When it comes to cooking on the barbecue, there are three things you need to remember: keep it hot, keep it clean, keep it lubricated. That's according to Steve Raichlin, the author of The Barbecue Bible.

Chef Raichlin says you should preheat your grill to screaming hot, clean it with a long-handled wire brush and oil the grates using a tightly-folded paper towel held at the end of your long-handled tongs. He says oiling the grill is important for two reasons.

"It helps prevent sticking and it also gives you those well-defined grill marks," he said.

When it comes to turning a steak, flip it; don't poke it with a fork. Those holes let the juices out.

Chef Raichlin says many people overcrowd the grill. He always keeps about a third of the grill empty.

"And that way if you get a flare-up or if something starts to cook too fast or too hot, you can simply move it to a cooler part of the grill," he said.

When you cook on the barbecue you need to make sure the food gets hot enough to kill any bacteria. Looks can be deceiving. The only way to know for sure is to check the internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer. The USDA says chicken breasts should be at least 165, hamburgers 160, and fish 145.

Need a new grill?

For its June issue, Consumer Reports tested more than three dozen grills. The editors say three mid-sized grills are best for most people. All are CR Best Buys.

Let's start with the mid-sized grills. There's the Fiesta Blue Ember (FG50069-U401), which has a side-burner, a built-in smoker box, a rotisserie burner and a lot of shelf space. The Blue Ember sells for $450 and is a Home Depot exclusive.

Another CR best buy is the Char-Broil Commercial Series (463268008). It's made of stainless steel and comes with a lifetime burner warranty. That is a big selling point. It's available at Lowe's for about $300.

And there's the Brinkmann (810-8410S). This grill has lots of shelf space, and comes with four burners and a 5-year warranty. The Brinkmann is just $200 and you'll find it at Home Depot.

If you need a large grill - one that can cook 30 or more burgers at a time - here are two CR best buys you might want to consider.

The Char-Broil Quantum (463248208) is stainless steel. It has infrared heat and a lifetime burner warranty. Its price is about $500 and is available at Lowe's.

The Kenmore (16315) is also stainless. Its five main burners come with a 10-year warranty. It has a rotisserie, side burners and lots of shelf space. Sears sells the model for $500.

Good Housekeeping will release the results of its tests in the July issue, but Sharon Franke, director of the magazine's Kitchen Appliances & Technology Department, gave me a sneak peek. It turns out the Good Housekeeping Research Institute agrees with Consumer Reports that the Char-Broil Quantum is a great grill.

Good Housekeeping's budget pick is the Uniflame 3 Burner Gas Grill from Blue Rhino ($160, Wal-Mart and Walmart.com).

Franke says it doesn't cook quite as evenly as the Char-Broil, so you may have to rearrange the food a little bit. "But you will still get good results," she said. The Uniflame doesn't look fancy, but it has a number of upscale features including a side burner and warming rack.

More Information:

The Barbecue Bible Website

Good Housekeeping: All-American Barbecue Recipes

Good Housekeeping: The Complete Outdoor Cookbook

The Good Housekeeping Institute's Grilling Guide

Is it done yet?

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