Lots of folks use their gas and charcoal grills year-round. But now that the warmer weather's here, I'll bet that more of you have extracted your outdoor cookers from storage or removed their winter wardrobe. (Look for our new report on grills, including a review of a pellet-fired smoker, in the June 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands on May 5. In the meanwhile, watch our video buyer's guide, right.)

Before you throw your next outdoor party, be sure your grill is safe and ready for the burgers, kebabs, fillets, and other victuals you'll cook with it. Avoid these common grilling mistakes and try our easy, delicious recipes, including tips for making the perfect steak.

Safety should always be top of mind when you're grilling, and it's not just related to a fire or burn risk. It turns out that people who regularly eat burned or charred red meat have a 60 percent higher risk of pancreatic cancer, as reported in this eye-opening post on our Health blog.

Grilling food until its overcooked, burned, or charred can transform amino acids and other natural substances in the foods into compounds called heterocyclic amines, which have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. Some studies suggest that ingesting these and other compounds might boost the risk of breast, colon, pancreatic, prostate, and stomach cancer. Read more about these concerns in "Grilling Basics: Don't Char the Meat."

One way to ensure that you don't overcook food is to use a meat thermometer. We tested 11 different thermometers, both instant-read models and those you leave in food as it cooks.

In our tests, the best models were off by 1°F or less on average; the lowest-scoring ones, by more than 4°F. Our technicians also measured how quickly each thermometer adjusted to temperature changes and checked the temperature range each thermometer could read. Check out the report on meat thermometers to get all the details and see the ratings (available to subscribers) to find the best model.—Steven H. Saltzman | e-mail | Twitter