FrontRunners April 2015: Bit Master

For all but seasoned grill masters (who prefer to cook over wood or charcoal and to judge for themselves when food is ready), the Lynx SmartGrill (lynxgrills.com) may prove a welcome cooking companion. Guided by user preferences and hundreds of preprogrammed recipes, the SmartGrill’s onboard operating system syncs with smartphone and tablet apps to tell the cook with Siri-like voice prompts when to flip food and take it off the grill. The infrared burner—powered by propane or natural gas—allows for quick changes of radiant heat, while stainless-steel grates ensure high surface-heat retention. The SmartGrill (from $6,000) is available in 30-, 36-, and 42-inch grill widths.