Millions come to AmazingRibs.com every month for high quality tested recipes, tips on technique, science, mythbusting, product reviews, and inspiration. But it is expensive to run a website with more than 2,000 pages and we don’t have a big corporate partner to subsidize us. A member of our Pitmaster Club had a good question, “How do I know I’m getting the revised Genesis II? The previous Genesis II line didn’t have any models with a sear burner. Lastly, per Weber, serial numbers on the 2019 models start with AE or GU.
What I love about this grill is the cooking grate that is made from 7mm stainless steel rods. The rods are extremely easy to clean and food does not stick to them as much as the cast iron grates on other grills. The Genesis II is powered by stainless steel burners that get more narrow towards the back of the grill.
For the Genesis II units, Weber has shortened the shroud and widened the footprint, giving the units has a more graceful appearance. There are also two large wheels affixed to the legs on the right-hand side, which makes the grills easier to maneuver. You can spend a few hundred dollars less and get a two-burner propane grill that does the job, but it won’t last as long as a Weber. In the end, it makes sense to pay a bit more upfront and avoid having to pay more later for replacement parts or a whole new grill. For sheer reliability, ease of use, and built-to-last longevity, Weber comes out on top. A metal rack inside the grill acts as a warming rack, which we found perfect for warming buns for our burgers or to keep sausages warm while we grilled peppers and onions.
But charcoal takes time to light, and you have to be comfortable with moving around coals and fiddling with vents to control the grill’s heat. The now-discontinued Char-Broil Advantage 3-Burner Gas Grill from Lowe’s met the low expectations we set upon seeing its sub-$200 price. It cooked burgers acceptably, but to get an even cook we had to shuffle the patties around from hot spots to cool spots. Unable to keep a steady low temperature, it burned the barbecue chicken. To this grill’s credit, it made a nice indirect-roasted chicken—but then again, every tested grill did.
There’s been a lot of commentary about how the new lids look shorter than the 2016 models. They do look squat in person…a member of TVWBB says the grate to lid height is 1″ shorter than 2016 models.On 2- and 3-burner models, the work surface on the left side folds down……and folds up. It felt a bit cheesy to me.Tool hooks are hidden on the end of the left work surface. It took two hands to get both ends of the rack aligned with the brackets in order to lock in place.
Weber offers a rotisserie kit for purchase that is compatible with the Genesis II E-310. When you use this kit, you do not have to ignite the center burner; rather, you use the left and right burners for indirect heat. This keeps your chicken juicy while cooking it to the appropriate temperature. This stainless steel gas grill is sturdily built, with thick-gauge steel used in the firebox.
Models of this version will remain in stores for a few months, but once they are gone, this grill will not be available. For the latest versions of weber genesis 2 this grill see my article on the Weber Genesis Gas Grill for 2022. You don’t seem to have purchased this product yet to be able to leave a review.
All of the Char-Broil SmartChef grill’s technology comes built-in. For a hundred dollars less ($899) you can buy the Weber Genesis II E 325s. This grill has the same size, warranty, etc as the 310 but includes the Sear Zone. The E 325 is made of porcelain enameled steel and is available in Black or Copper. In terms of both looks and performance, the Weber Genesis II E-310 gas grill packs a punch.
She is perfectly happy to leave all that behind to be a full-time kitchen-gear nerd. If a burner seems to be running cool or creates patchy flames, use a thin piece of wire to clean out the gas ports, the little holes. There’s nothing inside the burners to break, so don’t feel like you have to be delicate. The entire Spirit II line interfaces with Weber’s iGrill 3 “smart” thermometer ; however, as with a lot of “smart” gear, we’re not sold on it.
The open cart makes it easy to access this pan, and if there’s any build-up, just remove it with a plastic scraper. If you’re used to the empty soup tin weber q hanging under the firebox, this will seem revolutionary. One point we are always stressing is the importance of owning a good digital probe thermometer.