Note that the cast iron grates are not as wide as the opening between them. Reversible cooking grates aren’t unusual, but Spirit II grates are a little different than most. Spirit II reversible grates have a thin side which Weber believes is “ideal for food such as shrimp and fish”, and flat side which “creates a thick sear mark”. The ultimate goal is an evenly dark brown crust across the entire surface of the meat, which transforms dull, tan meat to a delicious flavorful crust thanks to the magical Maillard reaction.
One area that it is lacking in slightly is its build quality and design. When your lid handle gets so hot that it melts after only one use, then there’s something wrong! If you notice on all those photos Blackstone Adventure above, Weber has put a warning label right next to the ignition button stating not to touch the polycarbonate plastic shell when hot. The propane tank installation however was a bit confusing .
While it may not be on the same level as high end or newer models, the Weber Spirit II E 310 has plenty to offer in terms of both power as well as grilling opportunities. Of course, a pretty important aspect of any grill is temperature control and maintenance. The temperature gauge is easy to use and is great for ensuring that you choose as precise of a setting as you desire. This feature can be especially useful in colder conditions when you are finding against lower temperatures and wind in starting up your grill. As it is all battery operated, the effort is taken out of your hands.
The Spirit II is an improvement to the Spirit on any levels. With its excellent GS4 grilling system, tech-friendly twist better warranty options and compact footprint, grilling becomes a lot more versatile. Having said that, regardless of which model you choose, with Weber you can expect nothing less than the best grilling experience. If you’re interested in the Weber Spirits it is probably worth checking out the differences of the Spirit to the Genesis series as well.
But thermometers in the lid are several inches above the cooking grate and don’t accurately report the temperature on the surface where you’re actually cooking your food. Consider getting an inexpensive infrared thermometer to gauge the temperature of the cooking grates. The porcelain-coated cast-iron cooking grates make cleaning easier and the porcelain enameled flavorizer bars help vaporize the drippings to create a flavorful smoke. Weber added two new models to its Spirit line of gas grills in 2020, but we ultimately chose not to test them. One of them, the Spirit S-315, is similar to the Spirit II E-310 with regard to the specs, and with a few cosmetic differences—and higher price tag.
The porcelain coating usually makes such grates easier to clean than other surfaces, and the grates should resist rust as long as their porcelain coating isn’t chipped. 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.