What About Propane Vs Natural Gas
All of our picks are propane-gas grills, since propane tanks are portable and can be purchased almost anywhere, and they dont require any special hookups in your backyard.
However, our picks are also sold in natural-gas versions, which are gaining in popularity. But they require that you have a natural-gas hookup on your deck or patio. If you have natural gas in your home but dont have an outdoor connection, youll need to hire a technician to install one, and this may involve cutting into walls. And if you want to easily move your natural-gas grill into and out of storage, youll also need to buy a quick-disconnect system, which can add another $150 or so. The benefits of natural gas include not having to wrestle propane tanks on and off your grill, always-available fuel , and lower fuel costs . This post provides a deeper rundown of the process.
Of course, you may also have concerns about how each of these fuel choices might impact the environment. Theres no easy answer, but we discuss some of the considerations in the sustainability section below.
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After weeks of research and two days of testing on burgers, barbecue, and whole chickens, the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22 is our pick as the best charcoal grill for most people.
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Alternatives To The Spirit Ii E
By now, youve learned all about the Spirit II E-310 Liquid Propane Grill. But theres also a natural gas model that Weber offers. It appears to be tougher to find, but you cant deny that having options is always desirable. If you already have natural gas plumbed to your barbecue area, the Spirit E-310 Natural Gas Grill is a great option.
Combining all the great features of the liquid propane option with the convenience of piped-in gas, Weber caters to BBQ enthusiasts of all stripes.
Of course, another high-performing alternative is the Weber Spirit E-210, the precursor to the E-310. The earlier model offers fewer BTU and less cooking area. It has a total of 450 square inches360 on the grill and 90 in the warming rack. Its similar in price, despite having one fewer burner. Yet, it receives the same excellent reviews as the E-310.
If you dont need all the grilling space of the E-310, the E-210 might be a comparable alternative. But if you really want the full experienceand full three burnersthe E-310 is beyond compare. Plus, the older model doesnt have the high-tech grill setup of its newer sibling.
What If You Dont Want To Spend This Much On A Gas Grill
Our least expensive pick is just south of $500. If you want a quality grill that costs less but that you wont have to throw out after a few yearsand youre willing to make some concessionswe have a couple of suggestions: Consider a portable gas grill or a good charcoal kettle grill.
The Weber Q 2200 portable gas grill has a lot going for it: Its compact yet roomy, and you can use it anywhere. Of all our portable grill picks, the Q 2200 has the most grilling area and thus makes a better substitute for a full-size model. Its cooking area measures 280 square inches , and it can fit nine burgers without crowding. Like all of our gas grill picks, it has a cast-aluminum firebox, an enameled steel lid, and two built-in side tables. Unlike our other gas grill picks, the Q series grills require the small propane canisters used for camping stoves . By choosing the 2200 over our budget pick, the Spirit II E-210, youd save around $130 . And if youre willing to go even smaller, the Weber Q 1200with a cooking area thats 189 square inches costs more than $200 less than the Spirit II E-210.
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Fuel Type: Liquid Propane
The 20-pound propane gas tank mounts to the outside of the grill underneath the storage arms. This makes it easy to remove and replace, but its not exactly aesthetically pleasing. It may seem like nitpicking, but the rest of the grill is so sleek that having the propane tank visible really draws the eye away from the cool elements of the grill.
However, the easy-to-read fuel gauge located next to the gas tank helps make up for the less-than-attractive tank presentation. We were able to easily check how much fuel was left in the tank with a quick inspection. Its a welcome feature that makes this grill much easier for novices to navigate.
Weber Spirit Vs Genesis: Entry Level Vs Mid
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If youre looking to invest in a new gas grill, chances are youre trying to decide between the Weber
In this guide, well take you through both the Spirit and Genesis Weber grill lines, explain the main differences and run through the latest updates from 2022.
Well go through all the models to consider, but if you are in a rush we think the Weber Spirit II E-310 is the best value gas grill you can get if you want Weber quality without a lot of bells and whistles,
If you can stretch your budget, then the Genesis E-335 hits the sweet spot between price, size, and functionality.
Read on for more in-depth comparisons between these two grill lines.
| Best Overall |
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Should You Buy The Weber Spirit Ii E
If you want a medium sized propane gas grill that will last, offers consistent heat that can be easily controlled, is easy to start, maintain and clean, plus is backed by a superb ten year warranty, then the Weber Spirit II E-310 Gas Grill is for you.
You may want more than a three-burner grill so going bigger could be a good idea. Or you may want to save money and go for a cheaper brand just don’t expect it to last as well.
How We Tested Gas Grills
In spring 2017, we kicked off this grill guide by putting six gas grills through a battery of tests. We cooked a full grate of burgers on high heat and chicken pieces at a low temperature. We also roasted whole chickens indirectly on both low and high heat to see whether the grills could create browned skin and perfectly cooked meat without charring. In 2018 we repeated these tests, with the then-new Weber Spirit II E-310 and our upgrade pick at the time, the Weber Genesis II E-310 .
For the high-heat, whole-grate burger testan indicator of the grills ability to pump out uniform, high heat without creating an infernowe heated the grills on high with their lids down for 15 minutes, and we distributed 12 to 15 6-ounce patties across the whole cooking surface. While the burgers cooked, we kept an eye out for flare-upswhich can char the meat and create acrid smokeand looked at the evenness of cooking across the grates. After about 10 minutes of cooking, we compared how well each grill had seared the burgers, and we looked for excessive charring or patties that were still unacceptably raw.
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Performance: Impressive Temperature Control And Quick Learning Curve
Unlike the original Weber Spirit, the Weber Spirit II E-310 Gas Grill features a GS4 Grilling System. This includes what the company calls infinity ignition, meaning it should ignite every time, high performance burners, which ensure an even heating surface, porcelain-enameled flavorizer bars, designed to catch drippings and mitigate flare-ups, and a grease management system, which should streamline cleaning.
We found that the grill boasts a solid ignition. It lit right up for us with no hassle and got extremely hot extremely quickly. Were talking just a few minutes to get up to 500 degrees. And it heats very evenly across the board, too .
There wasnt much of a learning curve. After adding just a little oil, the grill grates were perfectly seasoned, which we werent expecting. Whether it was burgers, hot dogs, or veggies, just about everything we threw on this grill came out as desired.
This grill lit right up for us with no hassle and got extremely hot extremely quickly. Were talking just a few minutes to get up to 500 degrees.
While wed love to take credit, we owe our newfound grill skills to the Weber Spirit IIs precise temperature control. The grill held an even temperature on low while using just one burner. Pretty impressive for its size.
Take a peek at our guide to buying a grill.
Grill Light Wont Turn On
If the lid of your Weber grill is equipped with lights for evening cookouts, it will only activate when the lid is open. Try pressing the AWAKE button once youve lifted the lid. Battery replacement might also be in order.
Remember that the light will automatically shut off after 30 minutes if theres been no grill activity during that time. You can relight it by pressing the AWAKE button.
When the light wont shut off, its probably because the lid of the grill is ajar. Make sure to close it completely when youve finished grilling.
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Packaging: Everything Included But Slightly Confusing
When we first opened the boxes that contained the parts to our new Weber grill, we were a bit confused. The instructions contain information on multiple models of the Spirit II, and it wasnt clear what exactly our boxes should contain. We spent quite a while digging around for pieces we thought should be in our boxes before we realized that we didnt need one of the hardware bags listed on the instructions.
We also had some issues with the included gas hose and regulator. When we turned on the gas, there was a leak where the regulator meets the hose, requiring a run to the hardware store to replace the part.
Other than that, the packaging for this Weber grill was solid. Everything was contained in one large box, and it took two people to lift and carry the package to our desired setup location.
The Spruce Eats / Angelica Leicht
Setup Process: Easy To Put Together Even For Your Average Joe
The easy assembly of the Weber Spirit II E-310 is one of its strongest selling points it only took us about an hour to put together after it was unboxed. There are about ten or so main pieces, and they easily fit together much like the instructions state they should.
It took about ten steps to completely assemble the grill. We used a power drill to help speed it up, but this is certainly not a requirement. There are also video instructions available if you get stuck, but we didnt need them the manual was enough.
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Competition: A Standout Among Strong Contenders
There are a handful of grills with similar features to the Weber Spirit II E-310, including the Master Cook Classic Smart Space Living 3 Burner LP Gas Grill. Like the Weber grill we reviewed, this Master Cook model features three burners, foldable side tables, and porcelain-enameled grates, but the Master Cook retails for significantly less than the Weber. You can find the Master Cook for under $200 online.
But, while the Master Cook will cost you less, youd have to trade in some of the cool Weber features, like the thick, reversible grill plates, the Weber iGrill 3-compatibility, and the easy-to-read fuel gauge, to save some dough.
Another option is the Char-Broil Classic 3-Burner Gas Grill, which is, as the name implies, a no-frills, three-burner grill fueled by propane. As with the Master Cook 3-Burner and the Weber Spirit II E-310, the Char-Broil model has porcelain-coated gratesbut again, these arent reversible grates like you get with the Weber. Its a compact grill, but it has almost no bells or whistles, and the design isnt nearly as eye-catching as the Weber. Still, for the priceyou can find the Char-Broil Classic 360 for under $150its a solid competitor.
Want to take a look at some other options? See our guide to the best gas grills.
Worth the splurge
Weber Spirit Ii E 310 Propane Gas Grill
- Rated 3 out of 5
- Temperature ControlRated 3 out of 5
- Working SpacesRated 3 out of 5
- Easy to CleanRated 3 out of 5
- Easy to AssembleRated 3 out of 5
This Weber Spirit II E-310 Liquid Propane Grill is an overall gas grill. How good is it? Letâs check it out!
Specs
- Cooking Space: 529 sq. in.
Pros
Cons
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Weber Spirit II E-310 Liquid Propane Grill is a lovely all-round gas grill. It grills evenly and enriches your food with a mouth-watering smokey flavor. And the easy clean-up system as well as large storing room better the grilling experience remarkably. Lets dive in!
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Summary Of Pros And Cons
Pros
- 2 oversized wheels for easy repositioning
- 6 tool hooks to keep you organized and your side shelves clear
- Sturdy lower shelf for storage
- Tank scale should keep you from running out of propane while cooking
Cons
- Lid thermometers are basically useless, so be sure to have a digital thermometer ready, such as the iGrill3 from weber themselves.
- Four wheels would make it easier to move around but, how often do you roll your grill?
- If both shelves folded, off-season storage would be even easier
The Weber Spirit Ii E
As with most gas barbecues, this is pretty much a straight-up grilling machine. Its best suited to searing and cooking those burgers, dogs, steaks, chicken breasts, and more that we all love.
However, because it features three separate burners, its possible to set up multizone cooking.
This could mean searing on one very hot section of the grill and then finishing on another, cooler section. Or, you can use convection to roast or slow cook meat for many hours over indirect heat.
With more burners, you have more options. And, it does all this without the need for charcoal, pellets, or wood.
The Weber Spirit ii E-310 also appears highly in our roundup of the best propane gas grills, as well as the NG version in our guide to the best natural gas grills, and our list of the best gas grills to buy under $500. So what do we see in it to give it such praise?
Lets start with a look at the company, Weber, themselves.
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Budget Pick: Weber Spirit Ii E
*At the time of publishing, the price was $459.
If you have limited outdoor space or dont want to commit to a larger grill, the Weber Spirit II E-210 is a smaller, two-burner version of our pick, and its a great choice. The Spirit II E-210s smaller grate might make grilling for a crowd a challenging endeavor. However, this grill can still accommodate a whole cut-up chicken or six to eight burger patties at a time. 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.
The upper warming rack adds 90 square inches of cooking surface to the E-210, making the total grate area 450 square inches. Overall, the two-burner Spirit II is the same depth and height as the three-burner model, but the E-210 is 4 inches smaller width-wise. That may not seem like much, but if youre working with a small patio area, every inch counts. Like the E-310, the E-210 has an open-cart design and an easy-access side-mounted hook and gauge for the propane tank.
Even though we didnt 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 . She recounts that the Spirit II E-210 held consistent temperature across the cooking grate, and flare-ups were never an issue.
Another Good Gas Grill
Weber is no longer producing our former upgrade pick, the Weber Genesis II E-310. But this model is still available for purchase at big-box stores like Home Depot and Lowes. We still think its a great grill with clever design features. For one thing, this grill has an externally mounted propane tank, which is easier to install and replace than traditional, under-grill tanks . And this type of tank also frees up the area under the grill for storage of tools and other items. With the Genesis II E-310, we didnt notice a significant upgrade in performance over that of the Spirit II E-310. In fact, the Genesis II E-310 didnt sear our burgers as darkly as the Spirit II E-310 did. Thats okay, thoughthis grill is an exceptional performer, period.
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Why Do Customers Choose The Weber Spirit Ii E
Weber is a respected and well-recognized name in the barbecue world that customers know and trust.
Its a versatile grill that may be a step-up for many newer grillers. In fact, Weber bills it on their website as your first upgrade.
For anyone looking to get a little more from their grilling experience than a basic barbecue can offer, the Spirit II E-310 is an appealing choice.
