I cook on the grill year round, at least 3-4 times a week--more when I am home as I travel quite a bit for work. Typical burgers, chicken, steak, pork chops, shrimp on skewers, shish-k-bob, etc. No need for rotis or side burner. On natural gas.
In 1985 we moved in to our first home (from apartment living for years) and had a Weber Smokey Joe. It was time to now get the full size kettle grill by Weber! We went to the local grill and home store, and they told us Weber had just come out with a gas grill line, with revolutionary designs and improvements. never having had a gas grill, it appealed to us - no mess, no wait for coals to fire, etc., so we took a chance. Probably the best grill I have owned to date. The Genesis 1 was the model - 424 sq in cooking surface - porcelain coated cooking grids and porcelain coated flavorizor bars. Over the years, the grids chipped as did the flavorizor bars. Weber gladly replaced them not once, not twice, but up to 3 times in the 10 years I used that grill.
In 1995, I went to replace it with a new Weber Genesis, but was talked in to an MHP WNK. Made in America, built like a tank, but the burner system was an H burner under briquets. Terrible heat control, and I had to replace the burner 3 times in 5 years at my expense. On the MHP, their porcelain coated cooking grids also chipped, but instead of replacing them, MHP upgraded the replacement at no charge to stainless. Finally, the porcelain nightmares were over. However the constant need for burner replacement and the unequal heat, drove me to go back to the Weber.
In 1999 I went to replace the MHP with a new Weber Genesis, but this time - yep - was talked again in to another brand - Ducane 1605 2 burner. The Ducane has never really gotten hot enough, and is now on it's last legs. So I am in the market for a new gas grill.
Went to look at the Weber Genesis and was surprised to see that they have gotten larger. Cooking surface is larger than the original. They have taken out the east/west flavorizor bars (bad move), and moved the burners north and south (good move). I can get the basic black hood and body with either all stainless inside (EP-310) or cast iron grids and porcelain flavorizor bars (E-310).
Then I saw the remolded Spirit for 2013. The 3 burner would be the one I would consider for control. Just so happens cooking surface is now the same size as I had on my original 1985 Genesis.
On the Spirit E-310 -
1. It comes with porcelain enameled cast iron cooking grids - what do you know or can you comment about the "porcelain enamel"? I am concerned with my past experience of the porcelain chipping off and getting in the food un-noticed. Comments?
2. Porcelain coated flavorizor bars - had problems in the past - solutions?? I contacted Weber but they do not even make flavorizor bars in stainless for the Spirit. the angle is wider on the bar for Spirit than for Genesis, so it is not like I could purchase the Genesis bars and cut them shorter. Comments?
3. Made in China? A lot of flack is made in the better grill stores about this...I understand, but look at the other products we consider reliable in our daily life. Big deal or not - comments?
4. Weber Quality - many grill stores say Weber has downgraded their stainless and their quality. A lot refer to 403 stainless vs 304 stainless throughout. They cite burners used to be dual side, but are not top-ported. They cite the BTU's are way to low, and especially on the Spirit, the thermometer only goes up to 600 degrees. Weber still has the best warranty though.
I have been told Broilmaster Signet 20 or Soverign 20 are a lot better value for the money. Comments??
I have been told the new Saber line is the best to buy with their InfraRed cooking system - Comments??
Any plans in the works for Weber to do InfraRed??
I have been told Napolean beats them all and simply pluck down $1500 to put something outside that may last only 5-6 years?!?!? Comments.
In 1985 we moved in to our first home (from apartment living for years) and had a Weber Smokey Joe. It was time to now get the full size kettle grill by Weber! We went to the local grill and home store, and they told us Weber had just come out with a gas grill line, with revolutionary designs and improvements. never having had a gas grill, it appealed to us - no mess, no wait for coals to fire, etc., so we took a chance. Probably the best grill I have owned to date. The Genesis 1 was the model - 424 sq in cooking surface - porcelain coated cooking grids and porcelain coated flavorizor bars. Over the years, the grids chipped as did the flavorizor bars. Weber gladly replaced them not once, not twice, but up to 3 times in the 10 years I used that grill.
In 1995, I went to replace it with a new Weber Genesis, but was talked in to an MHP WNK. Made in America, built like a tank, but the burner system was an H burner under briquets. Terrible heat control, and I had to replace the burner 3 times in 5 years at my expense. On the MHP, their porcelain coated cooking grids also chipped, but instead of replacing them, MHP upgraded the replacement at no charge to stainless. Finally, the porcelain nightmares were over. However the constant need for burner replacement and the unequal heat, drove me to go back to the Weber.
In 1999 I went to replace the MHP with a new Weber Genesis, but this time - yep - was talked again in to another brand - Ducane 1605 2 burner. The Ducane has never really gotten hot enough, and is now on it's last legs. So I am in the market for a new gas grill.
Went to look at the Weber Genesis and was surprised to see that they have gotten larger. Cooking surface is larger than the original. They have taken out the east/west flavorizor bars (bad move), and moved the burners north and south (good move). I can get the basic black hood and body with either all stainless inside (EP-310) or cast iron grids and porcelain flavorizor bars (E-310).
Then I saw the remolded Spirit for 2013. The 3 burner would be the one I would consider for control. Just so happens cooking surface is now the same size as I had on my original 1985 Genesis.
On the Spirit E-310 -
1. It comes with porcelain enameled cast iron cooking grids - what do you know or can you comment about the "porcelain enamel"? I am concerned with my past experience of the porcelain chipping off and getting in the food un-noticed. Comments?
2. Porcelain coated flavorizor bars - had problems in the past - solutions?? I contacted Weber but they do not even make flavorizor bars in stainless for the Spirit. the angle is wider on the bar for Spirit than for Genesis, so it is not like I could purchase the Genesis bars and cut them shorter. Comments?
3. Made in China? A lot of flack is made in the better grill stores about this...I understand, but look at the other products we consider reliable in our daily life. Big deal or not - comments?
4. Weber Quality - many grill stores say Weber has downgraded their stainless and their quality. A lot refer to 403 stainless vs 304 stainless throughout. They cite burners used to be dual side, but are not top-ported. They cite the BTU's are way to low, and especially on the Spirit, the thermometer only goes up to 600 degrees. Weber still has the best warranty though.
I have been told Broilmaster Signet 20 or Soverign 20 are a lot better value for the money. Comments??
I have been told the new Saber line is the best to buy with their InfraRed cooking system - Comments??
Any plans in the works for Weber to do InfraRed??
I have been told Napolean beats them all and simply pluck down $1500 to put something outside that may last only 5-6 years?!?!? Comments.