How We Picked The Best Gas Grill
We had three firm criteria that our main contenders had to meet:
Finally, we restricted our search to grills that burn propane from refillable tanks, the most common fuel by far, but you should note that most grills can also run on natural gasthough converting to natural gas isnt cheap or simple.1
We didnt fret much over two other factors that grill-makers spend a lot of time talking about: total Btu count and the grates material. First, the total Btu count on three-burner grills tends to vary between 30,000 and 40,000, and the industry is making a strong push toward more is better. But our research and reporting convinced us that at least as important as the total output was whether those Btus were applied efficiently, steadily, and evenly across the grates. We decided to reserve judgment until our tests.
We knew we would be looking at intangibles, too, such as how well the grills were packed, if the instructions were clear, and if assembly was reasonably straightforward. And, of course, we would consider the biggest intangible of all: the grills ability to perform in our tests.
But those judgments would have to wait until we got our hands on the contenders. So after weeks of research, reporting, and discussion, we settled on four gas grills to test in our main $400 to $700 category, and two grills around the $200 mark to test as budget options.
What Size & Weight Are Weber Grills
Because Weber offers such a large range of grills, theres a great choice of shapes and sizes. The Summit Grill Center is the largest, and is basically the size of a small kitchen. This impressive beast gives you a total cooking area of 769 inches plus prep space and lots of storage. It measures a mighty 59H x 91.1W x 30D.
The large Genesis cart model measures 47H x 59W x 29D and has over 500 square inches of primary cooking surface. By contrast, the compact and lightweight Smokey Joe portable charcoal grills measure just 17H x 14.2W x 16.5D with 147 square inches of cooking space .
Grilling Time And Temperature
- By monitoring your time and grilling temperature you avoid overcooking your food.
- Use a timer!
- If you are grilling in a colder climate or in a higher altitude, the cooking times will be longer. If the wind is blowing hard, it will lower a gas grill’s temperature and raise a charcoal grill’s temperature.
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Charbroil Performance 2 Burner
The two-burner unit from Char Broil comes with an attractive design and an extremely affordable price, making this an integral choice for people who are just looking to enter the world of BBQ with a limited budget.
The Performance 2 Burner provides a total cooking area of 400 square inches with 300 square inches of primary cooking area and a warming rack that measures 100 square inches. Each burner puts out a maximum heat of 12,000 BTU for a combined total heat output of 24,000 BTU for the unit. With its smaller size, this lets you take advantage of excellent BTU per square inch value of 80 which can be significant if you want to cook your food fast and quickly develop those grill marks.
Char Broil gives customers the option to choose between an open cart design like the Weber and a closed cabinet design. If you like the accessibility of the open space in the cart, this can be an ideal choice. However, if you are looking for better organization and more secure storage, the closed cabinet style might be a better option.
The unit also has foldable shelves that can be used for prepping or holding food. A temperature gauge is mounted on the lid and four lockable casters that allow for a supreme range of motion. This Char Broil is also one of our favorite small gas grills that we reviewed.
What We Like
- Heats up fast and evenly
- Easy to assemble and clean
What Makes Us Angry
- Food tends to stick to grates
- Smaller cooking area than competing products
What Is The Difference Between Weber Spirit And Genesis
Weber Spirit vs Genesis Overview. Its important to note that the Spirit and Genesis are both series of grills. The high level difference between the two series is that Weber Spirit grills are designed to be more of a bare bones grill, whereas the Genesis series grills are more advanced and loaded with extra features
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Weber 7470001 Summit S
Why youll love it:
You may be wondering why the Summit range of Weber grills makes my top picks.
The truth is that this range of Weber grill has the best functionality and features.
Take this Summit S-670 grill for example.
Not only is it a beast in size, it is fitted with the best features that I love on a grill.
From having 10 burners to the closed cart where I can store my grilling tools, I find this grill convenient and fast.
Over and above the features, which truly shape your grilling experience, the fact that this grill uses natural gas over propane makes it a winner for me.
- Has storage space in the enclosed cart
- Removable grease tray and catch pan
- Environment-friendly fuel option
What we didnt like
- Because of the many burners, even the generous cooking space can get crowded when cooking lots of things at once.
Think about it:
You can feed an entire village on natural gas! How environmentally-friendly and efficient is that? I love clean energy, and this grill feeds my love for the environment and my stomach at the same time.
I promise you that you can cook everything and anything on the Summit S-670.
And yes! The 670 stands for 670 square inches of cooking space.
Plus, it also has the infrared rotisserie burner.
We have more products under the summit series. See Weber Summit Charcoal Grill Review.
Which Weber Grill Is The Best For The Money
People love Weber grills not only for their smart design and durable construction but also for the wide range of options they carry. There is something for everybody whether you are looking for a budget-friendly pick or a premium one.
Judging by the design, materials, and durability, we think the Weber Q 1400 electric grill is the best overall choice. It has all the features people love about Weber but comes at a pretty reasonable price point.
Weber Q 1400 is easy to transport and can be used anywhere with a power outlet. This compact and powerful electric grill has cast iron cooking grates which provide even heat distribution. This easy-to-use unit is perfect if you want to invest in something easy and efficient.
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The Many Parts Of A Weber Grill
As we take a look at the components of a gas grill, lets start our journey from the outside-in and begin with the first part of the grill you seethe exterior shell. And perhaps the most important part of that exterior is the piece that George Stephen revolutionized when he introduced it all those years agothe lid.
The Gas Grill Lid and Exterior
The highest-quality gas grills feature a lid that perfectly balances all of the features and tasks for which it must be responsible in ensuring a safe, effective and delicious grilling experience. First of all, there must be proper ventilation for safe and quality cooking. The best grills also offer a highly visible thermometer on the lid to ensure proper cooking temperature easily and seamlessly during preparation and cooking. Because cooking can get messy and grills are often exposed to the elements, a stainless steel control panel can be an excellent feature to ensure that the grill controls hold up over time and under pressure.
Beyond the lid, youll want a grill with plenty of exterior surface space for keeping your tools, ingredients and cooking materials handy while grilling. Great grills have wing tables on either side with plenty of surface area for everything you might need, and Weber grill tables can be folded down when not in use. Nearly all Weber grills also feature either an open or closed storage area underneath the grill for additional materials.
Grill Interior
The Grate
The Burners
Other Grill Parts
Why Trust The Spruce Eats
Erica Puisis is a writer and interior design expert who has been writing about all things home and lifestyle for The Spruce since 2017.
This article was updated by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce Eats. She’s written close to a dozen pieces on all styles of grills and done firsthand testing of smokers and grills featured in her articles.
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Napoleon Grill Or Weber
Napoleon and Weber are the top names in grilling and as you can see both have amazing features and tons of positive reviews.
When you are looking for a reliable and durable grill to last, these are names you can trust. But which is better?
There are differences in features, design, price, accessories, and size, so ultimately the best option is going to come down to a personal preference as well as budget.
Which Weber Grill Should I Buy
If youve decided to buy a Weber grill, then you are investing in outstanding Weber grill quality and durability all around.
Weber grills are available in different types and series, so it can be challenging to know where to start your search. Our Weber Grill Buying Guide will help you choose the right Weber grill for your needs.
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What We Cover In This Weber Genesis Ii E
Our reviews are meant to accompany you on your journey to find your perfect grill. Were working around the clock to bring you unbiased grill reviews so that you can gather enough information and make an educated and informed purchasing decision.
Weber is one of the leading and most-trusted grill brands for good reason. However, reputation does not ensure all products meet expectations. The Weber Genesis II E-315 is an investment, and we found it to be high performing and packed with great features that should satisfy the needs of even the most demanding grilling enthusiasts.
Since were fully dedicated to delivering high-quality reviews to our readers, weve covered both the good and the bad.
Stay with us to find out more about the Weber Genesis II E-315 key features, specifications, performance, and more.
What Is The Weber Smart Grill
Weber Smart Grill with Probe and App
The Weber Smart grill is an extension of their iGrill Bluetooth probe technology, meaning they use probes to sense the meat and relay a signal to your phone through an app.
This monitoring device has two probe outlets as well as a temperature display for the grill.
If you typically use your grill for a simple, quickly prepared food like burgers and hotdogs, you may not want to utilize the Smart functionality.
However, it does give you the ability to cook a variety of foods simultaneously without any hassle or worrying if things are going to overcook or burn.
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Dont Buy Just Anything
So far I have been making the case for why Weber grills are worth the money. However, you should always do a little research before you buy a particular model as there are few products that have missed the mark and, in my opinion, should be avoided.
Specific examples of Weber grills that, to me, are not worth the money include:
- The Summit Series. See Weber Summit 670 Review for details.
- The Smokefire Series. This was just a train wreck.
If you are looking for the absolute best value in the Weber product line then you need to look at the Weber Spirit E 330.
Your Grills Temperature Gauge
Understanding and using your Weber grills temperature gauge is critical to effective grilling. Different meats and foods cook best at different temperatures, so youll want to give your grill the chance to heat properly before you jump into grilling. Weber temperature gauges are designed to be ultra-accurate, giving you real-time information about the internal temperature of your grill. That way youll know exactly when its time to throw on the meat or whatever you happen to be cooking up that day. And of course, these temperature gauges are built to last with highly durable lenses and stainless steel construction.
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Best Budget: Weber Spirit E
| Feature |
|---|
Burners: 3 Burners totaling 30,000 BTU’s | Fuel: LP | Cooking Grates: Porcelain Enameled | Color: Black Only | Capacity: 529 sq. in. Appr. 12 Burgers | Side Burner: No | Rotisserie: No
Weber Spirit E-310 grill has the best price vs performance ratio among all grills on or around $499 price range. This gas bbq is reliable and comes with a 10-year warranty to back up its workmanship.
3 burner design gives you the ability to cook indirectly .
The ignition works with a touch of a button. Make sure to light up burner 1 first to get the gas flowing to the rest of the burners. Although it may not be the most convenient way to start a grill, you can cook with any number of burners on this Weber Spirit bbq.
What this grill is lacking in features, it makes up for with its porcelain enameled grates, and excellent grease management system. Flavorizer bars which are located under the grates minimize flare-ups and help add smoke flavor to your food.
Is Napoleon Better Than Weber
There are not that many significant differences between the two. One the one hand, Napoleon is slightly less expensive and does give you a larger primary cooking area, but the Weber is also great and has some cool features. While they are both easy to use, the Weber will probably suit the beginner better than Napoleon.
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Weber Charcoal And Portable Grills
Image courtesy of Weber
Everything you love about the original Weber charcoal grill available in 18-, 22- and 26-inch bowl sizes is shrunk down to size with the 14-inch Smokey Joe® and 18-inch Jumbo Joe® series of portable charcoal grills.
Image courtesy of Weber
But not so fast. Don’t go anywhere without scoping out Weber’s Go-Anywhere® line of charcoal and gas grills. The rectangular shape will make you look twice, but they’re Webers from top to bottom from the familiar porcelain-enameled lid to the plated steel legs.
Repair And Replacement Parts For Weber Grills
If something goes wrong with your Weber grill, it is very easy to get new parts. The company keeps replacing parts in stock for up to 10 years after a grill has been discontinued.
For some, even longer than that. Commonly used replacement parts, you can find on Weber’s website. If you can’t find them there, you can fill the form so they will find the most suitable location to pick them up.
Since Weber grills are known for their durability, many users buy replacing parts for a purely cosmetic upgrade, but they are surprised at how much nicer their 15 years or 20 years old grill looks after the small change.
Weber also makes repairs easily available at a wide range of service centers, so you don’t need to ship your grill anywhere.
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Upgrade Grill Pick: Weber Genesis Ii E
*At the time of publishing, the price was $780.
The Weber Genesis II E-310 gas grill is also an exceptional performer, and it offers several clever, life-improving design elements that we love. The grates are about 20 percent bigger, too, but overall the Genesis II takes up barely more area than the Spirit II, so theres no appreciable trade-off between the two if your patio space is tight. Essentially, the decision comes down to how youll use your grill: If you often cook for crowds, the Genesis II is worth the extra couple hundred dollars.
Performance-wise, we found the two Weber models nearly identical, with the Spirit just slightly edging the Genesis II on burger-searing performance. And that gap would probably close with a bit more time to learn the Genesis IIs finer points. In terms of materials, the two are almost twins, offering heavy cast-aluminum fireboxes and porcelain-coated cast-iron grates. The Genesis II, however, features a frame made of welded rails, while the Spirit II is made of folded metal . Theyre both sturdy enough, but the Genesis II is appreciably stiffer and more solid-feeling. And we like that it has casters: Its easier to swivel into a corner for storage than the casterless Spirit.
Moving the tank to the outside also frees up space below the grill, which Weber fills with a generous and sturdy storage shelf. Thats a nice feature you can keep trays, grill tools, or even a small cooler there.
Is Weber Worth The Money
Weber grills are definitely not the most affordable thing in the market. The price doesnt stop them from being super popular.
Thats because most of us look for quality products instead of something thats cheap. Weber grills might not fall into the category of affordable but they last you for decades.
If you calculate it by cost peruse, we bet its cheaper than other poorly made girls. You will only need to purchase one grill in your life. So spending a few extra bucks definitely pays off in the end.
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Napoleon Gas Grill Vs Weber
Gas grills are the source of smiles on a sunny summer afternoon. There are many out there to choose from, but Weber and Napoleon are the names you trust.
Weber has been a solid contender for best grills, and you can see them in yards everywhere. Napoleon is the brand that can best give them a run for the money. The brand may not be as popular, but it is certainly as worthy.
There are so many grills in each brand so comparing them all would be nearly impossible. For this section, the most popular gas grills from each brand are compared, to help you decide which is the better option for you when buying a charcoal grill.
For this comparison, the Weber Genesis II and the Napoleon LEX will be used.
- Design and Construction: Weber has a solid and durable construction and cooking grates made from stainless steel. The grill holds up well against corrosion and rust and will last a lifetime with proper care. You also get plenty of space for your tools and lights on the lid to help with grilling at night. The Napoleon is also sturdy and features a sleek, more modern design. However, it is more prone to rust and requires much more frequent maintenance.
