All-American Cookout

• recipe

  Grilled Hamburgers with Cognac, Mustard, and Chives

  Burgers often come off the grill tough, dry, and bulging in the middle. To our surprise, making a shallow depression in the center of the patty was the first step toward a great burger.

• recipe

  Grilled Italian Vegetables with Thyme and Garlic

  To avoid precooking, slice the vegetables just right and use the correct cooking temperature.

• taste test

  Hot Dogs

  Americans spend $1.5 billion on store-bought hot dogs. We compiled a 20-person tasting panel to determine where that money should be spent.