Weber covers all parts on the Spirit II E-210 for 10 years, excluding normal wear and tear. For our 2022 update, we relied mainly on market research and meta-analysis. Most new grills worth considering are still produced by the same companies whose products we’ve tested in previous years. And with each new version of the models we’re familiar with, the most important characteristics—such as quality of materials and construction—are the same. We spoke again with Joe Salvaggio of Big Apple BBQ about the newest models, and we examined our main contenders in person at Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Bering’s in Houston. If you want to use a wood pellet grill, you’ll definitely get great-tasting food, though you’ll have to plan in advance to have pellets on hand.
A good gas grill should last a decade or more, provided you clean it after every use and protect it from the elements. Weber, which makes all three of the grills we recommend, guarantees all parts on its Spirit II series for 10 years. So we expect our top and budget picks to hold up for at least that long.
And one of our guide writers, Lesley, owned the Spirit II E-210 for years before passing it off to a friend (to make room for long-term testing the Genesis II E-310). She recounts that the Spirit II E-210 held consistent temperature across the cooking grate, and flare-ups were never an issue. Among those 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 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.
With the Genesis II E-310, we didn’t notice a significant upgrade in performance over that of the Spirit II E-310. In fact, the Genesis II E-310 didn’t sear our burgers as darkly as the Spirit II E-310 did. As for maintenance, the Spirit E-310’s flat grates were easy to keep clean with a grill brush, and its grease trap was easy to access for dumping and washing.
It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but we’re being totally honest, few people actually need to use side burners or fancy thermometers. If you want to grill a few burgers on a sunny afternoon, this grill will get them cooked with no fuss. Serious, dedicated hobbyists might find it a little lacking, but for almost everyone else, this grill is the benchmark.
We also sent popular Weber grills to our expert grillers and home product testers, who tried each out with meats, including steak and burgers, vegetables, and more, to determine which grills are truly the best. Each grill was rated on setup, heat retention, heat weber bbq control, size, versatility, and overall value. Our testers then offered additional insights on each grill’s strengths and weaknesses. With porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates, you’ll get excellent heat retention and easy cleanup, as we’ve seen during tests.