So it’s possible the E-325s might not deliver as dark a sear on foods as the Spirit II models. But for the average home griller, the difference in performance between the two would hardly be noticeable. The really important part is that the entire heat-delivery system—the firebox, burners, and burner hoods—has a much greater effect on the overall results of your food.
Evenness performanceEvenness of heating over the grill’s surface at the highest and lowest setting using all main burners plus the evenness after a 10 minute preheat, using thermocouples. This indicates grill temperature when only one or two of the burners are on, to represent a cooking task where the food is placed between or alongside the direct flame. The only quibble Lesley had with the E-210 was its small size. She recalls one particular instance when she grilled fajitas for 25 guests for her partner’s birthday.
You can see the readout at the grill itself on the display or check it via the app on your smartphone. Charcoal grills are much cheaper, however, and they can burn hotter than gas grills, for a better sear. Charcoal also imparts a pleasantly smoky flavor to your food, which is something you can’t get from a gas flame. But charcoal takes time to light, and you have to be comfortable with moving around coals and fiddling with vents to control the grill’s heat. A grill that is both durable and easy to repair creates much less waste than a cheapo grill that ends up in the garbage.
Weber also switched the direction of the rods on the upper rack so that they now run back to front, instead of side to side. This makes slipping a spatula under the food so much easier. The enclosed cabinet cart protects your propane tank and offers additional storage for your grilling tools. It also has two tool hooks to hang your spatula or tongs when you aren’t using them but need them close at hand. The two side tables offer you plenty of space to keep seasonings and plates at the ready. This grill features a one-touch infinity ignition system, porcelain-coated flavorizer bars, and an effective grease management system.
In 2021, Weber introduced a line of smart grills that we chose not to test. The app also has recipes and a step-by-step feature that sends alerts to your phone when it’s time to tend to your food. All of these extra gadgets require power, and the Genesis Smart Grill takes 10 batteries.
Hands-on time, reviews, and availability concerns led us to dismiss grills from lesser-known brands like Huntington, along with well-known names like Cuisinart and KitchenAid. And the Cuisinart and KitchenAid grills appear to be afterthoughts next to their respective brands’ main areas of expertise, with materials and design to match. Finally, be aware that a few parts of a grill are consumables, so you will need to replace them occasionally.
If you’re buying a grill, your first decision is which type of fuel works best. When we first started working on this guide, back in 2017, we spoke with more than a dozen experts before opening the valve on a single propane tank. This is still the best fuel for firing up the grill quickly and easily, without needing special hookups or having to tend coals.
When fresh air and the sear on a juicy grilled burger combine, it’s pure warm-weather delight. To help you keep the good vibes going, we’ve hunted for gas grills that are durable, easy to clean, and simple to control. After cooking weber spirit 2 burgers, barbecue, and chicken on seven top-rated grills—and researching dozens more—we recommend the Weber Spirit II E-310. No grill matches its combination of exceptional performance, usability, durability, and value.