Among the competition in our 2017 test, the Napoleon model in particular had noticeable cool spots toward the front of its grates. 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, Blackstone Adventure the burgers at the rear were medium-well, and those at the front were medium-rare to medium . On the Napoleon grill, meanwhile, some of the front burgers were nearly raw in the center, while the rear burgers were well-done. We grilled the chicken with the lid down for 45 minutes, occasionally checking for charring, and redistributing the pieces as necessary.
This grill has a primary cooking area of 424 square inches along with a 105 sq. It can hold roughly 15 quarter-pound burger patties, plenty for that weeknight dinner. Total heat output of 26,500 BTUs is what weber spirit 2 you get with this grill. Of an enclosed cabinet design with a single door, the Spirit E-210 offers protection to your gas or propane tank and some useful storage space for your grilling accessories.
This three-burner grill offers an unrivaled combination of performance, usability, versatility, durability, and value. An interesting feature is that the burner tubes have netting over them. This is great for keeping creepy crawlies away so that you don’t have to clean them out later. There is also the fact that you don’t have to worry about running out of fuel again. This is great for larger cookouts – you always know when to keep a reserve on hand. Especially with larger cuts of meat, you can simply insert the probe and occassionally check your app to see how fast the meat is cooking.
This version includes an easily accessible externally mounted propane tank and an under-grill shelf. On top of all that, this grill is particularly easy to assemble, maintain, and use, and its finish comes in four colors . If you have limited outdoor space or don’t want to commit to a larger grill, the Weber Spirit II E-210 is a smaller, two-burner version of our pick, and it’s a great choice. The Spirit II E-210’s smaller grate (measuring 360 square inches, compared with the Spirit II E-310’s 424 square inches) might make grilling for a crowd a challenging endeavor.
As for maintenance, the Spirit E-310’s flat grates were easy to keep clean with a grill brush, and its grease trap was easy to access for dumping and washing. The other grills also have easy-access grease traps—not much to ask for, really. But we found the Napoleon model’s wavy grates hard to clean because we couldn’t run the grill brush in long strokes. In our tests, the Spirit E-310’s firebox cleaned up fine, with some Simple Green and hot water, and because it’s aluminum, there’s no concern about rust. 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.
Evaluates the temperature after a 10 minute preheat using thermocouples. It also gives an indication how quickly the grill reaches its maximum temperature. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times.
Our journalists combine independent research with over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right . To keep your grill in working order, take time to do some simple cleaning tasks, as well as the occasional deep scrub-down, every time you cook.
Factors include grate material, wheels or casters for moving the grill, and useful features such as electronic ignitor. Evenness of heating over the grill’s surface at the highest and lowest setting using all main burners plus the evenness after a 10 minute preheat, using thermocouples. After years of testing grills, we can’t think of a better deal for a great grill than the Original Weber Kettle, which has been our favorite charcoal grill for almost 10 years.
With painted grills like this, chipping and scratches is always a concern so you should watch out for this. However, as long as you store it in a dry area and keep it covered at all times, you should be able to avoid this. You can rest easy knowing that your cookbox, lid, and burner tubes are protected by a 10-year warranty.