A dedicated rotisserie burner is usually located on the back of the firebox, slightly above the cooking grates; some models use the grill’s main burner(s). This feature allows you to roast meat (a whole chicken, for example) very evenly, yielding a flavor that some people prefer to that of grilled food. Spirit II has four legs, two wheels and a lower open-air storage rack. Spirit II continues to be a solid, dependable tool for aspiring backyard pitmasters and pitmistresses.
With side tables for placing serving trays and spices, the Spirit II adds convenience and simplicity to everyday life, and nobody left hungry. With its excellent GS4 grilling system, tech-friendly twist (with the iGrill 3) better warranty options and compact footprint, grilling becomes a lot more versatile. Having said that, regardless of which model you choose, with Weber you can expect nothing less than the best grilling experience. If you’re interested in the Weber Spirits it is probably worth checking out the differences of the Spirit to the Genesis series as well.
This grill has ample amount of cooking space for smaller crowds and families. This grill also features a porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates, fold down left side shelf, tool hooks and LP tank gauge. In 2021, Weber introduced a line of smart grills that we chose not to test. The app also has recipes and a step-by-step feature that sends alerts to your phone when it’s time to tend to your food. All of these extra gadgets require power, and the Genesis Smart Grill takes 10 batteries. The Wi-Fi module alone uses six D batteries, but there is an option to power that part (and only that part) with a power bank.
In fact, the Genesis II E-310 didn’t sear our burgers as darkly as the Spirit II E-310 did. That’s okay, though—this grill is an exceptional performer, period. This led us to surmise that the smaller Spirit model concentrates the burners’ heat better. We had no issues with the meat sticking to the flat, porcelain-coated iron grates. And we had no problems with flare-ups, the grease fires that produce charring and acrid smoke. In spring 2017, we kicked off this grill guide by putting six gas grills through a battery of tests.
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.
Though there’s no debating that, some experts argue that lump charcoal (not briquettes, which can have added chemicals) is potentially carbon neutral. If you want to read more about char broil performance comparing grilling fuels, we found helpful articles from The Atlantic, Slate, and NPR. Check the grease trap after every use (or before every use), and don’t let it get too full.