And the 240-square-inch surface area can grill 6-8 burgers on its plated steel grates. Large gas grills can have anywhere from two to six burners, but most people find that three or four burners is the sweet spot when cooking for multiple people. When your grill has multiple burners, you’re able to create different cooking zones across its grates. When burners are on, it creates a direct cooking zone with high heat, but when you leave certain burners off, you can have indirect cooking zones at the same time.
On the Napoleon grill, meanwhile, some of the front burgers were nearly raw in the center, while the rear burgers were well-done. If you’re a self-proclaimed grill king, you need the crown jewel of gas grills—like the Summit S-470 from Weber. This stunner of a gas grill gleams in stainless steel or looks elegant in black porcelain.
The Weber Genesis E-325s puts out more heat per square inch than our pick, and the main grate has a 20% larger cooking area. Weber also redesigned its expandable upper warming rack, with bars that run front to back (rather than side to side), so it’s easier to slide a spatula under the food. Instead of porcelainized cast-iron cooking grates, the Genesis E-325s has a grilling surface made of thick stainless steel rods (these won’t make a huge difference in your grilling results).
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her 6+ years of experience as a product tester, she’s reviewed hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as PEOPLE, The Spruce, Homes & Gardens, and more. Camryn is also the proud owner of a small homestead in Rhode Island, where she spends her spare time gardening, tending her many animals, and working through a never-ending list of home improvement projects.
Stainless-steel grates are inexpensive and lightweight, but you’ll need to clean them with a great grill brush after every session. Porcelain-coated grates can last a long time if taken care of properly. Don’t use metal tools or weber gas grill brushes on them to avoid the coating chipping off. Uncoated cast-iron grates will need to be maintain like cast-iron cookware. In return, they will stay heat up enough to help cook your food and give you picturesque grill marks.
If a random person walked into our offices off the street and demanded the best grill they could get, I’d point them to this. Beginners will be able to turn out great food without needing to master anything new, and serious grillmasters will find that the Spirit II E-310 is great for acing the basics.
Whether you’re in the market for a spacious stationary grill to cook for a crowd or a lightweight, portable, option for camping or tailgating, here are the best Weber grills. We found that a propane tank 30lb or larger won’t fit, so will have to sit out on the patio. We followed the instructions, cleaning the grill plates and triangular elements, scraping everything down before removing the disposable drip tray. This meal took under 15 minutes from igniting the grill to plating up. If you’re hosting at short notice or want to get back to the party ASAP, this grill is your new best friend.
I mean slightly – a tiny fragment of one of the burgers caught, but that’s me being pedantic. It’s yet to take off in the States but for the uninitiated it’s a delicious Greek sheep’s cheese that is unbelievably good on a grill. Not only does it taste good (I just caught myself daydreaming about it as I write), but because it’s cheese, it’s a really easy way to test any non-stick claims on a grill.
Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Of all the fuels mentioned here, charcoal emits the most carbon into the atmosphere. Though there’s no debating that, some experts argue that lump charcoal (not briquettes, which can have added chemicals) is potentially carbon neutral. If you want to read more about comparing grilling fuels, we found helpful articles from The Atlantic, Slate, and NPR.
On the positive side, it has welded steel pieces and provides a sturdy base for the grill. The double doors feel substantial, and they swivel smoothly in their hinges. We also like that the base sits on four casters—as opposed to the weber charcoal grill combination of two casters and two fixed wheels on its predecessor, the Genesis II. And compared with the Spirit II’s two fixed wheels, the casters on the E-325s make it easier for folks with varying abilities to maneuver the cart.