If it could talk, it would say, “Well, hello there,” where many grills are saying, “Wazzup! ” The bottom line — it looks like a barbecue for a serious griller. Burner holes (also known as “ports”) have been made larger and more extruded. As a result, the new Genesis II burners are more resistant to corrosion and clogging issues that can sometimes plague other grill models and series. If you have a large party the extra space and cooking power will be handy.
Despite my love for Weber grills I am going to strongly suggest that you not buy this model. The Summit is Weber‘s high-end grill line that is aimed at people who want even more quality and versatility. The Genesis lineup gives you more models to choose from although unlike the Spirit II there are no two-burner models. As before, there are two sides tables to give you more space to cut and season your meat. In addition, some of these grates are reversible between the thin side or a wide side.
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 , the cooking weber charcoal grill grate on the Genesis E-325s is big enough to grill an entire meal for a family. 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.
It quickly drops down and out of the way for rotisserie use or when you want clear access to the entire cook surface. No fumbling around popping the rack off and finding a spot to stash it. It’s not precise, but provides enough of a clue to warn you the tank is getting light and will need a change soon. The round button in the image is an On/Off Switch that shuts the light off entirely for daytime grilling. You also get LED lights on each main burner control knob. Professional grills have higher BTU output at 23, ,000 BTUs per burner, so you cook much faster than Genesis at 12,000-13,000 BTU output per burner.
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. All of the various iGrill models link to the Weber mobile app, which lets you monitor the Genesis II wirelessly from a distance of 30 feet.
It’s a classic backyard staple, and it can fit up to 12 burger patties to feed a crowd—the same as the Spirit II E-310, but for less than half the price. Even though we didn’t officially test the Spirit II E-210, we did test its predecessor, the Weber Spirit E-210 . And one of our guide writers, Lesley, owned the Spirit II E-210 for years before passing it off to a friend (to make room for long-term testing the Genesis II E-310). 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.
One point we are always stressing is the importance of owning a good digital probe thermometer. The Genesis II grills we tested appear here in order from basic to bristling with features. With the Weber Genesis II series, Weber streamlined the iconic Genesis design which some believe has been long overdue for a significant makeover. Genesis series grills now come equipped with either an open-structure design or cabinet design based on the needs of each individual griller. Grill shrouds are now slightly shorter, giving each grill a wider body profile and a more luxurious look. Weber Genesis Grill with UpgradesYou can upgrade the entry level Weber Genesis II series with wifi connectivity.
This isn’t to say this is a bad product, it’s simply that you’ll likely need to learn its quirks before you achieve the best grilling results. In contrast, the Char-Broil SmartChef over the same time period came out much better. Same prepackaged ribs from Costco, same dry rub seasoning. Especially at the longer cook time, the CharBroil ribs were dripping with moisture and succulent. Seasoned BBQ pros will like the Weber Genesis II’s sturdy construction and thoughtful design, but casual cooks should buy a basic grill instead. You should splurge on this Weber grill’s smart app upgrade.
With their recent acquisitions of iGrills Digital Thermometers and June Technologies Smart Ovens, Weber signaled their vision of a high tech future for barbecue and grilling. Soon afterwards, Weber brand iGrill digital thermometers and iGrill Ready Gas Grills appeared. June Technologies’ sophisticated software and wireless functions were seamlessly incorporated into the Weber Connect Grilling Hub and SmokeFire Pellet Grills. In 2021 they added EX and SX Smart Grills to their popular Spirit and Genesis Gas Grill lines and we at AmazingRibs.com jumped for joy. A good gas grill should last a decade or more, provided you clean it after every use and protect it from the elements. Weber, which makes all three of the grills we recommend, guarantees all parts on its Spirit II series for 10 years.