Why You Should Trust Us
When we first started working on this guide, back in 2017, we spoke with more than a dozen experts before opening the valve on a single propane tank.
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 regions 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.
At the 2017 Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo, we interviewed senior product managers from almost every major grill-maker in attendance, including several brands that wound up being featured in our test: Weber, Broil King, and Napoleon. We also spoke with multiple makers of high-end grills. Though we wouldnt be testing their grills, we found that understanding what goes into making a $4,000 grill helped us evaluate the less expensive grills in our test.
We backed this reporting with comprehensive researchthe in-depth, professional reviews at AmazingRibs.com being a standout sourceand with hands-on time with grills at the big hardware chains.
How Do You Put A Backyard Grill Together
Be aware of your surroundings
Avoid setting up the grill directly outside the back door, especially if kids are running in and out of the house. Always place grills on a flat, clean surface away from any potentially flammable debris such as rubbish bins or mulch. The same goes for low-lying trees and hedges.
Weber And Nexgrill Both Bring Smart Technology To The Gas Grill
As grilling technology has improved, it appears that most of that development goes towards pellet grills. Well, both Weber and Nexgrill decided to share the wealth with their gas grill lines. Weber introduced the CONNECT system, compatible with the new 2022 Genesis line as well as the Spirit SX-315 that well discuss later.
Nexgrill got into the smart gas grill game with the Neevo series of smart gas grills. Well be taking a look at the Neevo 720 later in the breakdown so you can see how theyve done.
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How Do You Light A Charcoal Grill
Theres no button to presslighting a charcoal grill takes a little bit of finesse and practice. “The most effective way is with a charcoal chimney,” says Bennett. “Take a piece of paper towel or newsprint, crumble it up with some canola oil or olive oil, and you have an all-natural starter, without any chemicals.” She advises against using lighter fluid”the less chemicals the better”plus it will impart a nasty chemical flavor on anything it touches.
Just add that bunched-up, fill the chimney with charcoal, and light the newspaper. Take the top grate of your grill off, set the chimney down in the grill, and youll be ready for steaks, veggie burgers, and whatever else youre grilling.
Flaws But Not Dealbreakers

We wish the bars of the Spirit II E-310s 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 thats warming. As it is, the warming-rack bars run edge to edge, and you have to awkwardly jimmy a spatula in there sideways.
The Spirit II E-310 should come with a grill cover. This one doesnt, nor did any grill in our test group, so youll need to buy one separately. Webers dedicated Spirit II cover costs about $80, and a well-regarded generic cover costs about $30 .
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Your Call Your Choice
The best grill depends on what you consider the most important in your choice of the grill. Considering the main factors of an efficient grill like price, heating output, durability, and searing performance, Weber emerges as a clear winner of the two of them.
Webers long experience in the grilling game has led to insight-driven, thoughtful products that might be priced higher than their peers in the market, but is the best value for your money. Keep in mind resale values of these grills. Maybe in 5 years you want to upgrade to a larger model or Weber has something brand new. Youll have a much easier time selling your used Weber grill vs Nexgrill. Its premium quality products produce consistent results and can stick around for years with just a little upkeep. Speaking of upkeep, checkout our article on how to clean a gas grill.
Webers quality is a testament to the majority of positive reviews we hear around its products, and customers willingly switch to, or loyally staying with the brand over years.
Hope we helped you decide between these two grills. We have more Weber comparisons here.
Weber Customer Service W/overnight Parts
Weber grill makers are confident that once you receive your grill, youll have everything you need to get cooking. But Weber knows that over the course of your grilling, problems or questions may arise that require some outside expertise.
Thats why the Weber customer support line is open fourteen hours a day, seven days a week, for nearly every day of the year. That means theres never a bad time for grilling, which means that you can always count on Weber to be there to answer all your questions.
But what about if you lose a part? Theres nothing more frustrating than having to wait for a reordered part that takes days or even weeks to arrive. Thats why Weber will overnight any part you order so that you can have it with you, ready to grill, the very next day. Weber wants you to get out and grill, not sit and wait by the door for days wishing you could throw some steaks on your barbecue.
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Stainless Steel Vs Porcelain Enamel Grates
Your grill grate is the very surface where youll lay down your precious meats and other grill ingredients, so the way its made as well as the materials it is made from matter a great deal. Generally, there are three kinds of grates in quality grills: stainless steel, pure cast iron, and porcelain-enameled cast iron. Whats the difference? Lets find out.
How Is A Nexgrill Different From A Weber Grill
As means of a reference lets consider the Nexgrill Evolution 2-Burner and the Weber Spirit II E-210. These represent the closest means of comparison between the 2 brands. We will be considering heat output, durability, technology, performance, design, price, and maintenance as factors.
Heat Output
- Based on heat output, the Nexgrill carries a total of 28,000 BTUs of searing power as against 26,500 BTUs by Weber. This difference is negligible.
Cooking space
- Nexgrill features a total cooking area of 450 sq. in. . Weber also covers 450 sq. in. of total cooking area that includes a warming rack of 95 sq. in. Though the dimensions are almost the same, Weber is sleeker when compared to the stocky build of the Nexgrill.
Cooking performance
- Weber uses higher quality grill grates and heat shields which leads to more consistent temperature zones and beautiful sear marks that cannot be had on the Nexgrill.
Cleaning and Maintenance
- With the grease management system common in both grills, cleaning is a breeze in both. A temperature gauge and fuel indicator make both models simple and easy to use.
Technology and Durability
- The Weber Spirit is really focused on no frills but quality materials that will bring a long lasting grill. Nexgrill comes with a the infrared burner design which can bring searing high temps that the Weber cannot hit.
Warranty
Price
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Weber Traveler Portable Gas Grill Review
The Weber Traveler is a portable gas grill, but make no mistake, Weber has not sacrificed cooking space for portability. They packed 320 square inches of total cooking space into a portable grill and even gave it a side table to help with prep work. How did they do this? By putting it on a folding cart. If youve been looking for a portable grill big enough for the family, read on.
Three tool hooks for tongs and spatula |
Design and Structure
- The Weber Traveler comes on a folding cart to help move it around. The cart has two large wheels for helping get it over rough terrain.
- The cart folds up flat so it fits easily into the back of a vehicle.
- Weber gave the Traveler 320 square inches of cooking space on porcelain-enameled cast iron grates.
Cooking Performance
- The Weber Traveler has a single burner putting out 13,000 BTUs per hour for plenty of heat across the entire cooking area.
- Quick startup with push-button ignition to get started cooking quickly
- Good temperature range control so you can sear steaks or put a pan on the grill and cook pancakes
- Built-in lid thermometer helps you keep your temperatures where you want them
The Weber Traveler has a 5-year warranty on the cookbox and lid assembly. The burner tube and porcelain-enameled cast iron cooking grates are covered by a 3-year warranty, and the plastic components and all other parts are covered by a 2-year warranty.
Best Overall: Weber Genesis E
Feature |
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Burners: 3 burners totaling 39,000 BTUs | Fuel: LP | Cooking Grates: Porcelain enameled | Color: Black, Copper | Capacity: 787 sq. in. | Side Burner: No | Rotisserie: Sold Separately
Who It’s For: People upgrading from a Weber Spirit grill or looking for something with a little more fire power than an entry-level model.
Why We Chose It: It’s a budget-friendly grill with all of Weber’s best features. The only things it lacksa smoker, side burner, and extra storageare all auxillary features many people might not want or need.
Weber calls the latest iteration of its Genesis series the company’s “biggest gas grilling innovation in 15 years,” and we’ve got to agree. These grills really are designed to give you the ability to cook whenever and whatever you want.
Rather than focus on extra flashy features or bells and whistles , the Genesis is sleek, streamlined, and simple. Just take a look at the standout features of the Genesis’ design. These grills have Weber’s biggest high heat sear zone to date, offering more than enough space for large family cookouts.
They also have the brand’s new, propietary PureBlu high-heat burners, designed to deliver a pure, even flame across the wide grilling area.
And, last but not least, Weber’s added a handle light for nighttime grilling. You don’t need to turn it on with a knob. Simply raising the hood illuminates the cooking surface, allowing you to keep a clear eye on everything till dinnertime.
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How Do I Find Replacement Parts For My Grill
Many of our longtime Weber fans have grills that are 15, 20 even 30 years old and they are still going strong. Over the years various parts on these grills might need to be replaced and we are often asked if there are still replacement parts available. As a general rule, we do our best to keep replacement parts in stock up to 10 years after a grill has been discontinued but often times we carry parts for even longer than that. For example we still carry grates and Flavorizer bars for some of the original 1985 Genesis grills.
Most of the replacement parts on our website are for wear and tear or more commonly replaced items such as grates, Flavorizer bars or igniter kits. If there is something you cant find for your grill there is a good chance that we might have it available through our call center. They can be reached at 1-800-446-1071 and are open every day.
We encourage you to have the serial number on your grill available when calling. The serial number clearly identifies which model you have and will allow us to know exactly which parts are correct for your specific grill. Click here to learn how to find the serial number on your grill.
So if you cant find what you are looking for on Weber.com pick up that phone and give us a call. We are ready and waiting to help get your grill up and running again or back into shape!
Another Good Gas Grill

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 Lowes. We still think its a great grill with clever design features. For one thing, this grill has an externally mounted propane tank, which is easier to install and replace than traditional, under-grill tanks . 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 didnt notice a significant upgrade in performance over that of the Spirit II E-310. In fact, the Genesis II E-310 didnt sear our burgers as darkly as the Spirit II E-310 did. Thats okay, thoughthis grill is an exceptional performer, period.
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How Do You Transport A Grill
Wrap up the grill itself
If your lid is attached, use a bit of packing tape to seal it shut. Then wrap the grill in a moving blanket and secure the blanket with packing tape as well. Leave the base/wheels uncovered because this will make it easier to transport the grill and keep it steady in the truck.
Do You Need To Season A Weber Grill
You dont need to season a Weber grill. The grates are made of cast iron, but they are coated in porcelain. The porcelain coating prevents food from sticking, so the grates dont need seasoning. Only very old models of Weber grills would require seasoning, and because they are very old, that surely happened a long time ago. If you purchase a new Weber grill, you dont need to worry about seasoning it.
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Upgrade Pick: Weber Genesis E
If youre looking for a big grill that has a larger cooking area and more fire power, consider the Weber Genesis E-325s. Even though its billed as a three-burner grill, it actually has a fourth burner located between the middle and right-hand burners, creating what Weber calls the Sear Zone. The grill also comes with two big, asymmetrical side tables , a closed cabinet with double doors, and four lockable swiveling casters. Compared with our pick, the Spirit II E-310, the entire Genesis E-325s is almost a foot longer, and its cooking area is about 20% larger, easily accommodating 15 burger patties at a time. Instead of having porcelainized cast-iron grates , the grates on the Genesis E-325s are made from thick, stainless steel rods. The stainless steel grates could create slightly lighter sear marks on your food than cast iron would deliver, but the difference should hardly be noticeable. The Genesis E-325s also has a foldable upper rack that extends the length of the main cooking grate and expands to be 11 inches deep. The E-325s looks sturdy and well built, and it has some new practical features that further justify the higher price tag.
Webers warranty covers the firebox and lid assembly for 12 years it covers stainless steel burner tubes, cooking grates, and Flavorizer bars for 10 years.
Grilling In Style: Color Options
While Weber seems to be a fan of the sleek, stainless steel silver and black look, they do offer color options for our more vibrant-minded grilling fans. The Q 1200 portable grill, for example, comes in seven different, vivid colors to suit your unique personality.
The best thing about Weber grills is just how many varieties they offer, so youre guaranteed to find a grill that perfectly fits both your grilling style and needs and your aesthetic preferences all in one awesome package.
PRO TIP – Make sure to contact our staff at 714-4938 to inquire about unpublished savings on Weber Grills.
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Nexgrill Vs Weber Overall Comparison
BBQ enthusiasts are so intrigued about just how close these two brands fare in the market. While they both bring to the table some unique, power-packed and versatile features, it is hard not to compare them with one another. As it turns out, both Weber and Nexgrill are solid contenders of the grilling world and have their advantages over the other.
How Much Does It Cost To Assemble A Grill
The average cost to assemble a grill with three legs is $42. A large grill with four legs is $75. This service wont install a gas line but is much cheaper than hiring a certified service provider to install a brand-new grill or BBQ. Most electricians or contractors can add the new line for as low as $90.
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What About Propane Vs Natural Gas
All of our picks are propane-gas grills, since propane tanks are portable and can be purchased almost anywhere, and they dont require any special hookups in your backyard.
However, our picks are also sold in natural-gas versions, which are gaining in popularity. But they require that you have a natural-gas hookup on your deck or patio. If you have natural gas in your home but dont have an outdoor connection, youll need to hire a technician to install one, and this may involve cutting into walls. And if you want to easily move your natural-gas grill into and out of storage, youll also need to buy a quick-disconnect system, which can add another $150 or so. The benefits of natural gas include not having to wrestle propane tanks on and off your grill, always-available fuel , and lower fuel costs . This post provides a deeper rundown of the process.
Of course, you may also have concerns about how each of these fuel choices might impact the environment. Theres no easy answer, but we discuss some of the considerations in the sustainability section below.
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After weeks of research and two days of testing on burgers, barbecue, and whole chickens, the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill 22 is our pick as the best charcoal grill for most people.