This grill also features a porecelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates, fold down left side shelf, tool hooks and LP tank gauge. Weber is no longer producing our former upgrade pick, the Weber Genesis II E-310. But this model is still available for purchase at big-box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s. For one thing, this grill has an externally mounted propane tank, which is easier to install and replace than traditional, under-grill tanks (like on our current upgrade pick). And this type of tank also frees up the area under the grill for storage of tools and other items. With the Genesis II E-310, we didn’t notice a significant upgrade in performance over that of the Spirit II E-310.
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 weber spirit 2 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.
With the E-310 models, however, the Spirit II has a lower BTU of 30,000 as against the 32,000 of the Spirit series. This difference is insignificant and does not affect the performance of both grills though. An introductory line of offering, the grills under this series comes with the iconic GS4 grilling, ignition, 10-year warranty, and flavorizer bars that prevent flare-ups.
With a generous grilling space and features consistent and superior temperature control and is designed to be roomy and self-sufficient at the same time. These grills are backed by a longer warranty than the Spirit grills weber spirit 2 but have fewer models available. Another limitation with the Spirit II is models in this series do not come with side burners. We cooked a grillfull of pre-made one-third pound hamburgers on high with the lid down.
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.
But we are saying that if you do, the warranty and customer service are absolutely worth the small premium you pay for Weber grills over cheaper brands. We wish the bars of the Spirit II E-310’s warming racks ran front to back, parallel to the main grates, like they do on our upgrade pick, the Genesis E-325s. That way, you could easily slide a spatula under stuff that’s warming. As it is, the warming-rack bars run edge to edge, and you have to awkwardly jimmy a spatula in there sideways. The gas tank mounts externally (see the top photo in this section), instead of in a cabinet underneath the grill, as is typical (such as on the previous-generation Spirit).
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.
Along with all its other upgrades, the Spirit II allows for a better warranty than the Spirit. While the Spirit series grills are backed by a 10-year warranty, the Spirit II covers its grills with a whopping 10-year comprehensive warranty and wins hands-down in this department. Wheels in the Spirit series come in a set of 4 that allows the grills to move both back and front, and side to side. More importantly, these wheels can be locked to keep your grill in place. The Spirit II comes in an improved design, with 2 wheels that are bigger and thicker.