Flaws But Not Dealbreakers
We wish Weber would take a cue from some competitors and make the bars of its warming racks run front to back, parallel to the main grates. That way, you could easily slide a spatula under stuff thats warming. As it is, the warming-rack bars run edge to edge, and you have to awkwardly jimmy a spatula in there sideways.
The Spirit II E-310 should come with a grill cover. It doesnt, nor did any grill in our test group. Youll need to buy one separately; Webers dedicated Spirit II cover costs about $55, and a well-regarded generic cover costs about $20.
The Bottom Line: If You’re Looking For A Weber Gas Grill:
- The Spirit is the perfect grill for those on a budget. These cookers are designed for folks who need a grill for summertime fun and love cooking entrees like burgers, steaks, and kabobs outdoors.
- The Genesis offers more features at a moderate price. If you’re interested in grilling entire meals all from your backyard, explore the fully-outfitted Genesis models.
- If you’re ready to make a serious investment in a barbecue, The Summit is the model for you. These models are for those looking to flex their grilling muscles, and who want to experience everything that outdoor cooking has to offer.
New Weber Genesis Ii Smart Grills
SX-335 – $1,299 | EX-335 – $1,199 | EX-315 – $999
First, any grill can be a Smart grill using the Weber iGrill App. The iGrill uses wireless meat probes to sense the inside temperature of your food.
Weber was at the forefront of Smart technology, and it is “Smart.”
You can receive alerts to flip that burger or remove the food from your grill right off your phone.
Weber has recipes and other grilling ideas as well.
For the Smart grills, the iGrill is built-in, and you can see the temperature right on the grill and the app.
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Weber Grills Industrial History
Somewhere in the 1950s, the founder of Weber Grills, George Stephen Sr. worked as an employee in the sales department of Weber Brothers Metal Works. This was a company that his father with a few of his friends operated at the time.
A Weber grill is known for its domed shape which is believed to give the best possible shape. This shape and the first grill itself date back to Weber Brothers Metal Works itself. The company was founded somewhere in the late 1890s. It was based in Chicago and manufactured a large variety of metal products. It produced metal products like hinges, wagons, cylinders and so on.
At the time, George Stephen Sr. had an inventive mind that was always teeming to experiment with different kinds of metals and making new shapes out of it. Stephen was very fond of grilling and barbecuing and so was his growing family which included 12 children.
In earlier times, the popular design of the grill was the open brazier that worked on charcoal or some other kind of coal. This appliance used a metal tray or mesh to hold the coals in place. The real problem of the grills was that the top half was left open. This meant that the food was left vulnerable to the weather.
Genesis Silver A / B / C
Older Silver Grills had an open cart
2004 – Silver was placed on the emblem. These grills had a center mounted hood thermometer. They had plastic shelves on the left side of the grill and control knobs to the right.
2005 The Silver series had a closed cart, plastic left side shelf and a center mounted heat thermometer. The A has 2 stainless steel burners. The B and C – Three Burner Grill. The difference between the B and the C is the B had no side-burner and the C included side burner attached to the right of the control panel
2007-2010
Control Knobs were on the Side.
The 310 featured 3 main burners and the 320 has 3 main burners and a side burner
2007: E/S 310, 320 – The E has an emailed hood with an enclosed cart with corresponding painted steel doors with stainless steel trim, porcelain cast iron cooking grates and porcelain steel flavorizer bars while the S has a stainless hood, stainless cooking grates and stainless flavorizer bars.
2008,2009E/S/EP 310, 320 The EP was a special edition grill that had an enameled hood but included stainless cooking grids and Flavorizer bars. This series was offered to specialty alliance dealers.
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How Do You Sear A Weber Grill
Once the grill has been pre-heated its time to light the Sear Station. For Summit models, turn the outer burners to off or to low, and then light the Sear Station. For Genesis models, turn the right burner to off or low, and then light the Sear Station. Now its time to put the food to be seared onto the Sear Station.
Still Cant Find Your Model/serial Number
If you still cant find the model/serial number sticker on your grill, you may be able to review our collection of Weber Product Catalogs;to;determine an approximate model year or range of years. Its for reasons like this that you should always register your grill online or by phone with Weber Customer Service after purchase.
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What Is The Best Grill Cover
Here are some of the best grill covers by category.
- BEST OVERALL: Classic Accessories 55-338-371501-00 Veranda Cover.
- RUNNER UP: VicTsing Grill Cover, 58-Inch.
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Char-Broil 3-4 Burner Large Basic Grill Cover.
- BEST WATERPROOF: iCOVER Grill Cover 50in, 600D Heavy Duty Waterproof.
What Is A Smart Grill
A Smart Grill is a grill that uses app-connected technology that allows you to monitor food temperatures, get alerts and control the grill .
Pellet grills tend to be the most advanced of grills ahead of gas and charcoal overall in this space. Lynx was the first reputable gas grill manufacturer to release a smart gas grill. While the Lynx Smart Grill has great capabilities, it is not in the conversation for most consumers due to the high price point.
Webers Smart Grills come in at much more modest price points in line with what you find with Webers grill lineup. Webers version of a Smart Grill incorporates their Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub technology into the grill.
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Question: How Do I Identify My Weber Grill Model
The serial number consists of one or two letters found on the lid damper, plus the bar code containing 5 or 6 numbers, located under the control panel. Located in the upper right-hand corner of owners manual. Older units had a bar code underneath the stainless steel charbin cover.
Meet The Weber Flavorizer Bars
Most of Webers grills include an impressive feature that they call Flavorizer bars, which serve a dual function thats critical for your safety, grilling experience and overall flavor of your food. These bars lay underneath the cooking grate, between the grate and the burners, and catch excess oil or grease that drips from the food you cook. Not only does this keep the oil or grease from falling into the flames and igniting, which could be a hazard, but the oil evaporates back up into your cooking ingredients, injecting them with even more flavor.
The Flavorizer bars are one of our favorite features of Weber grills, and theyre part of what sets apart Weber grills from other products and manufacturers.
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Why Buy A Weber Genesis Ii Series Grill
You shop at Yale for brand selection.
For example, you can choose between 14 different dishwasher brands and see 100 wall ovens in our three stores.
However, we only sell one grill brand, between $379 and $2,799 – Weber.
We have tried the most competitive brands. However, since we use these grills in demonstrations and leave them outside, many cannot handle a New England winter.
Others do not perform as their specs and marketing indicate.
I mentioned our chef placing her hand in the middle of an operating grill to show the cold spot. That is not a grill you would want in your house. Most stores probably would not even let you return it.
Weber is designed well on the outside with stainless steel, hard plastic, and enameled finishes to survive a New England winter for many years.
Be careful what you buy. Most grills aren’t designed to last.
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
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Best Overall Electric: Weber Q 1400 Electric Grill
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Durable and easy to transport
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Quick assembly
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Cast iron cooking grates help retain heat
For an electric grill that performs great wherever there is a power outlet, choose the Q1400 from Weber. This compact but mighty electric grill delivers great flavor and doesnt require propane or charcoal.
Instead, plug the unit into an electrical outlet, adjust the temperature setting, and then get ready to grill. The key to using the Q1400 successfully is to wait a sufficient amount of time for the grill to come to temperature. Once you do, people find that the 189 square inches of cooking space can handle the grilling needs of anywhere from one person to four or moredepending on what youre cooking up. This is the smaller of Webers two electric grill models, but if you dont absolutely need the extra space, the smaller Q1400 has been found to have faster heat recovery.
With porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates, youll get excellent heat retention and easy cleanup. The Weber Q1400 is a great choice if you live in a condo or other small space where the use of gas and charcoal grills may be restricted or if you want an easy-to-use unit that only needs to be plugged in.
Dimensions: 14.5 x 27 x 16.5 inches | TotalCooking Area: 189square inches | Type: electric
“We were super pleased with these grates, as they gave us drool-worthy sear marks during different grill sessions.” Michelle Piccolo, Product Tester
Why You Should Trust Us
Before opening the valve on a single propane tank, we spoke with more than a dozen experts.
Joe Salvaggio of Big Apple BBQ spent two hours explaining the fundamentals of gas-grill design, function, materials, and maintenance. Joe and his brother Tony have run Big Apple BBQ, one of the New York regions leading grill shops, for over 30 years. The store carries grills from multiple manufacturers, ranging from $400 backyard portables to five-figure custom built-ins. Because Salvaggio is an independent retailer, he was able to speak freely about what he saw as the relative strengths and weaknesses of various designs.
At the 2017 Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo, we interviewed senior product managers from almost every major grill-maker in attendance, including all the brands that wound up featured in our test: Weber, Broil King, and Napoleon. We spoke with multiple makers of high-end grills, too, as they predominate at HPBE. Though we wouldnt be testing their grills, we felt that knowing what goes into making a $4,000 grill helped us evaluate the less expensive grills in our test.
We backed this reporting with comprehensive researchthe in-depth, professional reviews at AmazingRibs.com being a standout sourceand hands-on time with grills at the big hardware chains.
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Best Performance: Weber Summit S
| Feature |
|---|
Burners: 6 Burners totaling 60,000 BTU’s | Fuel: LP | Cooking Grates: 9 mm Stainless Steel | Color: Stainless Steel, Black | Capacity: 769 sq. in. | Side Burner: Yes, 12,000 BTU | Rotisserie: Yes, Infrared 10,600 BTU | Smoker Box: Yes, 6,800 BTU
If youre looking for the best of the best, the uncontested champion of all things grilling, then brace yourself and meet the Summit S-670 with an awe-inspiring six powerful burners and simply massive 838 square inches of total cooking area, all in a space-age stainless steel body. While it wont literally rocket you into the stratosphere, the grilling capabilities packed into this gorgeous bbq will certainly make you feel like youve broken free from gravity.
Stainless steel flavorizer bars, stainless steel cooking grates, a bonus side burner, a patented Snap-Jet burner ignition system , and built-in lighting round out the flagship Weber model. The Weber Summit comes with a infrared rotisserie which emits close to 11,000 BTU heat.
The build quality of Weber Summit grills is legendary. Assembly requirements are minimum. You simply need to place the hood and slide the sides into their respective position, snap-on the casters and you are ready to go.
Simple Steps For How To Identify Your Weber Gas Grill
If you do not know your model or series of your Weber grill, you can always collect some information by either measuring the grill parts or by identifying certaincharacteristics of your grill.
Here are some things to look for in order to identify thetype of Weber grill you have:
1. Locate your Serial Number
There will be an information sticker on your Weber;grill that will have your model and serial;number
Weber serial number location :
All Weber Grills have the serial number located on the owners manual. If you should not have your manual, follow these guidelines below. Also you can email us a picture of your grill and we can figure it out.
Cant find it? Here are thepossible placements of the serial number on your grill .;
Your serial number will begin with 2 letters and 5 or 6 numbers following:
Spirit 2007-2017
- Before 2013 – On the bottom panel
- After 2013 – Also on the manifold.
Spirit II
- Inside face of the left side panel and on the manifold.
Genesis 1-5
- Inside of the tank panel or under the control panel.
Genesis 1000-5500, Spirit & Platinum
- Under of the control panel
Genesis Silver, Gold, Platinum
- Right side of control panel.
Genesis Silver, Gold, Platinum SWE
- Inside of tank panel.
- Located on the right side panel next to the drip tray.
Genesis II / Genesis II LX
- Rear Frame and manifold
- Outside of the right louvered panel and on manifold.
Summit 2007-2017
- Toward the bottom of inside the cabinet on the Left side panel.
Summit 2007-2008 Built-Ins
- Back side frame
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Where Are Weber Grills Made
The Weber Grills are headquartered in the United States. The Headquarters of the company are in Palatine, Illinois. This long-run family business historically manufactured grills and their accessories in the United States. However, ever since the BDT contract in 2010, the question on everyoneâs mind is: are the products still manufactured in the United States or not?
Even though the Weber Grills are headquartered in the United States and their primary functioning is carried out in Illinois, their products are not entirely made in the United States. This is because many of the parts that go into making the grills are imported from other countries that go into making the grills.
In fact, the Weber Grills have even faced court action and trial back in 2012 when they claimed to have made their products in the USA. The âmade in the USAâ stamp on their products was under fire as their grill components are imported from other countries and the consumers felt misled.
The newer Weber models are made in China as the parts are made there and then imported to be assembled in the USA with the rest of the parts. Even their labels now read âMade in the United States of America with some globally sourced parts and components.â While some other products are completely made in China or some are completely built using globally sourced components.
Best Weber Genesis Ii Series Grills For 2021
For 2021, the “Most Popular” should also be synonymous with ” the most available.” Finding a Weber will be a challenge this year.
- Main Burners: Btu-per-hour Input: 39,000
- Dimensions – Lid Open : 62″H X 59″W X 31″D
- Dimensions – Lid Closed : 47″H X 59″W X 29″D
- Primary Cooking Area : 513
- Tuck-away Warming Rack Area : 156
- Total Cooking Area : 669
- Stainless Steel Burners: 3
- Fuel Type: Liquid Propane
The E-310 is Weber’s base Genesis grill with an open cart, enamel grates, and no sear or side burner. It is available in a three burner at 39,000 BTU or the E-410, four burners at 48,000 BTU.
- Main Burners: Btu-per-hour Input 39,000
- Dimensions – Lid Open : 62″H X 59″W X 31″D
- Dimensions – Lid Closed : 47″H X 59″W X 29″D
- Primary Cooking Area : 513
- Tuck-away Warming Rack Area : 156
- Total Cooking Area : 669
- Stainless Steel Burners: 3
- Fuel Type: Liquid Propane
Although the output is the same at 39,000 BTU, the S model features a stainless body and grates and a closed cart.
- IGrill 3 Compatible
- Built-in Lid Thermometer
- Infinity Ignition
- Stainless Steel Flavorizer Bars
- Main Burners: Btu-per-hour Input: 39,000
- Sear Station Burner: Btu-per-hour Input: 9,000
- Side Burner: Btu-per-hour: 12,000
- Dimensions – Lid Open : 62″H X 59″W X 31″D
- Dimensions – Lid Closed : 47″H X 59″W X 29″D
- Primary Cooking Area : 513
- Tuck-away Warming Rack Area : 156
- Total Cooking Area : 669
- Stainless Steel Burners: 3
- Fuel Type: Liquid Propane
- Side Tables: 2
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