No grill matches its combination of exceptional performance, usability, durability, and value. A red hot bed of fire on a charcoal grill creates a blend of radiant, convection and conduction heat that can out-sear most gas burners, particularly in this price range. Gas grill manufacturers often rely on cast iron conduction to amplify the gas burner heat and at least add some brown sear marks to food surfaces. Some grillers have discovered a cast iron pan or griddle on their gasser works even better and effectively sears the entire meat surface. Note that the cast iron grates are not as wide as the opening between them. Reversible cooking grates aren’t unusual, but Spirit II grates are a little different than most.
Open the door to the world of grilling with crazy good food and friends coming together. 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. So whether it’s a busy Monday or a relaxed Sunday – invite a couple of friends over, push the ignition and enjoy the special atmosphere that surrounds the grill. 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. Among the competition in our 2017 test, the Napoleon model in particular had noticeable cool spots toward the front of its grates.
Finally, although we looked at grills from high-end makers such as Hestan, Lynx/Sedona, and MHP for comparison (and a sense of what’s possible in a grill, for a price), we did not test them. Most of them cost four or five figures, well above our established price range of $400 to $900. If you’re buying a grill, your first decision is which type of fuel works best. When we first started working on this guide, back in 2017, we spoke with more than a dozen experts before opening the valve on a single propane tank. With more heat per square inch and a larger grilling area than the Spirit E-310, the Genesis E-325s is our top choice for dedicated grillers. Common to both Spirit and Spirit II, Weber grills come with some excellent wheels that make the movement of the grills smoother.
They cooked fast at two minutes per side, although the front row needed an additional minute. We’d prefer overall, even heat from the front to the back of the grill, but we appreciated how quickly and easily Spirit II cooked this popular item. The burgers were remarkably juicy, Blackstone Adventure perhaps due to the fast cook time. When the Spirit II grills were released Weber added three of the GS4 upgrades but did not include the newly designed burners. Of the three upgrades that do come with the GS4 the most important is the more reliable ignition system.
It also gives an indication how quickly the grill reaches its maximum temperature. All of the products below have been tested and are highly recommended. Attention to detail such as this is one reason the Weber name commands higher prices than many mass market brands. Weber’s price tag also includes quality construction and the best customer service from a manufacturer in the business, on call seven days a week from 7am to 9pm CST.
Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). Lesley Stockton is a senior staff writer reporting on all things Blackstone Adventure cooking and entertaining for Wirecutter. Her expertise builds on a lifelong career in the culinary world—from a restaurant cook and caterer to a food editor at Martha Stewart.
Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Prices on Spirit II 3-burner and 2-burner grills are $599 and $499 respectively, but the street price is about a hundred bucks less. Those who take the long view on purchasing decisions could consider Spirit’s $500 (3-burner) and $400 (2-burner) street prices a bargain. Most gas grills use metal heat tents under the cooking grate to disperse heat, protect the burners, and to sizzle drippings that impart flavor to foods. Better quality grills, like Spirit II, blanket the entire cook box for more even heat and more delicious sizzle (see below).
This one doesn’t, nor did any grill in our test group, so you’ll need to buy one separately. Weber’s dedicated Spirit II cover costs about $80, and a well-regarded generic cover costs about $30 (both at the time of writing). Of course, you may also have concerns about how each of these fuel choices might impact the environment. There’s no easy answer, but we discuss some of the considerations in the sustainability section below.