We cooked a full grate of burgers on high heat and chicken pieces at a low temperature. We also roasted whole chickens indirectly on both low and high heat to see whether the grills could create browned skin and perfectly cooked meat without charring. In 2018 we repeated these tests, with the then-new Weber Spirit II E-310 and our upgrade pick at the time, the Weber Genesis II E-310 (predecessor weber charcoal grill to our current upgrade pick). When fresh air and the sear on a juicy grilled burger combine, it’s pure warm-weather delight. To help you keep the good vibes (and food) going, we’ve hunted for gas grills that are durable, easy to clean, and simple to control. After cooking burgers, barbecue, and chicken on seven top-rated grills—and researching dozens more—we recommend the Weber Spirit II E-310.
Wondering which fuel is best, how to clean a bbq or after beginner’s advice? It’s easier to build and more reliable, igniting without fuss every time. The food it makes is better, and depending on sales, it costs $200 less. It has 10,000 five-start reviews on Home Depot, so you know it’s not just me who loves this grill.
Lesley Stockton is a senior staff writer reporting on all things cooking and entertaining for Wirecutter. Her expertise builds on a lifelong career in the culinary world—from a restaurant cook and caterer to a food editor at Martha Stewart. She is perfectly happy to leave all that behind to be a full-time kitchen-gear nerd. Check the grease trap after every use (or before every use), and don’t let it get too full.
We noted that it takes a little trial and error to get the grill where you want it to be, and while it wasn’t a top performer, it still might be a worthwhile option if you’re looking for something small and inexpensive. If you can afford to spend a bit more, we recommend our Best Budget option, the Weber Spirit II E Burner Gas Grill. While its spec sheet is nothing to scoff at, we were equally impressed with the performance of this grill. It started up easily thanks to its electronic ignition system, and the heat was easy to adjust using the four knobs on the front of the unit. During testing, we found that the flame was very responsive to the dials from high all the way down to low.
After 45 minutes, we flipped the chicken parts, slathered on a coating of barbecue sauce, and closed the lid for another 15 minutes. Throughout, we monitored the grills’ temperatures according to their built-in thermometers; the goal was a steady hold at 375 °F with little or no burner adjustment. When it came to testing, the Genesis E-325S proved that it’s worth its high price tag. This grill could cook anything, and it has a large capacity, so cooking multiple things that need different attention is a huge draw. There weren’t any noticeable hot spots across the cooking grates, and we found the “sear zone” delivered a crispy outer texture on meat. We were also impressed with the overall construction of the grill, noting that it could easily last for 10 years if taken care of properly.
That’s not necessarily a problem in itself, because you can oil iron grates and season them as you would a cast-iron skillet. But if they were originally porcelain-coated (as is the case on our top pick and budget pick), you may end up with chips of porcelain in your food, and that’s not a good thing. Again, you can replace grates with factory parts or third-party alternatives. Finally, be aware that a few parts of a grill are consumables, so you will need to replace them occasionally. The burner hoods (metal “tents” that sit over the burners and guide grease away from the flames to prevent flare-ups) are usually the first to go.