Joe and his brother Tony have run Big Apple BBQ, one of the New York region’s leading grill shops, for over 30 years. Because Salvaggio is an independent retailer who carries grills from many manufacturers, he was able to speak freely about what he saw as the relative strengths and weaknesses of various designs. This two-burner grill is great for grilling novices or folks with limited space. However, it lacks some of the versatility—and heat output—of our other picks. Typical to grills in the Spirit series, the Spirit E-210 is a perfect entry point to the grilling game for newbies. With a compact frame, and simply excellent features that are easy to work with, this grill is excellent value for money.
This is a grill that will stand the test of time to give you enjoyable BBQs for years to come. Use the side tables to keep platters, seasonings, and tools within arm’s reach while the food is cooking. Hang your essential grilling tools on the hooks for easy access and organization of your backyard weber spirit 2 workspace. As mentioned, the grates have been designed to be easy to clean. As long as you use a cleaning brush to dust them off after every cooking session, they should remain as good as new. Remember to avoid using too much pressure or harsh tools or you may risk chipping the coating.
The Spirit II E-310’s overall compact size (helped by a fold-down side table) suits almost any patio or deck. And yet its grilling surface is big enough to cook a complete meal for a family or a dozen burgers for a party. With a thick cast-aluminum firebox, this model will last for years. (Weber’s warranty covers all parts for a full decade—among the best coverage in the industry.) For decades, the company has refined the Spirit’s design, too. This version includes an easily accessible externally mounted propane tank and an under-grill shelf.
The really important part is that the entire heat-delivery system—the firebox, burners, and burner hoods—has a much greater effect on the overall results of your food. And all those elements are of the same great quality we’ve consistently seen on Weber grills. The Weber Spirit II E-310 provides the unrivaled Blackstone Adventure combination of top-notch grilling performance, a versatile three-burner design, durability, and a relatively affordable price. It excelled at every test, producing the best sear on our burgers of any grill, and equaling or outdoing the others in our tests involving barbecue chicken and whole roasted chickens.
But unlike the Spirit II E-310, the Genesis sits on a closed cart (equipped with double doors) that glides on four casters for easier mobility. If you’re looking for a big grill that has a larger cooking area and more fire power, consider the Weber Genesis E-325s. Compared with our pick, the Spirit II E-310, the entire Genesis E-325s is almost a foot longer, and its cooking area is about 20% larger, easily accommodating 15 burger patties at a time. Instead of having porcelainized cast-iron grates (like those on the Spirit grills and previous generations of the Genesis), the grates on the Genesis E-325s are made from thick, stainless steel rods. The stainless steel grates could create slightly lighter sear marks on your food than cast iron would deliver, but the difference should hardly be noticeable. The Genesis E-325s also has a foldable upper rack that extends the length of the main cooking grate and expands to be 11 inches deep.
We assume the four other batteries power the igniter, LED lights, and fuel gauge. Both of the 210 grills have the exact same cooking area (360 sq in primary + 90 secondary), heat output (26,500 BTU/hr) and porcelain enameled cast iron grates. Despite their similarities the Spirit II grills are a serious upgrade from the standard Spirit grills.
Sam Sifton, then food editor of The New York Times, also joined in the testing and added his extensive knowledge. In 2018, we tested Weber’s new Spirit II E-310—successor to our previous pick, the first-gen Spirit E-310—against our upgrade pick for the best gas grill. Open your door to the world of grilling with the sleek Spirit II E-210 gas grill.
The temperature gauge is easy to use and is great for ensuring that you choose as precise of a setting as you desire. What I am impressed about here is the GS4 grilling system, of which, the infinity ignition system is a major function. Essentially, it ensures that the grill lights up faster and I have to say, this feature works like a charm.