And in our indirect-cooking test, the Spirit II E-310 turned out a pair of flawless roasted birds that were deeply browned with skin so crisp, it puffed up like a balloon. We had no issues with the meat sticking to the flat, porcelain-coated weber natural gas grill iron grates or problems with flare-ups, grease fires that produce charring and acrid smoke. The Weber Spirit II E-310 excelled at every test, producing the best hamburgers—deeply seared, evenly cooked—among all the grills we tested.
Even if you lack much experience with this sort of work, you’re likely to assemble it easily. Since 2022 we’ve relied mainly on market research to update this guide, with visits to examine the main contenders at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Bering’s in Houston. 3) Shut off valves – For safety reasons we recommend you have both an inside and outside shut off valve. When using the grill you need to be sure these are both in the full “open” position and when not using the grill we recommend they be “closed” stopping the flow of gas. All 2024 GENESIS® grills modes are compatible with the WEBER CRAFTED Outdoor Kitchen Collection by purchasing a WEBER CRAFTED frame kit, if not already equipped. If you plan to keep your barbecue outside year-round, you’ll want to invest in a weather-resistant grill cover to protect your grill from weather, dust and animals.
The PureBlu burner system sets this grill apart from the pack – featuring unique, tapered burner tubes that generate consistent pressure and flames and deliver even heat across the grilling surface. Flames are directed above the raised gas ports, while food debris falls below, minimizing clogging and ensuring the grill lights every time. A sear zone is basically three burners that are closer together than the other burners on the grill. What this does is create a zone on the grill that can get hotter much faster than other areas, which is great for speeding up the time it takes to get the grates hot enough for searing. Lesley Stockton is a senior staff writer reporting on all things cooking and entertaining for Wirecutter.
Angled just right, FLAVORIZER bars catch and vaporize drippings to add extra flavor to your food. Drippings not vaporized are funneled away from the burners preventing flare-ups. Grill multiple steaks at once on the extra-large sear zone, so that everyone is eating those perfectly seared steaks at the same time.
So triple-check your space to make sure you have room for this 61-inch-long grill before you buy. Our reader survey revealed high satisfaction with Weber grills’ performance and reliability. Of the 1,000-plus Wirecutter readers we surveyed, over 60% said they owned Weber grills. weber traveler And of those Weber grill owners, 69% reported that they were extremely satisfied, and another 29% reported that they were moderately satisfied. At the 2017 Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo, we interviewed senior product managers from almost every major grill maker in attendance.
In our eyes, the S-315 seemed likely to perform about the same as our pick—and did not seem worth the higher price. The advantage of stainless steel over the porcelainized cast-iron grates on the Spirit II E-310 is its resistance to rust and corrosion. 4) 10 ft. hose – Our natural gas grills come with a 10-ft flex hose to connect your grill to the supply line. We do not recommend connecting more than one hose together as it could impact the performance of the grill.
But you can find versions of all of our picks that work with natural gas. The Weber Spirit II E-210 is a smaller, two-burner version of our top pick; the materials and build are identical. The E-210 is 4 inches narrower, and its cooking area is 15% smaller, but it still provides enough space to snugly fit a cut-up whole chicken or six to eight burger patties. This grill’s overall compact size suits almost any patio or deck, yet its three-burner grilling surface is big enough to cook a complete meal for a family or a dozen burgers for a party. To help you keep the good vibes (and good food) going, we cooked burgers, barbecue, and chicken on seven top-rated grills—and researched dozens more—to find the best.
Sets your Q at the optimal grilling height and has wheels for maneuverability. Hang your essential grilling tools on the hooks for easy access and organization of your workspace. Email updates from our community of grill masters, food enthusiasts, and lovers of outdoor cooking.
The Broil King Signet 320 offered the highest British thermal unit figure (40,000 Btu) of the grills we tested in the $400 to $900 category, but this didn’t prove to be an advantage. In our burger test, the grill topped 700 °F after 15 minutes of heating, and as a result it blackened the patties. (“Tastes like a Marlboro,” said weber genesis grill Sam Sifton.) It also ran too hot for our barbecue chicken, topping 450 °F on the lowest setting when our goal was a steady 375 °F. The Weber Spirit SX-315 Smart Grill is the smart version of our top pick, the Weber Spirit II E-310. The two models have the same bones—the same burners, side tables, and overall dimensions.