard eliminates the step of soaking your clothes in the sink and then transferring the dripping garments to the washer. What’s the score: This $1,000 top pick offers impressive cleaning, excellent water efficiency, and a jumbo capacity. In our tests, it held about 26 pounds of laundry. It’s relatively quiet but wasn’t so gentle on fabrics, which is true for most high-efficiency top-loaders. Normal wash time, using the heavy-soil setting, is 75 minutes. Speedier settings shave off time without affecting cleaning. A Robovac That Tackles Pet Hair, Not Pets Videos of cats riding robotic vacuums are popular on YouTube but the appeal of the Roomba 880 is that it can tackle your chores with little supervision. Why we like it: No more pushing an upright or pulling a canister vacuum around and it takes up less storage space. What’s the score: While on the expensive side, for robotics there’s no beating this $700 Roomba’s ability to clean carpet surfaces and bare floors, including edges. You can set a different program for each day and it includes a quick setup guide. Programming it entailed a bit of a learning curve, and we needed to occasionally clear cat hair from the brush. Still, this robotic is a winner overall. A Sculptural Space Heater With a Small Footprint The tall Dyson AM09 space heater looks better than most space heaters and costs more too—$450. But it is full of features you don’t usually find on a space heater. Why we like it: Dyson has done it again by applying upscale design to the lowly space heater. You can also use it as a fan when you don’t need the extra warmth. What’s the score: The Dyson AM09 aced our space heater tests and was equally adept at quickly heating a room or just heating a person. It stays relatively cool to the touch and employs a lot of safety features. Using the handy remote, you can turn it on without bending over. But it was a bit noisy. A Snow Blower That’s Easier to Push The Toro Snow Master 724 QXE snow blower is one of the first  single-stage blowers that’s self-propelled, a technology often found in walk-behind lawn mowers. Why we like it: With the added oomph, the Toro Snow Master was easy to maneuver making quicker work of what’s often a thankless task in frigid weather. What’s the score: While surface cleaning was excellent, the Toro Snow Master scored fair for removal speed and also at removing the plow pile at the end of the driveway. Throwing distance was only good; this matters most if you have a wide driveway. Manipulating the various controls—the speed, chute, and auger—was excellent. Mow the Lawn From Your Lawn Chair While the Roomba is working inside, you can turn the robotic Worx mower loose outside. Why we like it: No more wrestling with a mower. The Worx Landroid WG794 has the best quality cut and was the easiest to use of the four robotic mowers in our tests. What’s the score: The $1,000 Worx robotic mower has a 7-inch cutting width and can maintain a maximum area of 10,800 square feet, about a quarter-acre. It weighs 20 pounds and has a cutting-height range of 1.6 to 4 inches. It cut the grass more cleanly than the competition but sometimes left a random pattern. Establishing the mowing perimeter and setting up the mower was relatively easy. Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.

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