We think a three-burner grill is large enough for most needs, with plenty of space to cook for a family dinner or a backyard BBQ. Grills with more burners are usually overkill, and two-burner grills can feel cramped. Gas grills run on either liquid propane (most common) Blackstone Adventure or natural gas—both fossil fuels. Though both are relatively clean-burning fuels, propane emits fewer greenhouse pollutants than natural gas—though the difference is negligible. However, propane is more efficient because it burns hotter than natural gas.
So the company has a financial incentive to build it to last for years. We backed this reporting with comprehensive research—the in-depth, professional reviews at AmazingRibs.com being a standout source—and with hands-on time with grills at the big hardware chains. The Spirit series just seems to be an entry point into the realm of technology-driven grills. The latest offering of internet-connected grills, complete with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity helps in tracking the temperature of your food.
One of them, the Spirit S-315, is similar to the Spirit II E-310 (our pick) with regard to the specs, and with a few cosmetic differences—and higher price tag. The S-315 has a slightly higher Btu output than our pick (32,000 Btu versus 30,000 Btu, respectively). But other than those minor variations, it looks like the S-315 would perform about the same as our pick—and wouldn’t be worth the higher price. Next time you cook, brush the cold, soot-covered grills clean, wipe them with a wet paper towel or rag, and then proceed. That goes against the common advice to clean the grates while they’re hot. Salvaggio has found that cleaning hot grates more easily damages the porcelain coating on cast iron, allowing rust to form.
This grill boasts a high quality construction and ahs excellent build quality from top to bottom. The other reason is that I can prepare these spaces to take food off the grill as quickly as I put them on it. With hotdogs and hamburgers, spending even more than a minute longer than necsesary on the grill can throw off the taste and texture.
The last Spirit Series had cast aluminum sides with a large, slide out grease tray that doubled as firebox bottom. Spirit II has a single piece, cast aluminum fire box with a funnel shaped bottom that diverts grease into a small slide out grease tray (see below). The sleek open-cart design provides additional room and accessibility of your grilling tools. The Spirit II grills have an open cart design as opposed to the closed cabinet on the standard Spirit grills.
This is one of the main elements that you need to look at when choosing any grill, and the Weber Spirit II E 310 is no different. Take the Blackstone Adventure battery out of the igniter before you store the grill long-term. The Spirit II E-310 (and every grill) should come with a grill cover.
The grill cart features painted steel doors, stainless steel handles, painted side and rear panels, and four heavy-duty casters (2 lockings and 2 swivels). All these features are what make the affordable Weber Spirit E-310 perfect for cooking small, everyday meals in your own backyard. 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). Like our top pick, the Genesis E-325s has a cast-aluminum firebox and an enameled steel lid and frame.
Like its predecessor, Spirit II is a workhorse that delivers solid performance and is easy to use, easy to clean and available in two and three burner configurations. Increasingly cuckoo for color, Weber offers Spirit in black, ivory, red, sapphire, exclusive mocha versions for Lowe’s and exclusive stainless steel versions for Home Depot. Before wrapping up, let’s take a look at how the Weber Spirit II E 310 gas grill holds up against other models.
Side tables are quite an underrated feature when it comes to grills. Those who have worked without them would truly appreciate the importance of a little extra space in cooking. Side tables help in holding spices and prep material, keeping everything you need ready at our fingertips. A feature that is absent in the Spirit Series, is the iGrill option available in Spirit II. This is sold separately but uses technology to make your grilling more efficient. The iGrill feature is generally paired with your smartphone and gives you the real-time temperature inside the grill, making it easier to monitor your meat from start to finish.
She grilled skirt steak for three hours straight because the small grate could accommodate only two-ish slabs at a time. However, the fajitas were beautifully seared and perfectly cooked. She was never disappointed with the Spirit E-210’s performance—it’s a top-notch small grill.