Available in both gas and charcoal options, this is the premium line of offering. These models are as feature-rich as it gets, with one-touch ignition, endless stainless steel materials, lighting, rotisserie, double-walled lids, and much more- all this with a 10-year Weber back-up. Many gas (that is, propane gas) grills also come in a natural-gas version, usually with a different model number that includes an “N” for natural gas. Some models have a conversion kit (as standard or optional equipment) that requires some modification to a propane grill in order to use it with natural gas.
This little two-burner grill puts a mean sear on steaks, chops, and burgers. It has good heat control and can maintain a steady medium to medium-low for grilling chicken pieces with rendered skin and sticky glaze. Weber covers all parts on the Spirit II E-210 for 10 years, excluding normal wear and tear. She recalls one particular instance when she grilled fajitas for 25 guests for her partner’s birthday.
If a burner seems to be running cool or creates patchy flames, use a thin piece of wire (many grills come with one attached to a chain) to clean out the gas ports (the little holes in the burner). There’s nothing inside the burners to break, so don’t feel like you have to be delicate. Wirecutter editor Signe Brewster bought the Weber Spirit Blackstone Adventure II E-310 in 2019. It’s her first grill, and she’s loved using it in the summertime. “I mostly use it for pizza (on a pizza stone) and brats, plus veggies in our grill basket pick. Among those experts, Joe Salvaggio of Big Apple BBQ spent two hours explaining the fundamentals of gas grill design, function, materials, and maintenance.
As I already mentioned, the three burners aren’t up to most gas grills standards, but it will still do for a small to mid-sized family. That being said, there is ample cooking space here – it is on par even with more expensive brands. 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. If you want to splurge on a grill with exceptional temperature control and a dedicated searing zone, go for our upgrade pick, the Weber Genesis II E-325s, instead.
With their acquisition of iGrill digital thermometers, Weber is addressing this issue. Spirit II is “iGrill3 Ready” with a mounting place on the right side shelf for an optional iGrill 3 digital thermometer. This Bluetooth device enables you to place one digital probe at the cooking surface to dial up the correct oven temp, and one probe in your food to monitor internal meat temp. Surprisingly, however, there is no read out on the iGrill 3 itself. Check out Weber’s iGrill 3 video below that shows how to install this optional thermometer on their Genesis II.
Though the Spirit II is an improved version of the Spirit grills, that isn’t the only reason one might want to invest in it. Both versions have advantages over the other, and choosing one that is more suited for you is the point of this comparison. Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review. With True Value Rewards, you can earn points for every purchase toward future savings.
The now-discontinued Char-Broil Advantage 3-Burner Gas Grill from Lowe’s met the low expectations we set upon seeing its sub-$200 price. It cooked burgers acceptably, but to get an even cook we had to shuffle the patties around from hot spots to cool spots. Unable to keep a steady low temperature, it burned the barbecue chicken. To this grill’s credit, weber spirit 2 it made a nice indirect-roasted chicken—but then again, every tested grill did. Assembly was a pain, with unclear instructions and multiple fasteners of different sizes and types. And this model’s bizarre design, with a fixed panel running across the front of the grill, means you have to sneak around the back of the thing to replace the tank.