We’re not typically fans of cast iron grates because they overpower foods with intense conductive heat at the point of contact, creating the alternating bands of dark brown and pale tan known as sear marks. The ultimate goal is an evenly dark brown crust across the entire surface of the meat, which transforms dull, tan meat to a delicious flavorful crust thanks to the magical Maillard reaction. Our main complaint for just about every grill is the obligatory bi-metal dial thermometer in the hood that gives you a ballpark reading of what the temperature is high above the meat. Since we cook down on the grates, it’s always better to use your own digital thermometer and place a probe at the cooking surface. 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.
Spirit II has four legs, two wheels and a lower open-air storage rack. Reversible cooking grates aren’t unusual, but Spirit II grates are a little different than most. weber spirit 2 Spirit II reversible grates have a thin side which Weber believes is “ideal for food such as shrimp and fish”, and flat side which “creates a thick sear mark”.
To monitor the cooking temperature, we generally don’t rely on thermometers built into the hood. Instead, we placed our digital thermometer in the middle area, and it registered a cooking temp of 295°F. At that temperature, poultry cooks gently and thoroughly while developing delicious brown skin.
Cheap gassers often have only one tent over each burner. Better quality grills, like Spirit II, blanket the entire cook box for more even heat and more delicious sizzle (see below). Note the notches on the sides of each bar which provide a visual confirmation that the burners beneath them are indeed lit.
Home chefs can use the wide, cast-iron cooking grates to prepare multiple courses simultaneously on the three stainless-steel burners while keeping their tongs and spices on the cooker’s two side tables. The grill’s folding left side table and the two wheels on its right legs also make it more than capable to move around a backyard. Aside from its superior cooking power, this grill has some wonderful features, which include a Bluetooth-enabled thermometer that will send alerts directly to your smartphone.
The Spirit II is the successor to the original Spirit E-310. It’s a much better grill than the original – cheaper, more compact, and better looking. The two large plastic wheels are more maneuverable than the four small caster wheels on the original. Cleaning this is largely easy with a couple of minor quibbles.
Armed with the strong GS4 grilling system, this gas grill is sure to take you and your meals to the next level. A warming rack and fold down left side shelf are included with Spirit II. The left and right Blackstone Adventure side shelves have integrated tool hooks. Both sizes have the same features and are available in LP and natural gas models. LP models have Weber’s Fuel Gauge, which estimates your gas tank level by weight.
#7) Legs and Wheels – Another throwback feature is the wheel design. The left end of Spirit II series models do not feature wheels, while the right hand side have 2 large, heavy duty plastic wheels. The wheels allow the grill to be rolled along grass or other uneven surfaces with ease. Take the guesswork out of cooking with Weber’s iGrill Digital Thermometers.
Porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates retain even heat for the best tasting food. The porcelain-enamel coating is easy to clean and built to last. This generally means that the grill comes with a dedicated rotisserie burner the motor and spit are usually purchased 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(s).