And it performs on a par with the three-burner version, the Spirit II E-310. Like our top pick, the two-burner Spirit comes with a cast-aluminum firebox, an enameled steel lid and open cart, two side tables, and a 10-year warranty. At 513 square inches (26 by 19 inches), the cooking grate on the Genesis E-325s is big enough to grill an entire meal for a family. The E-325s weber portable grill can easily fit all of the parts from two whole chickens in a single layer, something that would be a tight fit on the Spirit II E-310 (and impossible on our budget pick, the Spirit II E-210). With previous Genesis models, we found that because the burners were spaced out over a larger cooking area, they didn’t sear food as darkly as those on the Spirit II E-310.
But in our research we found that the design and the materials that make up the grilling system (firebox, burners, burner hoods) are what determine heat distribution. The Weber Q 2200 Propane Gas Grill is one of our top picks for portable grills by any brand. Though a bit of an investment, the gas grill pays off with its convenience. It’s easy to start, easy to use, and heats up quickly and powerfully, delivering 12,000 BTUs of heat per hour. The 280-square-inch cooking area consists of porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates, which should be enough to serve three to four people (pretty good for a portable model).
Before you fire up the barbecue, make sure you have bbq gloves or mitts, apron, bbq tongs, cleaning brushes, scraper and serving plates to hand. Next on your list should be a thermometer for checking if food is done, and essential cutlery such as Weber chef’s knives, skewers, spatula and a good basting brush. Weber has always pushed the boundaries of grilling for both beginners and professionals alike, providing you with all the tools and features you need to cook sensational food, no matter your expertise. This article was updated by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce Eats. She’s written close to a dozen pieces on all styles of grills and done firsthand testing of smokers and grills featured in her articles. Like almost all grills, this grill is hand-clean in soapy-water only.
On top of all that, this grill is particularly easy to assemble, maintain, and use, and its finish comes in four colors (black, white, red, and blue). 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.
Instead of being made from porcelainized cast iron, the grill grates on the Genesis E-325s are made from thick stainless steel rods. The advantage of stainless steel is its resistance to rust and corrosion. weber bbq 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.
Most of them cost four or five figures, well above our established price range of $400 to $900. The Spirit II E-310 (and every grill) weber portable grill should come with a grill cover. This one doesn’t, nor did any grill in our test group, so you’ll need to buy one separately.
Adding a few small chips of wood to the charcoal will give your meat a more traditionally smoked flavor. Placing a pan of water underneath the grates where you will be putting your meat will help to catch drippings, keep the meat more moist, and enable the smoke to adhere better to the meat. If you know that you’ll be cooking multiple different types of food or meats, you might also need to consider multiple burners on a larger grill.