And we had no problems with flare-ups, the grease fires that produce charring and acrid smoke. When comparing the two materials—without taking anything else into consideration—cast iron holds more heat, so it will leave darker sear marks on your food than stainless steel. But the difference is minimal, especially if you’re not doing a side-by-side comparison of the two. Some folks think cast-iron grates distribute heat better across the grilling surface than stainless steel.
The Spirit II E-310’s overall compact size (helped by a fold-down side table) suits almost any patio or deck. And yet its grilling surface is big enough to cook a complete meal for a family or a dozen burgers for a party. (Weber’s warranty covers all parts for a full decade—among the best coverage in the industry.) For decades, the company has refined the Spirit’s design, too. This version includes an easily accessible externally mounted propane tank and an under-grill shelf.
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 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.
And this model’s bizarre design, with a fixed panel running across the front of the grill, means you have to sneak around the back of the thing to replace the tank. The Spirit II E-310 also exhibited the most consistent heat across the entire cooking surface in the 2018 test, just as the original Spirit had done in 2017. Among the competition in our 2017 test, the Napoleon model in particular had noticeable cool spots toward the front of its grates. weber charcoal grill To a degree, all grills suffer from this problem, because the burners don’t extend all the way to the front of the firebox. But the Spirit II E-310 offered the most consistent heating across the entire grate surface. After 10 minutes, the burgers at the rear (the hottest part of the grill) were medium-well, and those at the front were medium-rare to medium (if your diners have various preferences, this difference might even be handy).
To help find the right Weber grill for you, we sent popular models to the homes of our expert testers and rated each one on setup, heat retention, heat control, size, versatility, and overall value. Many steaks, burgers, veggies, and more were grilled to make sure these Weber grills are truly the best. When comparing different grills, one of the key factors to consider is its capacity, which is measured in square inches.
So the company has a financial incentive to build it to last for years. This two-burner grill is great for grilling novices or folks with limited space. However, it lacks some of the versatility—and heat output—of our other picks. Do not use an abrasive pad, instead use a cloth with a suitable metal, plastic or porcelain cleaning spray and wipe down all surfaces. Whether you’re having a few friends over, or a family celebration, we have the model for you.
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 gas 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.
Like our top pick, the Genesis E-325s has a cast-aluminum firebox and an enameled steel lid and frame. But unlike the Spirit II E-310, the Genesis sits on a closed cart (equipped with double doors) that glides on four casters for easier mobility. You can’t go wrong with Weber gas grills, which are known to be easy to use and reliable, and after testing several different models, the Spirit II E-310 was our favorite. This popular gas grill is available in both propane and natural gas models, and it features 529 square inches of cooking space over three burners.
The Nexgrill was fairly average in terms of its performance — it didn’t get quite as hot as some of the more expensive grills and had a few hot spots, but it still got the job done. It performs best on basics like hamburgers and hot dogs, and the grill responded quickly to any temperature changes during testing, making it easy to control. However, if you do opt for this budget-friendly grill, be warned that assembly is time-consuming and a bit complicated — of all the grills we tested, it took us the longest to put together due to its unclear instructions.