Consumer Reports – September 2019

CRInsights

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POOR EXCELLENT

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RECOMMENDED

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CR BEST BUY

1949 We test 21 toasters, including

the Toast-O-Later J, an appliance that

“walks” pieces of toast through

the machine one after the other.

Though inventive, our testers find it

to be slow and top-heavy.

1921 Charles P. Strite patents

the first pop-up toaster—a design

he developed after becoming

fed up with burnt toast in his

work cafeteria.

1945 Under a microscope, we

examine six breakfast cocoas (a then-

popular morning drink) to see how

much cacao shell they contain;

too much means a gritty beverage.

CR Time Traveler BREAKFAST

! 0 3 Embers

GAS7480BS $

0

OVERALL

72 SCORE

IT’S SMART TO clean your grill

after each use, but as outdoor

cooking season draws to a

close in some states, it’s also

important to do a fi nal deep

clean before rolling it into

storage. Tackling this chore now

will keep your grill in tip-top

shape for next spring, and help

keep away rodents and other

pests that can be attracted to

leftover food bits and grease.

How to Clean

Practically Anything™

Your Grill

GRATES

Put your grill on full heat for

10 to 15 minutes with the lid

closed. Turn it off and wait

until the grates are still warm

but cool enough to touch. It’s

easier to clean gunk off warm

grates—simply scrub both sides

with your grill brush, water,

and dish soap.

FIREBOX

Turn off the propane, then

take out the fl avorizer bars

and wipe or wash them off.

If you see crud in the small

slits of the burner tubes, our

testers say a toothpick is the

perfect tool to de-gunk them.

Then scrape the bottom of the

fi rebox and use soapy water to

wipe down the inside.

PROPANE TANK

Before storing the tank, it’s

smart to check the gas hose

for leaks. Turn on the gas, then

spritz soapy water on the hose

and connection to the tank.

Any large bubbles indicate

a leak and mean the hose

should be replaced. Otherwise,

turn it off and disconnect the

tank for storage.

COVER

If you’re leaving a grill

outside for the cold season,

make sure its cover is vented

so that condensation doesn’t

get trapped.

1937 Shirley Temple says that Quaker

Puffed Wheat is “my cereal,” while CR

reports that it costs almost three times

as much as some others.

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A Quicker Clean

Some grills, such as

this 3 Embers, have a

slide-out grease tray

to make cleanup even

easier. Simply remove

the tray and wash

with soapy water.

14 CR.ORG SEPTEMBER 2019