Weber grill test

Our experts are grilling delicious food on authentic Weber Charcoal Kettles.

Our Restaurant

The Weber Grill Restaurant is the result of over 60 years of Classic Outdoor Grilling—from the people who invented the Weber Charcoal kettle grill. You‘ll taste the difference that decades of grilling expertise make. More than a steakhouse & BBQ, our chefs are the grilling experts for seafood and vegetable specials as well. Our secret: a commitment to using quality ingredients, innovative recipes, honed grilling technique, and Weber charcoal kettles. We are especially proud of our Hand-Cut Black Angus Steaks, Wood-Smoked Barbecue, Fire-Inspired Seasonal Entrees, Charcoal Seared Burgers and Fresh Grilled Seafood.

Gas Grills Under $500

How we tested

It’s easy to drop several hundred dollars on a gas grill and not get what you need. We’ve cooked on models that never got hot enough; models that were too small to cook more than a couple of burgers at once; models that rusted, wobbled, and warped; and models that couldn’t handle anything beyond the simplest jobs—never mind roasting a holiday turkey or smoking tender ribs. The bottom line: For the best results, you need a well-designed, responsive, durable grill.

The winner from our previous gas grill testing was discontinued, so we went shopping for some new models to test, priced at $500 or less. We focused on six major brands, asking them to help us choose their best contender. The grills in our lineup were outfitted with three to five burners, as well as two wing-like side tables. All but one grill were equipped with side burners set into one of the wings. All were fitted with warming racks, narrow wire shelves suspended across the back of the grill, and all featured built-in lid thermometers. You can buy a gas grill fully assembled or opt to put it together yourself. After trying both, we would strongly encourage you to order your grill assembled. Some stores do it for free.

We fired up the grills to cook (and smoke) a variety of foods, from burger patties to thick strip steaks to 5-pound pork butts. We checked that a 12-pound turkey fit under each lid with room to spare. We used slices of white bread to map each grill’s heating pattern, and we checked the accuracy of the grills’ lid thermometers with a calibrated thermocouple.

Along the way, we observed design elements of each grill that made cooking easier or more complicated. Scrubbing down grills after cooking and emptying grease trays showed which were simplest to maintain. And rolling them in and out of our grill garage over bumpy pavement revealed grills that fought us and rattled to pieces—literally—while others glided steadily and remained sturdily intact.

The Heat Is On

Most people choose a gas grill because it’s convenient: Turn a knob and you can start cooking in minutes. But whether that grill performs as it should is another matter. For simple grilling, the most important requirement is strong heat that spreads evenly across the grates. To determine which grills met the mark, we preheated each grill on high for 15 minutes (our standard method) and mapped the heat by covering the entire grill surface with white sandwich bread. Top grills gave us evenly browned toast. The worst made an uneven patchwork of black, brown, and white toast. Others dried out the bread, leaving it white with black stripes. Wrecked toast is no big deal, but when we grilled a quartet of pricey, thick New York strip steaks, the same thing happened. Spreading 4-inch burger patties across the hot grills, we saw those heat patterns a third time.

So what made the difference in how well food cooked? While manufacturers may try to dazzle customers with their burners’ high BTUs (British Thermal Units, a measure of heat output per hour), in our tests this number turned out to be less relevant than the grill’s construction and heat distribution. All gas grills share a similar construction: At the bottom, perforated metal tubes (the burners) produce a row of flames when the gas is ignited. Above them are metal heat diffusers shaped like inverted Vs. As we used the grills, we realized that these tent-like bars are very important. First, they shield burners to keep fallen food from clogging holes. Second, when dripping fat hits them, the fat turns into smoke that makes food taste grilled (they are sometimes called “flavorizer bars” for this reason). Third, and perhaps most important, they help spread heat horizontally across the grill. The flames’ heat wants to rise straight up, and without these tent-like bars to deflect it there would be distinct hot spots directly over each burner and cooler zones everywhere else.

All of the grills we tested had bars right over each burner, but our top-performing grills had further design tweaks to help spread out the rising heat for more even distribution and much-improved cooking results. One achieved this with extra bars between the burners, while the other featured a full layer of perforated stainless-steel plates beneath the grates, which, like the tent-like bars, diffused heat.

While powerful, even heat is critical in a good grill, so are a few other factors. First up: capacity. Sometimes you want to feed a hungry crowd. When we packed our grills with hamburger patties, the results were surprising. While the grills in our lineup featured different numbers of burners, more burners didn’t always correspond to more cooking space. The “smallest” grill—the only one with just three burners—held 19 burgers, while one of the four-burner models fit just 15 burgers. As it turned out, the four-burner grill was only 2 inches wider than the three-burner model (they were the same depth), a negligible advantage that was negated by the fact that the four-burner grill’s wide warming rack blocked access to the back of its cooking grates. Other grills shared this design flaw.

Grate material also mattered: Our two highest-ranking grills had cast-iron grates, while most of the lower-ranked ones used stainless steel. Cast iron did a better job of transferring heat for crisp, flavorful grill marks. Finally, the angle of the open lid also mattered. Curved, low-angled lids directed smoke right into our faces, even when fully open. Our favorite grills had lids that opened wide to let smoke flow straight up.

Direct cooking is important, but a good gas grill must also excel at cooking with indirect heat for roasting large cuts of meat or smoking them low and slow. To do this, after preheating the grill, you leave one burner on, turn off the rest, and set the meat over the unlit burners. For our test, we put wood chip packets over each lit burner and set pork butts (each cut into three pieces) over pans of water on the cooler side of each grill, maintaining a temperature of 300 degrees by watching the grills’ lid thermometers. All of the roasts should have reached an internal temperature of 200 degrees in 4 hours, yet even after a whopping 7 1/2 hours, some roasts still weren’t done. Others yielded tender meat but no smoke flavor. Only one grill rendered the meat both tender and smoky.

We realized that the problem causing this almost-uniformly poor performance lies in the grills’ construction and is, in fact, endemic to gas grills.

For indirect grill-roasting or barbecuing on charcoal, you push all of the coals to one side of the grill, put the meat on the other side, and then adjust the vents to customize heat level and airflow, putting the lid vent over the meat on the cooler side to draw heat and smoke over it. But all of this control is out of your hands with gas grills. The clamshell-shaped “cookbox” on a gas grill has nonadjustable vents, and all of those vents are in one place: across the back of the box. That means hot air and smoke flow in one direction when the lid is closed: straight out the back of the grill. This didn’t cause a problem with our previous winning grill (nor with several other models from our last testing). Its burners ran from side to side, so we could send the smoke and heat over the meat by turning on the burner in the front of the grill, putting the wood chips on this burner, and putting the meat directly behind. Heat and smoke traveled front to back, over the meat, on the way to the vents. But the burners in all of the grills for our current testing run from front to back. We’re not sure why manufacturers have all gone this route, but it means that the lit burner with the chip packet is always to the side of the meat, and so heat and smoke travel straight back to the vent—bypassing the meat.

Because of this, the integrity of the cookbox—specifically the box material and the number and position of the vents—became essential to success. Even though we had confirmed that the lid thermometers were all accurate and we had been adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a temperature of 300 degrees, we realized that the thermometer was only monitoring the air behind it and not the entire cooking surface. Lower-performing grills had row after row of vents that perforated the back of their cookboxes (some even lacked full back panels). The boxes themselves were thin, with lids that closed loosely over the grates. This translated to an inability to retain heat. When we tried a second time, placing meat much closer to the lit burner, the recipe timing and meat tenderness improved, but smoke flavor was still absent from most.

By contrast, our top grill—the only one that gave us smoky, tender meat—has a cookbox with its bottom and sides made of thick cast aluminum and a heavy, double-layered steel lid. The lid seals tightly, and the box has just one narrow vent across the back. Meat cooked properly in a timely manner every time because this fortified construction and minimal venting forced most of the smoke and heat to stay in the box with the food.

In the end, this grill’s competence and versatility, its sturdiness, and its easy cleanup (including the largest, most stable grease tray, which can be lined with a disposable pan) earned it the top spot. The Weber Spirit E-310 ($499) is an updated three-burner version of our former favorite. Weber moved the control knobs to the front, freeing up space on the side table, and added a hook that holds the propane tank and shows the fuel level at a glance. This grill is fairly basic, with no side burner (available on model E-320 for about $50 more), but it does the job. For the same price, you may buy a bigger grill with more frills, but you won’t get a better one.

Methodology

We tested six gas grills priced under $500. Grills appear in order of preference. All were purchased online.

Burners: Gas grills heat via perforated tubes called burners that emit flames when ignited. Grills are described by their number of burners, though we found that this did not correlate with performance or capacity.

Grates: The grill grates are made of either cast iron or stainless steel.

Size of Main Cooking Grate and Heat Output: Manufacturers typically list the combined total square inches, including warming racks and side burners. More usefully, we list the dimensions of the main cooking grate and how many 4-inch burgers each can fit. Similarly, we only list the BTU (British Thermal Units—a measure of heat output per hour) numbers of the main burner.

Features: Some grills offer more extra features than others.

Grilling: We grilled hamburgers and steaks over direct heat, looking for distinct grill marks, well-browned crusts, and moist interiors. We mapped the heat pattern of each grill by covering its preheated surface with white bread slices and examining the toast.

Indirect Cooking: We prepared pulled pork, keeping the grill at 300 degrees for more than 4 hours. Thermocouples confirmed whether lid thermometers were accurate. We rated the pork on smoky flavor and tender, moist texture.

Design: Grills received higher marks if their designs made it easier to set them up and cook.

Durability: Models that were hard to roll; lost wheels, doors, or other parts; or showed greater wear and tear received lower scores.

Cleanup: We rated whether grates were easy to scrub clean and whether grills had secure, large grease trays and catch pans that were easy to reach.

Already a member? log in

Register for AmericasTestKitchen.com

It's FAST and it's FREE.

Why register? Unlock FREE ACCESS to recipes and ratings from the current season of America's Test Kitchen.

The Results

Design Trifecta 360 Knife Block

Admittedly expensive, this handsome block certainly seemed to live up to its billing as “the last knife block you ever have to buy.” The heaviest model in our testing, this block was ultrastable, and its durable bamboo exterior was a breeze to clean. Well-placed medium-strength magnets made it easy to attach all our knives, and a rotating base gave us quick access to them. One tiny quibble: The blade of our 12-inch slicing knife stuck out a little.

Schmidt Brothers Downtown Block

This roomy block completely sheathed our entire winning knife set using just one of its two sides—and quite securely, thanks to long, medium-strength magnet bars. Heavy, with a grippy base, this block was very stable. An acrylic guard made this model extra-safe but also made it a little trickier to insert knives and to clean; the wood block itself showed some minor cosmetic scratching during use.

Schmidt Brothers Midtown Block

This smaller version of the Downtown Block secured all our knives nicely, though the blade of the slicing knife stuck out a bit. With a base lined with grippy material, this block was very stable. An acrylic guard afforded extra protection against contact with blades but made it a little harder to insert knives and to clean; the wood itself got a little scratched during use.

Swissmar Bamboo Magnetic Knife Block

This small, scratch-resistant model had a stable, rubber-lined base and could hold all our knives, though the blade of the 12-inch slicing knife stuck out a bit. But inch-long gaps between its small magnets made coverage uneven and forced us to find the magnetic hot spots in order to secure the knives. Its acrylic guard made it safer to use but harder to insert knives and to clean.

Messermeister Walnut Magnet Block

This handsome block was done in by its shape—a tippy, top-heavy quarter-circle that wasn’t tall or broad enough to keep the blades of three knives from poking out. It lacked a nonslip base, and its extra-strong magnets made it unnerving to attach or remove our heavy cleaver. Finally, it got a bit scratched after extensive use.

Epicurean Standing Knife Rack 12"

This magnetic block sheathed all our knives completely, though with a bit of crowding. But it was hard to insert each knife without hitting the block’s decorative slats on way down, and because the block was light and narrow, it wobbled when bumped. Worse, we couldn’t take it apart, so splatters that hit the interior were there to stay. Additionally, the outside stained easily, and when we wiped it down, the unit smelled like wet dog.

Kapoosh Rondelle Knife Block

This model stabilized knives with a mass of stiff, spaghetti-like bristles that shed and nicked easily after extensive use, covering our knives with plastic debris. While all our knives fit securely, several of the blades stuck out, making this unit feel less safe overall. Finally, though the bristles could be removed and cleaned in the dishwasher, their nooks and crannies made this block hard to wash by hand.

Kuhn Rikon Vision Knife Block, Clear

This plastic block required us to aim each knife into the folds of an accordion-pleated insert that was removable for easy cleaning but got nicked easily with repeated use. Because we could only insert the knives vertically, longer knife blades stuck out; a cleaver was too wide to fit. The lightest model in our lineup, this block was dangerously top-heavy when loaded with knives.

© 2017 America's Test Kitchen. All rights reserved.

A family of brands trusted by millions of home cooks

Learn real cooking skills from your favorite food experts

The iconic magazine that investigates how and why recipes work

American classics, everyday favorites, and the stories behind them

Experts teach 200+ online courses for home cooks at every skill level

Screenshot 2017-04-10 15.13.54

SLT Script Logo 2007 5185-01

Done in 281 ms! 61.385 KiB - 7.5% = 56.776 KiB

Charcoal Grills

Weber has updated our favorite charcoal grills. After buying and testing the new models, we found that the new features improve both winning grills.

Our Highly Recommended favorite, a 22-inch kettle grill embedded in a convenient rolling cart with a push-button gas ignition system, is now called the Weber Performer Deluxe Charcoal Grill, model 15501001 ($399). The cart surface is now made of sturdier aluminized steel rather than plastic, and comes equipped with a well-designed removable timer, a metal shield built into the lid handle to protect hands from heat, and Weber’s Gourmet Barbecue System, a grill grate with removable center that allows grillers to insert several accessories (sold separately), such as a wok, griddle, or pizza stone. While we reviewed the Gourmet Barbecue System a few years ago (see "Weber Gourmet BBQ System" under related content) and were lukewarm on its merits, we like that the included grill grate is now heavier-duty steel. We find the other changes represent improvements over the previous Performer model, and still highly recommend this grill.

Our Best Buy, the Weber One-Touch Gold 22.5-inch Charcoal Grill, has been renamed the Weber Original Kettle Premium Charcoal Grill, 22-Inch, model 14401001 ($149). The size of the kettle has not changed; Weber representatives explained that the company decided to simplify the name. The updated model features a new, sturdier leg attachment system with metal tabs that snap together more securely, as well as a thermometer built into the lid, a metal shield on the lid handle to protect hands from the heat, and tool hooks built into the nylon handles on both sides of the kettle. The improved model remains highly recommended as our Best Buy.

How we tested

There’s a lot to be said for the basic Weber kettle. The company’s 22.5-inch One-Touch Gold model, the test kitchen’s house charcoal grill for years, accommodates a full 6-quart chimney’s worth of charcoal and features a large enough cooking surface to grill burgers for a crowd. It also has a domed lid tall enough to house a whole turkey, and its well-designed venting system allows barbecue buffs to jury-rig the unit into a competent smoker. The sturdy ash catcher keeps cleanup to a minimum. Moving and storing the kettle’s small frame is easy, and the price tag is nice.

And yet it’s never been a perfect package. This model’s tripod base is notoriously wobbly and prone to lose a limb, and when we’re adding food to or removing it from the fire, we wish there was a place to set down a platter. Drawbacks like these led our eyes to wander back over the charcoal grill marketplace, where we discovered a vast array of competitors across an even more vast price scale—everything from simple, comparably priced designs to beefed up, luxe models fetching significantly more than $2,000. The Rolls-Royce of charcoal grills wasn’t our target, though. We wanted a well-engineered, user-friendly model that’s up to any outdoor cooking task—ribs, pork loin, fish, burgers, chicken—without having to take out a second mortgage. So we set an upper price limit of $400 and lined up seven promising grills, including our trusty Weber kettle. Our battery of cooking tests included both grilling and low, slow tasks: big batches of burgers, skewers of sticky glazed beef satay, and thick salmon fillets, as well as barbecued ribs. We ran a height check by shutting—or, in some cases, cramming—each grill’s lid over a whole turkey; we threaded thermocouple wires under the lids to monitor temperature retention; and we kept track of how easy the grills were to set up when new and to clean up after cooking.

The good news was that most of the grills did a decent job grilling, and several models also fared well with barbecued ribs. The problem was that even when a grill was capable of both grilling and slow-cooking food, some models had design flaws that limited how easy they were to use. Grilling requires, for example, regularly flipping and rearranging multiple pieces of food, so it’s crucial that the food be within easy reach—a glaring issue with one grill we tested. This long, horizontal tube, which is billed as both an all-purpose grill and a smoker, features a lid that only partially uncovers its generous cooking surface. As a result, the cook must reach underneath the covered area to access food—not a big deal when you’re infrequently reaching for a smoked pork shoulder but a pain when checking several burgers or fish fillets every few minutes. Worse, since pulling up the lid doesn’t uncover the grill completely and the opening is angled toward the cook, smoke blows directly in your face. This flaw made grilling with the lid open particularly unpleasant.

Grill roasting, meanwhile, was a challenge for two grill models, both of which skimp on the space beneath their cooking grates. When we dumped a standard 6-quart chimney of coals into these cookers, the hot briquettes piled up to the grates, wall-to-wall, creating a fierce fire with no cooler zones for indirect cooking. Even a single-level fire was tricky to control: If we didn’t watch carefully, food scorched in minutes. Only one grill we tested had a crank that let us raise and lower the bed of charcoal to adjust the heat—a useful function that we wish other models offered. On the flip side, some grills lacked ample space between their grates and lids. A good 3 inches or more of headroom above food is ideal for proper air circulation (and, therefore, even cooking), but on these units we could just barely pull the lids over a 14-pound turkey.

Barbecuing depends on maintaining low, steady heat for several hours, so we tracked how easy it was to add fresh coals to the fire. Hinged or removable grates are most manufacturers’ answer to dropping in new coals without disturbing the cooking food, but these innovations often walk a fine line between helpful and cumbersome. Tired of dropping a few coals at a time through the Weber’s too-narrow grate openings along both sides of the grill, we were pleased to see that one manufacturer improved on this idea with grate openings that are a bit wider. We thought another maker had done the same until we discovered that only one half of their vessel’s rectangular grate opens—and it wasn’t the side where we’d piled the coals. Still, we found hinged grates more user-friendly than the removable grates that come with other grills; lifting a section of the cooking surface often forced us to relocate food and, more annoyingly, the searing-hot grate to the ground. As for the grates themselves, we preferred thick cast-iron bars for the vivid grill marks and crisp crusts they produced but cared even more about how deep the grate sat in the grill. Some grills' grates were were flush with the cooker’s top edge—consequently, a few burgers slipped off. Barbecuing also depends on how well the grill retains heat, so we added 7 quarts of hot coals to each grill, wired them up with thermocouples, and tracked temperatures just above the grates for 2 hours without opening lids. Predictably, the bigger cookers had more trouble retaining heat. After 2 hours, their temperatures had dropped most steeply; the worst drop was almost twice that of the far more stable smaller cookers. Flimsy construction was also to blame for one of the larger grills: Its thin metal walls and gaps around the lid let heat escape, and ribs weren’t fully cooked after 4 hours.

Digging deeper into heat control, we also evaluated each model’s venting system: the openings on the vessel’s base and lid that draw in (or shut out) and direct air inside the grill, making it possible to cook a larger variety of foods with greater precision. Smartly designed lids wear their top vents off-center, which encourages heat and smoke to be pulled from the coals across the cooking surface and around the indirectly cooking food. If this seems like a fussy point, consider that on certain grills with upper vents cut dead center into their lids, heat and smoke gets sucked straight up and out of the vessels instead of over to the cooking meat.

Bottom vents, meanwhile, draw air into the coals. Fully open, they make the fire burn hotter and faster; partially closed, they cool the temperature and slow coal consumption; fully closed, they put out the fire. You’d think a feature this critical would demand careful design attention, but we struggled to adjust the vents on some cookers, and one model's vents never fully aligned to shut off airflow. That was minor compared to another cooker we tested which featured oversize vents that slid open directly under hot coals and ash, inviting burns and dropping soot on the shelf below—unfortunate if you’re storing food there. Making matters even more difficult, one model sits very low on its cart, which means you’ll be fumbling blindly with tongs to adjust the bottom apertures. The dial-shaped side vents used by some manufacturers were easier to see and adjust, and long exterior levers on two kettle models kept our hands far from the coals.

While we’re sticklers for flawless cooking performance, we’re also the first to acknowledge that convenience can make or break your charcoal grilling experience. For example, a sturdy ashcatcher bucket is a must for cleanup, but we didn’t fully appreciate this feature on the grills we tested until we found ourselves shoveling spent coals and soot out of grills which lack them. (One model we tested was equipped with an ash bucket, but it was flimsy and regularly threatened to fall off; another featured an unwieldy ash drawer, but it was better than nothing.) Simple assembly is another powerful plus, so we timed a pair of testers to see how long it took them to take each grill from box to upright. The Weber snapped together in 21 minutes—a breeze compared with the near-2-hour job they put into piecing together another maker's grill. Moving and storage are also factors: One grill rolled smoothly but rattled as if it might fall apart. Another was large and cumbersome, and many of us wondered where we’d store its 6-foot frame.

Good built-in accessories like roomy carts and shelves are also more than just frivolous perks; they held serving platters and tools while we cooked. Lids that were hinged or sat in holders spared us from grasping the hot covers or setting them on the ground. Tool hooks, built-in thermometers, and charcoal-holding baskets also eased the way. Best of all was the gas ignition button featured on one model, a convenience that makes a chimney starter unnecessary.

In fact, that model came with all the aforementioned bells and whistles, essentially combining all the conveniences of gas grilling with the flavor advantage of charcoal. Once we’d been so pampered, we couldn’t resist its conveniences and declared this model our new winner—even though it’ll cost you more than twice the price of our old favorite. That said, the more basic, budget-minded version of our winner still offers all the cooking functions we want, plus the simplest assembly and cleanup, and is our Best Buy.

Methodology

We tested seven charcoal grills priced at $400 or less. Grills were purchased online for the prices cited. They are listed in order of preference.

Grilling: We grilled hamburgers, fish fillets, and beef satay skewers, rating grills on their performance during quick, hot cooking. Grills that provided a thick sear rated highest.

BBQ/Heat Retention: We barbecued baby back ribs for 4 hours, turning them every 30 minutes and adding coals after 2 hours. We also monitored the temperatures of the grills for 2 hours with identical volumes of hot coals and half-open vents, without opening lids. The best grills maintained steady heat with the least temperature drop.

Design: We considered how easy it was to add coals, as well as grill layout, air vent position and control, lid, wheels, handles, and other features that contributed to the grills’ performance, ease of use, and versatility.

Assembly: We timed a pair of testers with no special training as they assembled each grill, noting the quality of the instructions. Faster assembly times earned high marks.

Cleanup: Grills that made it easier to remove ashes rated higher.

Capacity: We tested the fit of 14-pound turkeys under the lid of each grill and whether eight 4-inch hamburgers could be grilled at once.

Construction Quality: We observed the sturdiness of each grill and its condition by the end of testing.

Grate: We preferred cast-iron bars and roomy cooking surfaces.

Favorite Features: We noted parts of the grill that helped it perform better or made it easier to use.

Try CooksIllustrated.com Free for 14 Days

Included in your trial membership

• 20+ years of Cook's Illustrated foolproof recipes
• In-depth videos of recipes and cooking techniques
• SAVE all your Favorites for easy access
• Up-to-Date reviews and product buying guides

The Results

Design Trifecta 360 Knife Block

Admittedly expensive, this handsome block certainly seemed to live up to its billing as “the last knife block you ever have to buy.” The heaviest model in our testing, this block was ultrastable, and its durable bamboo exterior was a breeze to clean. Well-placed medium-strength magnets made it easy to attach all our knives, and a rotating base gave us quick access to them. One tiny quibble: The blade of our 12-inch slicing knife stuck out a little.

Schmidt Brothers Downtown Block

This roomy block completely sheathed our entire winning knife set using just one of its two sides—and quite securely, thanks to long, medium-strength magnet bars. Heavy, with a grippy base, this block was very stable. An acrylic guard made this model extra-safe but also made it a little trickier to insert knives and to clean; the wood block itself showed some minor cosmetic scratching during use.

Schmidt Brothers Midtown Block

This smaller version of the Downtown Block secured all our knives nicely, though the blade of the slicing knife stuck out a bit. With a base lined with grippy material, this block was very stable. An acrylic guard afforded extra protection against contact with blades but made it a little harder to insert knives and to clean; the wood itself got a little scratched during use.

Swissmar Bamboo Magnetic Knife Block

This small, scratch-resistant model had a stable, rubber-lined base and could hold all our knives, though the blade of the 12-inch slicing knife stuck out a bit. But inch-long gaps between its small magnets made coverage uneven and forced us to find the magnetic hot spots in order to secure the knives. Its acrylic guard made it safer to use but harder to insert knives and to clean.

Messermeister Walnut Magnet Block

This handsome block was done in by its shape—a tippy, top-heavy quarter-circle that wasn’t tall or broad enough to keep the blades of three knives from poking out. It lacked a nonslip base, and its extra-strong magnets made it unnerving to attach or remove our heavy cleaver. Finally, it got a bit scratched after extensive use.

Epicurean Standing Knife Rack 12"

This magnetic block sheathed all our knives completely, though with a bit of crowding. But it was hard to insert each knife without hitting the block’s decorative slats on way down, and because the block was light and narrow, it wobbled when bumped. Worse, we couldn’t take it apart, so splatters that hit the interior were there to stay. Additionally, the outside stained easily, and when we wiped it down, the unit smelled like wet dog.

Kapoosh Rondelle Knife Block

This model stabilized knives with a mass of stiff, spaghetti-like bristles that shed and nicked easily after extensive use, covering our knives with plastic debris. While all our knives fit securely, several of the blades stuck out, making this unit feel less safe overall. Finally, though the bristles could be removed and cleaned in the dishwasher, their nooks and crannies made this block hard to wash by hand.

Kuhn Rikon Vision Knife Block, Clear

This plastic block required us to aim each knife into the folds of an accordion-pleated insert that was removable for easy cleaning but got nicked easily with repeated use. Because we could only insert the knives vertically, longer knife blades stuck out; a cleaver was too wide to fit. The lightest model in our lineup, this block was dangerously top-heavy when loaded with knives.

Magazines

Customer Service

© 2017 America's Test Kitchen. All rights reserved.

A family of brands trusted by millions of home cooks

Learn real cooking skills from your favorite food experts

The iconic magazine that investigates how and why recipes work

American classics, everyday favorites, and the stories behind them

Experts teach 200+ online courses for home cooks at every skill level

Screenshot 2017-04-10 15.13.54

MOST RECIPES TW Logo 123C-01

SLT Script Logo 2007 5185-01

Done in 281 ms! 61.385 KiB - 7.5% = 56.776 KiB

Weber Spirit E-330 Gas Grill

The basic 3-burner Spirit grill from Weber runs around $600USD and offers little more than a cookout, but is it worth it. The Spirit line gas grills are made in China by Weber, use inferior stainless steel, and are very basic. So why is this better than the same sized and featured grill at most any store for half the price? Good question. I would argue that this grill is better built than those and that Weber's warranty and support are much better.

The "sear burner" built into this particular model, gives this grill great heat output, if only on one side.

• Well built
• Sear burner gives it the power it needs

• Lower grades of stainless steel throughout
• Very basic grill for the price

• Three 10,667 BTU stainless steel tubular burners
• 424 square inches of primary cooking area with 529 square inches of total cooking area
• 32,000 BTU maximum output from the main burners
• One 12,000 BTU standard side burner under a flush mounted cover
• One 7,500 BTU internal sear burner
• Stainless steel rod cooking grates
• Electric (AA-Battery) crossover ignition
• Porcelain enameled steel, stainless steel (400 series) and cast aluminum construction
• Fully enclosed cabinet
• Hood mounted thermometer and propane tank gauge
• Built in China

Guide Review - Weber Spirit E-330 Gas Grill

For nearly 30 years, Weber has made some of the best and best-respected gas grills in their price range.

Carving out the space between the hardware store bargain grills and the high-end appliance store units, Weber has been comfortable in its space. A few years ago, Weber reintroduced their Spirit line of grills to widen their market share. For 2013, the Spirit grills were redesigned to bring them into line with Weber's accessories and Genesis model grills.

The Spirit E-330 is the most expensive of this line. With the space and the versatility of a three burner gas grill, this one isn't overloaded with unnecessary stainless steel parts like some of the models in the Spirit line and this version is loaded with all the accessories that Weber offers for its lowest priced line of gas grills. The 12,000 BTU side is a nice feature for those that will use it. This 3-burner unit has enough cooking space to accommodate most families, the porcelain coated cast iron cooking grates that are heavy enough to create grill marks, and a basic set of Weber extras like a tank gauge to help you not run out of gas.

The one feature that stands out on this particular version is the internal 7,500 BTU "sear" burner. This is not an infrared burner and has less power than the two standard burners that sit on either side of it. What this burner is advertised as doing, is boosting the heat to give the kind of intense heat that is necessary to get that perfect steak. The reality is that this burner lifts the output to where is really should have been from the beginning. The Spirit line of gas grills, like the more expensive Genesis models, are a little limited in heat output.

This sear burner means that half of this grill is excellent, powerful, and capable of doing some serious grilling. The other half is a good warming space.

The big question about this gas grill is whether or not it is worth the price. At around $600USD, there are a number of grills that are cheaper. Like those grills, this one is made in China and uses lower grade stainless steel for its burners and other components. I have to answer that I do believe it to be worth the investment provided that it is taken care of and used. When I look through my database of grills, this one does, in fact, stand out as a good grill.

Weber Q 2400 Review for 2017

The name Weber is the most respected brands in the manufacture of BBQ and related accessories. They are most sought-after brand not only USA, but also all across the world.

• Their reputation lies in the fact that their products are all of high quality and durability. Their customer service and support is also outstanding even in this high competitive market.
• Weber products are not cheap but it is justified by the fact that their product stands the test of time.
• The Q series of Weber is an electric grill and has a modern and appealing look. As many restrictions were introduced banning the use of any type of fire in apartments, sale of Weber’s electric grills increased.

The Weber Q 2400 is portable and has a lot of cooking space. As it is a portable grill, it is very much ideal for even outdoor cooking.

• 1560-watt electric heating element to heat 280 square-inch total cooking area
• Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates and cast aluminum lid and body
• .Dimensions (Inches) Lid Open : ( H x W x D) - 26 x 31.5 x 25.1(Inches); :Dimensions - Lid Closed (inches) 14.5 H x 31.5 W x 19.5 D
• Fully assembled out of box, Infinite control burner valve settings
• 6-foot grounded cord

For those who have already used the previous version Weber Q 240 know that Weber Q 2400 is a remodeled version of Q 240.

Certain features like the control nobs, newly designed large handles and side handles, and a sturdy body are the new changes to the Weber Q2400. There is one unique feature only a few electric grills in the market offer and that is the facility to sear meat by sealing the juices. This feature is usually given only in traditional type of grills but with Weber Q 2400, this is possible.

Best Features

Weber Q 2400 is the restyled model of Q 240. The features of the electric grill are in such a way that it satisfies it brand expectations and goes beyond giving the user the utmost satisfaction in terms of flavour and also in performance.

Its space saving and portability makes it even more desirable. What’s in the box? Cast Iron Cooking grate, Cast Aluminium bowl and lid, Variable temperature control, Side Handles for carrying, Disposable drip pan and Grease Catch Pan. Let us look into some of its best features in detail.

• Assembly: No one needs to worry about the assembly of the Weber Q 2400. It comes to the buyer as a fully assembled piece. It is compact and looks great for places like apartments and condos. When placed with the Weber Grill cart, this is the most lovable appliance for any food lover.
• Durability: Every dollar spent should have a value for it. Hence, buying a material of superior quality is very important. No one wants to invest money on a product only to change after a couple of years.
• The brand name of the product itself says how durable it is. The body and lid of the appliance is made of heavy cast aluminium with glass-reinforced nylon frame. The grates are cast-iron enamelled with porcelain to give not only a longer life but also provide better heat retention and heat distribution.

• Portability:The Weber Q 2400 is light weight and portable. If you have the Weber Grill Cart, it is even better. The size of the grill is very compact that the user can carry it anywhere, even to the camping sites.
• Heat Retention and Control: The heat retention and control of this grill is beyond comparison. This is made possible by two factors – one is the aluminium heat retention liner and the other is the grate which is cast iron enamelled with porcelain. Grilling needs consistency and even distribution of heat.

Without these factors, food becomes partially overcooked and partially undercooked. The above features in the Weber Q2400 incorporates all the essential elements for a tasty cooking.

Controlling the heat of the appliance is also an important factor to cook a great food. It is a 1560 watt/ 120-volt grill with one know that is so easy to use. The variable temperature control gives options based on the type of food being cooked. It is also rather simple thus, eliminating complexity both in design and usage.

The simplicity of the design in having a rheostat to control the heating element instead of circuit board makes the durability of the temperature control far better than other brands.

• Cooking Area:The cooking area in the grill is generous. When the word ‘generous’ is used, it does not necessarily mean that it should be huge. But the cooking area is huge enough to cook for four people in a family.
• If the cooking area is huge, it can never be compact and this appliance has been designed keeping in mind, the word ‘compact’. The cooking area is 280 inches. Its height is a comfortable 26 inches, width of 31.5 inches and depth of 25.1 inches.
• Compact Size:By just having a look at it, one can tell how compact it is. Portability and the compact size goes hand in hand. When the grill is so compact, it is so easy to carry it anywhere and thus, it is more portable.
• Take the grill anywhere you go, to the beach, for camp fires, or even for a vacation. It is certainly not going to take too much of the space. The Weber Q2400 is the most suitable electric grillif one is living in an urban place.
• For people who cannot afford a big griller in their balcony or porch area, this is the best. But being compact doesn’t mean the user has to compromise on the taste of the food. Any kind of food – hot dogs, lamb chops, burgers and even veggies can be cooked to perfection with minimal smoke and debris.
• Easy to Use: The design has been deliberately kept simple. At the snap of the finger, this device can be used. It is so simple to use that whoever buys this device would never ever go out to buy food. It is simple to use, simple to clean and simple to handle. It is not elaborate in the functionality. This is a product recommended for those who want a simple product with high quality.

• 1560-watt electric heating element to heat 280 square-inch total cooking area
• Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates and cast aluminum lid and body
• .Dimensions (Inches) Lid Open : ( H x W x D) - 26 x 31.5 x 25.1(Inches); :Dimensions - Lid Closed (inches) 14.5 H x 31.5 W x 19.5 D
• Fully assembled out of box, Infinite control burner valve settings
• 6-foot grounded cord

• Easy to Clean: The Weber Q 2400 grill is very easy to clean due to the fact that it is made of superior materials and a good finishing. Just making use of a nylon brush pads is enough to clean the grill after use. Though the grill is square, its corners are rounded and that makes a huge difference in cleaning. The best part is that the parts can be removed for cleaning. The aluminium liners can be taken out separately for cleaning and the drip pan is easy to change out.
• Warranty: Warranty for a period of five years is given to the aluminium castings, lid assembly and stainless steel burners. Even the paint has been given two years’ warranty excluding the fading and discoloration. The porcelain enamel cast iron cooking grates and the plastic components are warranted for 5 years whereas the remaining parts of the appliance is warranted for a period of two years.

Negative Points

The Weber Q2400 is a perfect electric grill and satisfies all the requirements of the user. One cannot find any fault in this grill but there are a few points that could add more value to the grill, even if not now at least in the future.

• The presence of built-in thermometer would have been more convenient, especially in the case of electric grills. It is better to buy a digital thermometer to check the temperature of food being cooked.
• Adding more length to the power cord would have been better. According to the company, extension cords should not be used as it would give rise to electrical fires. With only 6 feet of power cord, it is a bit of inconvenience.
• The grill is compact. No questions but it is better to use it outdoors. The company doesn’t recommend to use this product indoors as it will cause more smoke inside.
• The cost of the grill is slightly higher than the other brands. But it is also worth the money due to its durability. It is up to the person who buy it to judge it by cost / quality.
• Sometimes, compared to the gas grills, cooking in low temperature is not so great. The food doesn’t turn out as crisp as it is desired to be. But even that is based on experience of using the grill. With proper usage of the grill, the possibility of getting the result as a gas grill is more.

Advantages Over Competition

The biggest advantage over all the competitors in the Electric Grill market is the Quality of the grill. It is quite unbeatable. Weber Q 2400 is compared to the Rolls Royce in the electric Grill market.

• The craftsmanship in this grill is adorable. All parts of the grill are of superior quality. If this grill is bought, then one can expect this to last for years unlike the cheap ones in the market.
• For a BBQ, fire is needed. But this electric grill has nothing short to offer. The taste of the food is amazing if cooked in this grill. It gives a pleasant grilling experience and is nothing short of the conventional grills in any aspect.
• Simple and elegant design with good temperature retention makes this the best in market. There is no inconsistency in cooking the food. Any type of food can be cooked in this and there is no hassle and worry about hotspots, charcoal or gas.
• If you want the smoky flavour, no issues. Just use some wooden chips on the grater and the smell of the wood will transfer to the food. Cooking above 300 degrees is possible. The food will have good grill mark and a nice brown colour. The taste is incredible.
• It is big enough to feed a family of four. Though not big enough for a big party, it can simple cook anything – a hotdog, burger, fish or even veggies.
• Its’ design is compact. So, the best choice for people living in a condo or an apartment is Weber Q 2400.
• The best part about the Weber Q2400 is the simplicity in cleaning. No other grills have such easy to clean facility. After the grill has cooled down, the grilling grate and grill can be just wiped with wet paper towels.

• 1560-watt electric heating element to heat 280 square-inch total cooking area
• Porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates and cast aluminum lid and body
• .Dimensions (Inches) Lid Open : ( H x W x D) - 26 x 31.5 x 25.1(Inches); :Dimensions - Lid Closed (inches) 14.5 H x 31.5 W x 19.5 D
• Fully assembled out of box, Infinite control burner valve settings
• 6-foot grounded cord

Soapy water is enough. There is no need for strong chemicals. If a real cleaning is required, then the grill can be removed, soaked overnight in soap water and then cleaned. When it comes to the drip pan, most of the competitors fail. The Dripping containers are disposable and can last the whole season. The flow of drippings to the containers is also so efficient.

• This electric grill might cost a bit high but when compared to the money spent on charcoal and gas, electricity is minimal. One can save a lot by paying the right amount initially.
• No other brand lasts longer than Weber.

We make mistakes so you don’t have to.

Try CooksIllustrated.com Free for 14 Days

Magazines

Customer Service

© 2017 America's Test Kitchen. All rights reserved.

A family of brands trusted by millions of home cooks

Learn real cooking skills from your favorite food experts

The iconic magazine that investigates how and why recipes work

American classics, everyday favorites, and the stories behind them

Experts teach 200+ online courses for home cooks at every skill level

Create New Collection

Organize your Favorites With Collections

Favorite Collections let you organize your favorite ATK content. Are you building a menu for an upcoming birthday dinner? You can keep those recipes in a collection called "John’s 50th Birthday," for example.

Your collections can include more than just recipes, too. Add how-to articles, videos clips or equipment reviews into the same collection.

Create your first collection below to get started.

Are you sure you want to delete this Favorite?

You are about to delete a Favorite, which means that it will also be removed from the following Collections:

You can add this item back to your Favorites and your Collections at any time.

Weber Q1200 – Grill Review

W hen you think grilling you think Weber Grills. That’s just a fact of life Jack. Weber has been the symbol of quality and dependable grills since 1952. The Weber Q1200 series of portable grills now comes in a rainbow of colors for you to choose from. Recently the Busted Wallet team was given the opportunity to review the sleek Black on Black Q1200 along with a stand to go with it which we’ve been vigorously testing over the last month and our stomachs cannot take anymore. So without further ado let the meat parade begin! I’ll be your Grand Marshall.

Key Features:

• 7 new colors to choose from
• 189 square inch cooking surface
• 8,500 BTU burner
• 5 year warranty
• Porcelain enameled, cast-iron cooking grates
• Built-in thermometer
• Cast aluminum body construction
• Two folding side work tables

Assembly of the Q1200 from opening the box took me less than 20 minutes. I could easily shave that time down to 15 minutes if I became a pro grill assembler. Instructions provided were straight forward and you only need a screwdriver to slap this bad boy together, including the stand! All the pieces were light enough to put together all on my own.

Weber does not disappoint with the design and construction of the Q series of grills. You can tell this grill is made to last and Weber backs that up with their 5 year warranty which guarantees you against rust for five years. Most of the competition in this size of grill offers a 1-3 year warranty.

What’s really cool about the Q1200 is the seven color choices Weber offers. The colors offered are Green, Orange, Black, Purple, Blue, Fuchsia, and Titanium. These color options will allow you to subtly say to your fellow campers at your campground, “Yeah, I’ve got swagger. Yes…I…do. Now wear your envy and jealousy on your sleeve so I can bask in it as you walk by my campsite.” The one slight negative I do have to offer is that the shape of the grill is not very packing friendly. Weber could step up their game in that arena. If you camp like we do, every nook and cranny of you vehicle is crammed tight with gear so a more stackable shape of the grill would be nice.

The size of the grill fully open is 24.6″x40.9″x20.5″. The electronic ignition is an easy to use push button that fires the burner up easily. Also, the burner control allows you to dial in the precise level of heat your precious entree demands. The built-in thermometer is a really excellent feature along with the side fold out work tables which are upgrades over the Q1000. The nice thing about the Q series of Weber grills is that if the Q1000 or Q1200 is too small for your needs you can step up to the Q2000 or the big bad Q3200 grills to satisfy your needs.

Performance:

The Weber Q1200’s performance is quite remarkable compared to other portable propane grills I’ve used in the past. The 189 square inch cooking area is ample for a party of two or we even grilled enough dogs and brats up to the cottage for six people. The stainless steel burner is designed for even heat distribution as it’s configured in a loop around the grill box unlike most other grills that are configured in a straight line down the middle of the grill box. This is all great but can it sear? Yes it can! The porcelain enameled cast-iron grill grates retain heat well to enable you to get that picture perfect sear every time. We also could easily get the grill up to 500 degrees without issue. Now for the meat parade you’ve been waiting for.

Over the last month we grilled chicken breasts, LOTS of brats and hot dogs, burgers, polish sausage (said in a Chris Farley Chicago Bears accent), as well as pork tenderloin. This grill performs as well as some full size grills I have used so would I not only recommend this grill for camping I would use it if you have a small family. Our household only has two people in it and I would use this as our only grill without hesitation.

The Q1200 retails for $199.00 and if you want the portable stand it will set you back $69.99. This is a portable grill with the performance of a full sized grill. You can find more modestly priced portable grills but they will not perform like the Weber Q1200 and of course they won’t have the stylish color choices either. To summarize, this grill gets two thumbs up!

• Stylish color choices
• Even heat over cooking surface
• Durable construction

• Packability could be better

About The Author

Working most of my life in and around the construction industry from residential to commercial let's just say I know not to hold a nail for someone else to pound, and I guess some other stuff too. I'm excited to help the Busted Wallet team test and review all things construction and home improvement related as well as what may make the everyday man's life easier or better. I hope you enjoy my bad jokes and find what I have to say helpful!

Related Posts

First Timer’s Guide to Camp No Counselors

Weber Q 2200 – Tailgate Grill Review

5 Responses

fyi, If you get the black colored Q1200 you won’t notice those pesky grease and sauce stains as much. A real nice grill for the dough though, have you tried the Q2000 or Q3200, how do they compare?

Nice review grill dude! A very nice grill for the money indeed, I agree. I have not tried the larger grills yet. The Q2000 has a slightly larger grill area than the Q1200 is the only difference I see. The Q3200 is larger still but has 2 burners instead of just one and a more robust grill stand you can get for it as well.

All that stuff and you never tested it on steaks? That is the acid test for any grill – can it properly sear the outside while leaving a desirably pink/red interior? Any grill can do chicken and brats, given enough time. Burgers are not an adequate substitute.

I just purchased the Q1200. I had some older green Coleman 16.4 oz propane canisters laying around. I made several attempts to connect one to the grill. Can’t do it – no room. The leg of the grill is squarely in the way. I ended up getting a couple of the Bernzomatic blue propane canisters. I wanted something portable for cooking a burger or steak on after a good motorcycle ride.

Is there any difference in the circumference of the green Bernzomatic canisters and the older green Coleman brands?

I have used propane cans from Ace Hardware, Coleman, and Bernzomatic on the Q1200. All are 16.4 ounce and 1.02 pound cans with no problem. They are all the same size. If you are using the longer propane canisters typically used for torches I can see that would not work or fit. I will say the Bernzomatic cans I’ve used are dark green in color not blue.

Weber Grills

ConsumerAffairs Unaccredited Brand

This company is not yet accredited. To learn more, see reviews below or submit your own. Want to know more about ConsumerAffairs accredited brands? Check out ConsumerAffairs for Brands.

127 Weber Grills Consumer Reviews and Complaints

We inherited a Q1000 and used it for many years, grilling almost daily. It was the best! So efficient and durable that we decided we would buy Weber from then on. Time came to invest in a new one of our own, and we found a Q1200 that looked like a new version of the same tabletop style for $199. Well, it lasted about 6 months, until the base MELTED to the grill cavity.

After heating it for 5-10 minutes one day, we noticed it looked lopsided & discovered the cavity had sunk down on one side (due to broken plastic bolts, it appears) and MELTED to the base. We looked it all over -- the ignition still worked, the wires were intact, everything seemed normal except that it was now lopsided and stuck against the melted base! Called customer service, who asked us to send photos, and a week later heard back that their investigator ruled it was damaged by a grease fire. What the what. This grill was sitting on a wooden table, and there were no signs of fire or scorching anywhere. It had only been heating up a few minutes!

From looking at the photos, it was plain as day that the bolts holding the grill cavity to the base had somehow broken, resulting in the cavity falling through on that side, and coming to rest on the plastic base legs, which then melted. No scorching or fire damage anywhere, and it was on the same side as all the wiring, which was fine! However, the customer service person had no access to the photos we sent, and said we had no recourse, since their investigation was final. Outrageous. Never again a Weber.

I have used my GENESIS S-330 GAS GRILL LP since I bought it on May 3rd, 2013. I have used this grill for over 4 years before writing this review. I live in the Phoenix metro area in the middle of the desert. I cook dinner virtually every night in the summer so we do not heat up the house. The rest of the year I probably average three meals a week on one of my grills because the boss (Momma) prefers the taste of grilled foods. I have stood in snow grilling dinner in the dead of winter in Oklahoma. I have catered many, many picnics with smoked foods. Yes, I have a food handling license.

What do I know about Weber grills? Well I have used just about every type they have put out since the early 80s. I currently own three Weber units. The first is the subject of this review, a GENESIS S-330 GAS GRILL LP. The second is a standard 22" charcoal kettle grill. The third a 22" Smoky Mountain Smoker that I use extensively. I have owned multiple other Weber units including LP three burner units over the years. The LP units are what I am going to compare and review now. The charcoal units I will continue to buy as my old ones wear out. The LP have hit my trash them ASAP list!

I do not know the model number of my last three burner LP grill prior to the current GENESIS S-330 GAS GRILL LP. However, its burners were configured from side to side and not like my current grill front to rear. There were absolutely no cold spots with the side to side configuration. With the current forward to rear configuration for the burners, there are a multitude of cold spots! To cook food now, you have to continuously move food around on the grill. Timing different foods for cooking time is impossible. When cooking multiple foods, I find myself estimating times improperly and pulling foods off when they are done and cooking others for a lot longer.

Of course this leads to food becoming cold before the rest is pulled off the grill. There was no reason for me to spend $850 for this grill! I could have done just as well with a Char Broil or other inexpensive grill for $250-$325. My current Weber will not burn off the oils and grease like my old Weber. I have to clean it out 4 times as often as my old grill. How do I know this? Well, my old grill was taken and rebuilt by my son-in-law. He still uses it as often as I use my grills. I still have the two units to compare.

My recommendation? Use the hell out of the Weber charcoal units and forget the gas units. I truly do not believe they are worth the money in any way, shape, or form. If you want to spend that much money, spend a little more and buy a professional unit from a quality grill store. If you look for the best grills on the web, you will find the Weber gas grills are very seldom mentioned. By the way. For reference. I purchased my grill from Lowe's, as stated earlier, 3 May 2013.

Thank you, you have successfully subscribed to our newsletter! Enjoy reading our tips and recommendations.

Our gas grill is hooked up to our house - natural gas - and we run it 12 months a year. At times I've had to shovel out a path to the grill, but I won't stop barbecuing just because it's winter. Anyway, running year round, our Weber Genesis is still going strong at 10 years old. Have replaced grates and such every now and then, but nothing major.

Weber Grills are most durable and reliable. Cooking grates easier to clean and overall cooking quality is better than other grills I have owned. I will continue to only purchase Weber brand grills.

Our Weber is over 16 years old. We have rehabbed it 2 times now and still going strong. Glad they make replacement parts easy to find now. We use to buy a new one every few years.

How do I know I can trust these reviews about Weber?

947,750 reviews on ConsumerAffairs are verified.

We require contact information to ensure our reviewers are real.

We use intelligent software that helps us maintain the integrity of reviews.

Our moderators read all reviews to verify quality and helpfulness.

For more information about reviews on ConsumerAffairs.com please visit our FAQ.

Bought my first Weber in the 1980's it lasted 15 years outdoors uncovered. Then I replaced it with a Broil King which totally fell apart after 3 years, back to the Weber and have had it ever since and is still in good shape. I also use the little Weber camping with great success.

We absolutely love our Weber Gas Grill! We have had this grill for several years and it's still going strong! I plan on surprising my husband for father's day and with a new Weber Grill but I'm afraid he'll want to keep both new and old!

I love how the chicken, steaks, and burgers turn out on our charcoal Weber Grill. The meats, steaks in particular, are much more flavorful and tender than when cooked on a stovetop. As with all charcoal grills, maintaining a consistent temperature can be tricky; cooking also takes longer than with gas. For that reason, one must repeatedly make small cuts into the meat to see if it is cooked to one's preference, or in the case of poultry or pork, to check if it is cooked thoroughly. The holes in the grill's lid allows for a wonderful smoked flavor.

Upon picking up my Weber E310 I was informed that I must pick up the 175lb grill and load it. I previously called and asked if help was available and was told no BUT the guys would position the grill so I could slide it into my truck. Only problem it was sitting on a skid and there is no way to slide the grill UP into my truck. The customer service rep said "Tough" you were told. Thankfully another customer helped slide the grill into the truck. This convinced me not to purchased a second grill as I had planned. The next day I purchased another grill for a relative from Home Depot where they happily loaded the grill into my truck. Also Home Depot said if I wanted to wait a week they would assemble the grill and load in my truck.

I have been using Weber Grills for over 30 years. I've had 3 different models over the course of those years. The only reason I have needed a new one was because of natural disasters. I've always found them to be well made and reliable. The temperature is even across the grate surfaces. No hot or cool spots. They heat up quickly. They are a pleasure to use. The company is a breeze to deal if you have a problem with your model. Whether it's in or out of warranty they are extremely helpful with a repair or send a new part. They are definitely built to last. I wouldn't use any other.

We have had our Weber for 18 years. Still great! We clean it after each use and have replaced a few parts to keep it looking like new. If I ever need to replace it, I would not buy any other brand.

We purchased a Weber Platinum C Series Grille approximately 8-10 years ago. The grille looks and performs as good as the day we bought it. We use it more in the summer of course and keep it outside covered with a Weber Grille Cover all winter long.

The Weber Grill is outstanding. Mine is over 15 years old and still looks good and works like new. It is an expensive grill but worth every penny. The temperature gauge still works fine and the grill surfaces are still like new. Cleaning it easy and using oven cleaner makes the job quick and easy.

Bought my first Weber 22.5" charcoal kettle in 1982, still own it and use it regularly. It is in great shape after 35 years of use. My wife gave me a first generation Weber gas grill in the late '80s. It is still at my office, where I use it to grill lunch for my employees. We have a Weber Smoky Mountain Cooker that is in terrific shape and cooks great. The Weber Genesis III gas grill we purchased about 8 years ago is a PIECE OF GARBAGE.

After only 8 years, the cheap sheet metal in the bottom of the grill cabinet has rusted completely through and is falling on the ground. The stainless steel flavorizer bars have burned through and need replacement. The gas valve leaks like a sieve. After only a few years I will be wheeling the Weber Genesis III, which cost over $850, to the curb for the scavengers or garbage men to take away and will never purchase another Weber product again. Weber quality is no longer to be relied upon. STAY AWAY! We could NOT be more disappointed.

Our Weber gas grill is wonderful heavy duty, holds heat and is true to temp. Grills evenly. I love the color. We got it in a dark red crimson color. It is not overly huge just the right mid range size. I would definitely purchase again. We loved it so much we even purchased my mother and father-in-law one!!

I bought this Weber Grills 13 years ago and it's still working fine today. Incredible performer. It was the most expensive at the time but has certainly proven its value.

The Weber Grills is electric. They are hard to find. Easy to use but not as hot or charred for grilling. There is a temperature gauge helpful. It is hard to clean and disassemble to clean it. This one was expensive for a small tabletop grill.

I purchased the Weber Grill for my son. It is now four years old. We've used almost every weekend. Grilled dogs, burgers, brawts, and my favorite is the salmon done on cedar planks. My son is excellent cook on this grill. I would recommend it to anyone for all occasion.

I bought the Weber Spirit. I was excited to own a Weber Grill. Wow. What a disappointment and waste of money. This grill is a piece of garbage. It started rusting within 6 months. The grill sits in my breezeway. It does not get wet except for when I wipe it down with a damp cloth. I use stainless steel cleaner/polish. All of the stainless steel has rust on it. The bottom of the door and side panels have rust on them. I'm not talking about surface rust, it's rusting. I called Weber and they were very, well "not concerned". They say I should use more stainless steel polish. They apparently don't stand behind any type of warranty. Char-Broil Grills are 100% better than Weber. You don't always get what you pay for. Weber is an example of overpriced garbage.

They claim to have a 5 year warranty on the cooking grates and flavor bars. My grill is only 1 & 1/2 years old and both have rusted through. I tried calling to get replaced but after 3 calls and sending pictures I have yet to be successful. My last call she wanted me to describe my grill brush and then wanted to know if I use a "cheap one". What does it matter, I don't think my grill brush caused the grates to rust!! I hung up because I wasn't getting anywhere with the person and will try again for the 4th time. I've decided next time I buy a grill I will buy a throw away and just replace it every 1-2 years. Weber’s are no longer built to last. Very disappointed:(

I placed a prior review pertaining to the Weber Q120 grill, the replacement parts (burner tube, and grill grate), and customer service/warranty issues I was experiencing at the time. That was a couple months ago. Yesterday, after only a few minutes of speaking to a completely different Weber customer service rep., the parts previously in a questionable warranty state, were on their way to me at ABSOLUTELY NO CHARGE.

I couldn't be happier. It seems as though SOME people at Weber Grills may truly care about the consumers who actually do purchase Weber products and from time to time may need help with replacement parts. Once again, they have proven themselves to be a leader among makers of grills and grilling products. They certainly do honor the warranties they advertise. Thanks to a caring company representative I WILL be enjoying my Weber Q120 again this 4th of July. I hope this review helps.

I have extensive experience with Weber Grills dating back about 25 years. My first Weber grill was a Spirit series and it was so long ago that all I can remember about it was that my wife and I loved it. We had absolutely no problems with it and we decided to move on to the Summit series and gave the Spirit to our son who has had it to this day. He still loves it; except for some parts replacements over the years, nothing major, it is still functional and functions well.

We then bought a 6 burner Summit series, what was then pretty much top of the line. We have had it for about 19 years and the only parts we replaced were the flavor bars. It has a rotisserie and a warming rack. It has functioned flawlessly and the taste of the food has been exceptional. We are giving it away to a friend as we have just purchased a Genesis LXII S440 (4 burners since we are an empty nest now and don't need the extra size).

This new grill is one of the most advanced technologically that we could find. The electronic ignition is flawless, it has a 10 year warranty and cooks food to perfection. I should mention that we also bought the iGrill 3 which is a device that allows you to monitor food temperature from an iPhone via a free app, from start to finish and notifies you when the food reaches a perfect temperature (not sure about other smartphone compatibility). What a fantastic invention!

It lists for $99.00 but I think you can get it cheaper, possibly on Amazon but haven't checked. It also has functioned as promised and as described. We tested the food temperature and it was right on the money. I couldn't believe it. This is a highly advanced grill yet you can learn and use all the features in a short time. We have only had it for 2 months but with a 10 year warranty I don't expect any problems. It also seems to use less propane based on the tank gauge.

I will wrap this up by saying that it is no doubt expensive, but if you buy a CharBroil or NexGrill, which are no doubt good grills and very affordable, you may likely need to replace it 3 or 4 times and the Weber will still be going. That is only my opinion, and one's budget is of utmost importance. We are retired and have both been in the workforce for >35 years. We want to splurge a little in retirement. One last caveat: any grill left out in the elements must have a durable cover. We chose the Weber cover (list price $79.95; $67.95 on Amazon where we got it). Protecting the grill or keeping it in a garage or other covered area will extend the life of the grill for a long time.

Bought a brand new Weber Spirit E-210 Gas Grill late last fall. I keep it in the garage so it is not out in a Wisconsin winter. Used it a couple of times last year and then using it heavily this summer. I saw some bad reviews on the knobs stripping and wanted to mention something that happened to me. I have the grill cooking in my driveway. My son goes to back his car out, doesn't look and runs into my grill and knocks it over. I run out to find all the contents (food, grates, flavor bars) on the driveway and the grill laying on it's front with flames coming out the side. We figure out how to stand the grill up without getting burned and I shut it off. Tell my son it could have been worse, could have been my new car.

Once I get everything put back together, turn the knob, hit the lighter and poof goes the flame and everything works. People are talking about the knobs stripping, mine are still perfectly fine. Now my beautiful new grill no longer looks new. Both knobs all scratched up, big hack out of the handle to open the top, the front door won't shut because of a dent in the cross bar under the grill but that baby still cooks great meals. I've loved the grill since the day I bought it. Would highly recommend it.

Just bought a new Weber Grill (Spirit Grill). It cost twice as much as other grills but the salesman convinced me it's worth it. So far, I'm not happy. The middle gas control knob is not properly aligned. Every time I use the grill I have to take the knob off and put it on again. I want to keep it clean so I tried turning it on high to let the debris burn off. It simply does not get hot enough to produce ash. Pulling the drawer out for cleaning is difficult. I could have 2 Charbroil grills for the price of one Weber.

I needed new burners the flame wasn't even. I grill almost every day. They did send new ones, but can't remove bolts, screw. Talked to two reps and they wanted me to disassemble the whole front of grill knobs, starter, face plate, baffle, manifold, etc. Why I asked the instructions that came with the new burners says remove bolts and slide new burners in and install new bolts, I can't. They are corroded and rusted, of Course they're in the inside of the grill. Had to talk to THE manager. She said the owners book says to yearly cleaning to remove those screws and etc. to clean, I didn't and that my problem. I said "Who does that? It's a bad design." She says that's my problem. I cleaned more than yearly, but remove bolts really. Who does that. No one is my vote. Bad design, maybe stainless steel Weber. would be better, extra screw with grill upon purchase something. do this is a really hard fix.

I purchased my 3 burner Weber Spirit 3 years ago. It worked ok when it was new. Temp would max out around 500. But over the past year and a half, it would take longer and longer to reach searing temp. More often than not I would find myself in bypass mode. Yes, I follow Weber's ridiculous standard operating procedures on how to light this thing properly. When I get lucky, the grill would heat up to 425 after a full 20- 30 minutes on pre-heat. Anyone who knows anything about grilling knows that you can't sear meats at 425. That 425 number is deceiving though. That represents the pillow of hot air that is immediately lost as soon as you open the cover to lay your food. Food that is cold and acts as a heat sink for whatever heat is trapped within the iron grates. Close the lid and the temp needle plunges to 325 and then slowly rises again and stalls at 390.

Getting back up to 425 takes another 5 minutes assuming you don't dare open the lid to check on progress or flip your food. I've had several conversations with Weber about this. Replaced propane tanks, replaced the regulator, disassembled the connection line to the manifold, wire brushed the burner tubes and flame transfer rod in the back all to no avail. For the cost of this grill, I could not be more dissatisfied. I thought I was buying hassle-free quality. Can't tell you how many grass fed steaks have been absolutely ruined on this over priced steam table. So unhappy with Weber. My advice is save your money. Buy a cheaper grill that will rot out every 4-5 years and then replace it. I never had a problem with my Charbroil (except for the rotting out problem). But for the price, I could have bought 3 of them and gone 15 years of hassle-free grilling.

I purchased a Weber Q320 grill a few years ago thinking I was buying a quality product, but to my dismay I found that I was wrong. The porcelain cooking grates rust in less than a year. I am looking to replace the second set already and trying to come up with a stainless steel alternative. I purchased the Q320 solely on the Weber name and not wanting to buy a low quality grill that you get in the big box stores. Considering a replacement set of grates cost $80 plus shipping, I would have been much better off buying a cheap one at the big box store and replacing it every 3 or 4 years. Consider this carefully before making your decision on buying one of these!

I was mislead into buying a high priced Weber BBQ under the assumption it would last for years. But don't move and find out your BBQ no longer accepts the new gas. I have a NG BBQ with no NG lines to be seen. After some BS about how complicated a conversion would be I am now stuck with useless planter. Unless you intend to stay where you are for some time don't buy a Weber. Buy one that can be converted.

I purchased a Weber Genesis grill $800 and 2 years later it has started to rust. I contacted Weber and they saw that it is only 2 years old. I asked for a replacement grill and this was denied. I then found out that they are now manufacturing the grill in China. They were manufactured in the USA years ago and no longer take pride in the Weber brand! I sent many photos but they are no longer interested in keeping their customers happy. Buyers beware.

The Weber Q120 may be a small, even portable to a degree, grill but it has been a pleasure to own and use for several years (Almost 7 yrs now). However, the burner tube and grill grate have had to be replaced two times. Which brings me to the warranty issues. The burner tube and grill grate both have a no rust through/no burn through warranty of 5 years (Per the Weber warranty website).

So with Memorial Day right around the corner and the probs with the grill, burner tube being rusted through and the grill grate top being rusted and damaged due to the burner tube prob, I decided to call Weber for some replacement parts. And after spending a few minutes with a customer service rep I was able to order the parts I needed and it was only going to cost me a little over a hundred bucks. So I ordered them and paid for them, and had even agreed to pay a little more for a fast delivery.

But after the call I started looking into the warranty info. Just became curious because this was the second time I've had to replace the same parts since buying the grill, and with the combined costs of the first and second replacement parts I could have almost just paid for a brand new grill. So anyway, I looked into the warranty info and found both the parts had a 5 YEAR no rust through / no burn through warranty. I called Weber customer service and after about an hour of bouncing around to a couple different people and explaining my situation (That I had just ordered the second set of the same replacement parts and paid for them and was now waiting for them to arrive).

The only real prob I had now was after having to order the parts again that I had just happened to check the Weber website warranty info out. Where it CLEARLY stated the parts I had just reordered for the second time in less than 5 years, happened to have a 5 yr warranty and I was not too happy about that news.

After explaining everything the customer service rep, I finally ended up speaking to a customer service "manager". She was extremely polite. She advised me the best way to handle this was to possibly just let her check into it further, and while she did they would refund the amount I had just paid for the second set of replacement parts. That sounded fair so I did and I actually received a phone call the NEXT day which I missed and had to return, but hey no prob so far. That was until I called and asked to speak to the extremely polite lady I had spoken to the day before. It just so happened that she, Dana I believe, was not available.

So I tried explaining the situation to the rep, she was completely sarcastic, even arguing with me about the EXACT warranty info to the point I was very frustrated and unwilling to even discuss it further. I think the straw that did it for me was after already ordering the parts and paying for them, then finding out via website info warranty specs, and having to go around and around and another round with what was finally a rude and dismissive customer service rep that told me she was quote, "Sooo sorry," that she needed me to explain it all over for her again. REALLY. "No mam, it's truly me that is sooo sorry," as she put it for having to deal with someone like her.

Even though the grill has worked great, except for the mentioned items going bad too fast. As much as I have enjoyed cooking with it for the past several years, I REFUSE to support or to have ANY dealings with ANY company rep. who actually believes they can get away with disregarding their own products' warranty then so smugly dismiss my frustration and complaint. Needless to say, I will not be grilling with my Weber Q120 this Memorial Day or possibly ever again. I will definitely not pay for any more parts that were under warranty, looks like I will grill shop this holiday. Hope this was able to help someone.

Weber expert review by ConsumerAffairs

Weber grills have been around since the 1950s when their infamous kettle style grill became the hit of suburban backyard cookouts. Since then, Weber has continued to innovate and improve the grilling experience. Today, they offer consumers a wide range of grills including gas, electric, travel size, smokers and, of course, the kettle-style charcoal grill.

Innovation: Weber’s original design was a huge success, but they didn’t stop there. They have also invented useful accessories, including flavorizer bars, a light for nighttime grilling and a built-in bucket for charcoal.

Easy to find: Buy your Weber grill online or from one of the many dealers near you. Use their online tool to find a dealer near you.

Weber Nation: Join Weber Nation for an all-access pass to the latest blog posts, community news and recipes. You can also access your online orders, register your grill and submit questions, photos and comments to the community.

Weber app: Download the free Weber app to access all the information you need for the perfect grill, no matter where you are. The app includes recipes, tutorials, a grocery list and a handy timer so you know when dinner’s ready.

Grill comparison: Are you torn between two or three grills? Weber’s website has a grill comparison feature that allows you to do a direct side-by-side comparison of up to three grills at a time so you can find the best one for your family.

Best for: Weber’s versatility makes the company great for travelers, families large and small and homeowners.

The ConsumerAffairs Research Team believes everyone deserves to make smart decisions. We aim to provide readers with the most up-to-date information available about today's consumer products and services.

Weber Grills Company Information

Google Plus: ConsumerAffairs

Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use

Advertisements on this site are placed and controlled by outside advertising networks. ConsumerAffairs.com does not evaluate or endorse the products and services advertised. See the FAQ for more information.

The information on this Web site is general in nature and is not intended as a substitute for competent legal advice. ConsumerAffairs.com makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information herein provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from the use thereof.

Copyright © 2017 Consumers Unified LLC. All Rights Reserved. ConsumerAffairs Privacy Policy. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission.

Weber Q 240 Electric Grill Review

It's got an three-pronged tail, but it still performs well.

This review was published on May 03, 2013. Since then, this product may have been discontinued or replaced. Pricing and availability may differ from what is stated in the review.

Introduction

The $279 Weber Q 240 is a small grill that's fueled by electricity, but it's not named after a retired boxer, you can't use it inside and it's not portable. Well, at least not without a big ol' generator to keep it going. Though this electric grill might seem like a glorified panini-maker, it's actually a very solid performer that gives people who live in residences restricted against charcoal and gas grilling a chance to enjoy a taste of summer.

Design, Features, & Usability

A space saver.

Though the Weber Q 240 is certainly on the small side as far as grills are concerned, it has a 280 square inch cooking surface, giving it an excellent patio-to-burger ratio. As a space-saver that's only about a foot tall—26 inches with the lid open—there's no trays for plates or hooks for grill tools. At the back there's a removable grease catch pan, and the cast iron grates are enameled for easier upkeep.

Performance

The strong lab results might not tell the whole story.

This is one of the few cases where numbers really struggle to tell the whole story. While it took a good fifteen minutes for the grill to heat up enough for a high searing temperature, the grill was able to deliver exceptionally uniform heat, thanks to the heating element's ample coverage. When it came to even heating, it fell somewhere between discrete gas burners and a well-raked field of charcoal. But regardless of performance, an electric grill will lack the flavors that gas or charcoal can impart. We can't be the judge of taste, so we'll leave that up to you.

Similar Products

Conclusion

Excellent flameless performance in a small package.

It's a fair assumption that people considering electric do so due to necessity; homeowners' associations being as strict as they often are. Though the Weber Q 240 won't deliver flame flavor—charcoal enthusiasts say gas can't either—it sure can grill evenly without the annoying hot spots gas burners can produce. Unlike panini makers and other grill stop-gaps, it actually cooks like a traditional grill. So whether you just want to save space or are trying to find a loophole in the neighborhood's no-grilling policy, this will get the job well done. Or rare, if that's what you prefer.

Follow Us

Get Our Newsletter

Real advice from real experts. Sign up for our newsletter

Thanks for signing up!

What's Your Take?

Copyright © 2017 Reviewed.com. All rights reserved. All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners. We make no guarantees regarding any of the advice offered on this web site or by its staff or users. User comments and postings are not the responsibility of Reviewed.com.

Real advice from real experts. Sign up for our newsletter

Thanks for signing up!

A top view of the grill.

Unlike some electric grills or panini makers, the top has no heating element.

You can see the heating element through the porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates.

The view shows the removable grease catch pan.

Advertisement. The page you requested will display in seconds.

Get ready for summer with the best gas grills of 2017

Gas grills may lack the romance of charcoal, but they offer instant, even heat that puts charcoal to shame. They also boast precise temperature control, which makes it easy to cook delicate foods that might be wasted over 700°F hot coals.

But while choosing gas is a relatively simple decision, picking which gas grill to purchase is considerably more difficult. From big brand names like Weber to the generic grills that crop up in your local grocery store every spring, there are hundreds of options to choose from.

We put popular gas grills through a battery of tests in our labs and backyards. We tested preheat speeds, recorded temperature distribution, measured assembly time, and checked the built-in temperature gauges for accuracy. Now we've analyzed the data, and we can say with certainty that each of these grills offers something for everyone, including our favorite Napoleon Rogue 425 in Stainless (available at AJ Madison for $899.00) .

Updated July 17, 2017

Napoleon Rogue 425 in Stainless

• 

Where To Buy

Napoleon Rogue 425 in Stainless

The Napoleon Rogue 425 is our favorite gas grill. Your local big box store may not have one in stock, but its combination of high-quality materials, ample 425-square-inch main grill surface, beautifully even cooking, and luxurious extras make it worth tracking down.

Unless you're a barbecue aficionado, you may be unfamiliar with the Napoleon brand. Based in Ontario, Canada, Napoleon has been manufacturing grills north of the border since 1976, and has developed a reputation for quality and reliability that rivals better-known brands like Weber.

Along with four capable burners, the Rogue 425 has stainless steel sear plates to prevent flare-ups, an infrared side burner, and folding stainless steel side shelves. And if you still find yourself torn between charcoal and propane, you'll be pleased to discover an optional tray that converts the grill into a charcoal pit. It took one person 90 minutes to put the Rogue 425 together, which was a little quicker than other grills.

In our tests, the Rogue 425 exhibited the best mix of high- and low-temperature cooking evenness, and also offered a quick-to-boil infrared side burner and a surprisingly accurate built-in thermometer.

Napoleon Rogue 425 in Black

Where To Buy

Napoleon Rogue 425 in Black

If you want to save some money, you can buy the Rogue 425 R425SB in black with conventional side burner for just $699—a $300 savings over our top-rated Rogue 425 model. Aside from the finish, the only difference between the two grills is that the R425SB's side burner uses a standard gas flame instead of infrared heating.

If you don't need a side burner at all, the base Rogue 425 sells for just $599. The grills are otherwise identical, and black enamel can often be easier to maintain than stainless.

Weber Spirit E-310

Where To Buy

Weber Spirit E-310

A perennial favorite, the Spirit series is Weber's entry-level line of gas grills. Entry-level doesn’t necessarily mean affordable, though, and the Spirit E-310 isn’t exactly cheap. This popular grill will set you back around $500, and Weber grills rarely go on sale.

In our opinion, however, the money is well spent. This grill is constructed from high-quality materials and really feels like it's built to last. Weber has a reputation for longevity and reliability, and the Spirit is backed up by a 10-year warranty against corrosion and rust. Parts are readily available, too—so a failed burner five years down the line won't ruin a barbecue. Just head to your local authorized Weber dealer for a replacement.

The E-310 features a 529-square-inch cooking surface, three burners, porcelain-coated grates, and a porcelain-coated exterior for extra protection. It was bested by the Napoleon in our burger cooking tests, but it certainly wasn't a poor performer. If you’re a Weber loyalist or just want an incredibly well-made grill with lots of local parts availability, the Spirit E-310 is your best bet.

Broil King Regal 490 Pro

Where To Buy

Broil King Regal 490 Pro

Based on design and features alone, you'd be forgiven for thinking the Broil King Regal 490 Pro was indeed a gas grill fit for royalty. It's powered by four standard burners and also includes a side burner and rotisserie burner for the occasional spit roast. Condiment and tool caddies on either side of the grill provide ample storage space, and the burner dials are illuminated for ease of use.

But despite its high-end appearance and feature-rich design, the Regal 490 is more of a commoner than we thought. In our tests, we found heat distribution lagged below the Weber and Napoleon. That means you'll be able to cook well-done and medium-rare meat on the same grill, but you'll have to spend more time getting to know the hot and cool spots. It also took longer to preheat than most other grills in our tests. On the plus side, however, it takes only slightly longer than the Napoleon to assemble.

Copyright © 2017 Reviewed.com. All rights reserved. All trademarks and product names are the property of their respective owners. We make no guarantees regarding any of the advice offered on this web site or by its staff or users. User comments and postings are not the responsibility of Reviewed.com.

Real advice from real experts. Sign up for our newsletter

Thanks for signing up!

Advertisement. The page you requested will display in seconds.