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. But in our research we found that the design and the materials that make up the grilling system are what determine heat distribution.
The compact open-cart design and the practical folding side table makes it fit even on small spaces, and you have all the basics you need to get familiar with gas grilling. Invite a couple of friends over, push the ignition and enjoy the special atmosphere that surrounds the grill. This generally means that the grill comes with a dedicated rotisserie burner; the motor and spit are usually purchased Blackstone Adventure separately. A dedicated rotisserie burner is usually located on the back of the firebox, slightly above the cooking grates; some models use the grill’s main burner. This feature allows you to roast meat very evenly, yielding a flavor that some people prefer to that of grilled food. A good gas grill should last a decade or more, provided you clean it after every use and protect it from the elements.
The burner hoods (metal “tents” that sit over the burners and guide grease away from the flames to prevent flare-ups) are usually the first to go. Weber’s warranty covers burner hoods on the 2022 Genesis models and all parts on the Spirit II models for 10 years. Or you could find third-party options that claim higher performance and long lifespans (though we haven’t tested these claims ourselves).
There’s no easy answer, but we discuss some of the considerations in the sustainability section below. Experts and our testing confirm this range is where you’ll find the best value, with grills that perform great and can last a decade or more. Now, I do want to quickly compare the Spirit II E 10 and Genesis II – the former is a higher end option. However, apart from the fact there is slightly more cooking area and the BTUs are higher, I wouldn’t waste my money but stick with the Spirit II E 310 instead.
Now, another feature of the grilling system is the porcelain enameled flavorizer bars. The flavorizer bars then allow these drippings to evaporate, adding extra flavor to the food. Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates make cleaning and maintenance easy while the Flavorizer bars help promote more flavor from the food’s drippings. Weber’s Smart Grill revolution may be mostly a Genesis-line upgrade, but they did spread the wealth to the Spirit series with the SX-315. They took the quality of the Spirit line and added their new Weber CONNECT technology so you can monitor how quickly your food is cooking via the included probe thermometer.
More convenient is a battery-operated electronic igniter, which usually ignites the gas on the first try. Some grills also have lighting holes, on the side of or beneath the grill, that can be used with a match should the igniter fail. While burners remain the grill’s most-replaced part, most are warranted for only 3 to 5 years. An indication of the sturdiness of the gas grill, based on our rigidity test and judgments of our expert testers.
It has great construction quality and has been built to last you a long time. On top of this, you get a great grilling experience as this model is so easy to use and maintain. The only thing that you need to be careful of when cleaning is the flavorizer bars.
She recounts that the Spirit II E-210 held consistent temperature across the cooking grate, and flare-ups were never an issue. As a company, Weber constantly refines its designs, even on its classic charcoal kettle grill, which has been around for well over 60 years. And, again, Weber’s warranty covers all parts of the Spirit II E-310 for a full 10 years. So the company has a financial incentive to build it to last for years. Three is the sweet spot—not too crowded inside, not too big outside.
Weber, which makes all three of the grills we recommend, guarantees all parts on its Spirit II series for 10 years. So we expect our top and budget picks to hold up for at least that long. Weber also guarantees major parts on its 2022 Genesis grills—including the grates, hoods, burner tubes, lid assembly, and cookbox—for at least 10 years. Weber’s other new addition to the Spirit line, the Spirit SP-335, is basically the S-315 with a built-in side burner and a dedicated high-heat searing area on the grill. We don’t recommend grills with side burners because we don’t think that extra feature is worth the $100-plus markup. We think you’re better off saving over $200 with the Spirit II E-310.
Side tables help in holding spices and prep material, keeping everything you need ready at our fingertips. The Spirit 2 was introduced in 2018 and came to be an enhanced version of the Spirit grills. Spirit II features models that improved on the popular models of the Spirit and addressed any flaws in the earlier version. Grease management system funnels away grease that is not vaporized by the Flavorizer bars into an easy to remove drip tray that allows for faster, easier, and much more convenient cleaning. Three burner grill with spacious grilling area and side tables to place serving trays. Size category for the grill, based on CR’s measurement of the main cooking grid area.