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 charcoal 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.
This design also allowed Weber to put a sturdy shelf under the grill—a handy place to store pans, bags of wood chips, a small cooler, and other stuff you may need while grilling. Plus, one of the side tables folds down, making the grill more compact for storage when it’s not in use (it’s 43 inches wide with the table down). On balance, propane or natural gas are probably better choices if you favor no-fuss cooking or you grill often (and especially if you grill on weeknights, when time is at a premium). If you’re an occasional griller or you enjoy getting hands-on with your cooking, charcoal is an economical choice that, with a bit of practice, produces great results.
If you own a grill, you’ll have to perform these tasks at least a few times a year, so a grill that makes them a little easier is a welcome thing. Finally, we restricted our search to grills that burn propane from refillable tanks, the most weber gas grill common fuel by far. But you should note that there are versions of all of our picks that work with natural gas. Just keep in mind that if you don’t already have the proper hookups, installing a natural-gas outlet isn’t cheap or simple.
After 45 minutes, we flipped the chicken parts, slathered on a coating of barbecue sauce, and closed the lid for another 15 minutes. Throughout, we monitored the grills’ temperatures according to their built-in thermometers; the goal was a steady hold at 375 °F with little or no burner adjustment. When it came to testing, the Genesis E-325S proved that it’s worth its high price tag. This grill could cook anything, and it has a large capacity, so cooking multiple things that need different attention is a huge draw. There weren’t any noticeable hot spots across the cooking grates, and we found the “sear zone” delivered a crispy outer texture on meat. We were also impressed with the overall construction of the grill, noting that it could easily last for 10 years if taken care of properly.
Ariane Resnick, who also updated this article, is a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author. She has more than 20 years experience in the food and writing spaces and believes in a joy-filled approach to health and wellness. It’s a much better grill than the original – cheaper, more compact, and better looking. The two large plastic wheels are more maneuverable than the four small caster wheels on the original.
It’s easy to dry out grilled chicken, but this was juicy and tender throughout while maintain a crisp skin. The skin caught a little, but it made for delicious crispy chicken skin that tasted great with the smoky barbecue sauces. It retained the sauce flavor well; unlike other grills where the flavor was lost in cooking, the Weber Spirit II E-310 maintained its barbecue flavor. Secondary cooking space, on the other hand, includes any additional racks within the grill, which are often used for cooking with indirect heat or warming up items like burger buns. We cooked hamburgers, steak, and fish during testing, and all the dishes were evenly cooked with nice char marks.
A small barbecue such as the portable charcoal barbecue from the Smokey Joe series is the perfect size for any beginner. Small enough to be easily controlled, but still large enough to cook several things at once, this small design is also easy to clean and store. The porcelain coating prevents food from sticking, so the grates don’t need seasoning. Only very old models of Weber grills would require seasoning, and because they are very old, that surely happened a long time ago. If you purchase a new Weber grill, you don’t need to worry about seasoning it.
The front of the grill does seem to be a bit cooler than the middle and back, but overall, the unit performed reliably. Its size makes it perfect for a large family or frequent host, and its high-quality construction will stand up to years of use. Wirecutter editor Signe Brewster bought the Weber Spirit II E-310 in 2019. “I mostly use it for pizza (on a pizza stone) and brats, plus veggies in our grill basket pick. Zero complaints except for cleaning it at the end of the summer, but I’m sure that’s an issue with all grills.” Signe also reports some difficulty igniting the burners, potentially due to buildup in the tubes or ports. We wish the bars of the Spirit II E-310’s warming racks ran front to back, parallel to the main grates, like they do on our upgrade pick, the Genesis E-325s.
If a burner seems to be running cool or creates patchy flames, use a thin piece of wire (many grills come with one attached to a chain) to clean out the gas ports (the little holes in the burner). There’s nothing weber bbq inside the burners to break, so don’t feel like you have to be delicate. Even though we didn’t officially test the Spirit II E-210, we did test its predecessor, the Weber Spirit E-210 (our former top pick).
This grill is a splurge, but it receives praise and rave reviews thanks to its functionality, high-quality construction, and superior grilling abilities. If you’re serious about grilling, you seriously need to purchase the Summit S Burner Gas Grill. If you’re looking for a well-built gas grill to sizzle your steaks and serve up perfectly charred hamburgers, the Weber Spirit II E-310 is our top pick for a gas grill. I would recommend it to friends or family in the market for a grill as the best grill you can get.