The funnel-shaped bottom of the firebox is especially efficient at directing drippings down to the disposable drip tray below. We didn’t experience any problems with grease or liquids getting deposited anywhere but the little foil tray where they were intended to go. Danielle is a James Beard Award-winning food writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon. She has authored five cookbooks and contributed recipe testing to six additional cookbooks. Danielle has worked as a staff editor and writer for the Oakland Tribune and Eater Portland, among others. Danielle has been writing for The Spruce Eats since December 2018.
The tank is also covered and protected from exposure to the elements. The iGrill 3-ready Genesis II SE grills feature a motion-activated, handle-mounted light for added visibility during night-time grilling and a fuel gauge on propane gas models. All Genesis II 2.0 models are now equipped with long-lasting, stainless weber genesis 2 steel flavorizer bars that sizzle drippings and shield burners. In the past, less durable porcelain enameled bars were standard and stainless steel bars were reserved for higher priced models. Note the notches on the sides of each bar which provide a visual confirmation that the burners beneath are indeed lit.
I patted the steak dry, salted and peppered it, then set it on the grill and let it rip for five minutes on a dial setting Weber calls High+, the LX line’s version of going to 11. It came out pleasingly caramelized yet not overdone in the center. I learned that while its burners are mighty, they also offer a wide temperature range which can be unforgiving if you’re not careful. For example, when I turned the Genesis II’s burner dials all the way up, after 10 minutes the temperature under the hood easily cracked 600 degrees (633.7 in fact). That same high setting and preheat time on the Char-Broil SmartChef Tru-Infrared yielded an internal temp of 457.4 degrees.
The 2017 model year marks the beginning of Genesis II gas grills being made in China, just like Spirit gas grills have been over the past few years. With their acquisition of iGrill Digital Thermometers, Weber is addressing this issue. Genesis II is “iGrill3 Ready” with a mounting place on the right side shelf for an optional iGrill 3 digital thermometer. It comes with two temperature probes and has inputs for two more.
Which of these you’ll really need will vary depending on how you like to grill. If you’re a DIY problem-solver, head to their website and download the manual and schematics for a start. If that doesn’t help, review the FAQ section to see if someone else had, and solved a similar problem. Weber sells its own line of thermometers, the current iteration being the iGrill 3. The Genesis II E-310 is iGrill 3-ready, featuring a mounting point for the app-driven, multi-probe thermometer. Weber is a name known throughout the barbecue world from novices to pitmasters.