Among the competition in our 2017 test, the Napoleon model in particular had noticeable cool spots toward the front of its grates. After 10 minutes, the burgers at the rear were medium-well and those at the front were medium-rare to medium . On the Napoleon grill, on the other hand, some of the front burgers were nearly raw in the center, while the rear burgers were well-done.
Porcelain-enameled cooking grates also come standard with grills in the E series. If the unit in question has an S before the number, the cooking grates will be made of stainless steel. This is true of both the original line and the updated version. One of the best ways to test a grill’s capabilities is setting it up for two-zone grilling. Indirect cooking relies on getting the temperature to hold at specific points, whether it’s just to cook a chicken breast through or the hours-long process of cooking pork butt.
Its skin was as leathery as a football and the flesh inside was watery, mushy and thoroughly unappetizing. Brian Bennett is a senior writer for the home and outdoor section at CNET. He reviews a wide range of household and smart-home products.
Like most gas grills, the Genesis II E-310 scores big in this category. The two-tone gray exterior with that enameled black lid definitely looks the part of a premium grill. If it could talk, it would say, “Well, hello there,” where many grills are saying, “Wazzup! ” The bottom line — it looks like a barbecue for a serious griller. Indirect portable bbq cooking wasn’t quite as good on the larger, four-burner Weber Genesis II LX S-440, $1,600, but preheating, evenness, and cooking at very low and very high temperatures were impressive. • The propane tank has been relocated to the right side of the grill, making it easier to change, and two of the four casters have been replaced by wheels.
Both grills have porcelain-coated cast iron grates and a swing-away warming rack, but Weber has a bit more primary cooking area . Weber offers more BTUs , but Char-Broil adds an infrared heat emitter, which heats objects, not the air around it—a very efficient way to heat food evenly. As you move into a more premium price point, the Weber Genesis II E-435 is a popular premium option. The Spirit line of grills does not have representative products in the same size category.
After size, you have a choice of side burners, cabinet fronts, Sear Station, and stainless vs. porcelain grates in either series. Now, no series of grills are best for every type of grilling, so you will also see a comparison between Genesis and other grill types like charcoal, pellet, weber q and pro grills. This series has decent sizes in three or four burners, good burner output, and is built to last longer than other competitive grills. The Weber Genesis II E-310 is your best bet for the superior grilling experience that only the best outdoor grills offer.
The two Stainless Steel Side Tables give you plenty of space to keep your food, seasonings, and tools within arms reach. You can hang tools on the hooks attached to the side table, freeing up additional table space. Additional charges for installation and accessories apply and are not included in the white glove delivery charge.
With the Genesis II line, Weber has attempted to ramp up the quality of their products. In addition to updating the overall design, they’ve made the burners and ignition systems more efficient. Sit back and relax or focus on preparing side dishes while the Genesis II LX S-340’s GS4 grilling system takes care of the rest. Each burner puts out about 13,000 BTUs each per hour, for a total of 26,000 BTUs, which is consistent with the single-burner output of the three- and four-burner Genesis grills. But the more burners, the more BTUs, and the faster the grill heats up.
Same for assembly that requires lots of screws and bolts, or screws and bolts of multiple sizes. Even absent those problems, a simply bad design can make assembly needlessly difficult. And poorly finished parts can have dangerously sharp edges—sharp enough to cause a nasty cut.