On both the CharBroil SmartChef and Weber Genesis II, the ribs were too thin to shield their probes from ambient hot air under the lid. As a result I fell back to cooking by time instead of hitting a target thermometer reading. Both grills turned in slightly underdone ribs after a 3-hour cook, so I bumped the time up another 30 minutes for round two. I learned that while its burners are mighty, they also offer a wide temperature range which can be unforgiving if you’re not careful. For example, when I turned the Genesis II’s burner dials all the way up, after 10 minutes the temperature under the hood easily cracked 600 degrees (633.7 in fact). That same high setting and preheat time on the Char-Broil SmartChef Tru-Infrared yielded an internal temp of 457.4 degrees.
The all-new GENESIS grill revolutionizes the art of grilling, transforming your backyard into a culinary hot spot. Sign up to receive new product news, exclusive offers, grilling tips & recipes, and more from Weber and its affiliates / subsidiaries! To learn how we use your information, see our privacy policy. The knobs on this Weber are in a smarter location- on the front, which gives more room on the side table as a work space. The 1.0 version had the knobs on the side table which took workable space away. (As an FYI, Weber changed this burner configuration back in 2011 which was a smart move).
The Sear Zone on the Genesis E-325s has an extra burner between the middle and right-side burners, which puts out the same 13,000 Btu as the others do. We’re impressed with how well this concentrated heat zone created a dark and flavorful crust on ribeyes and weber genesis grill burgers—possibly better than our top pick can. It’s probably the most important upgrade from previous Genesis models. Discover Masterbuilt’s 710 WiFi Digital Electric Smoker, where innovation meets convenience for the ultimate backyard smoking experience.
Consider getting an inexpensive infrared thermometer to gauge the temperature of your cooking surface. Two-burner grills like our budget pick can save you a little space and a little money—as long as you are prepared to cook your food in smaller batches and don’t plan on much indirect cooking. Fry up to a 20 pound turkey outdoors, weber genesis grill or fry fresh filets to a crispy golden brown with this King Kooker® Portable Propane Outdoor Cooker Package with Two Aluminum Pots! The 12” portable propane outdoor cooker has a high pressure 33,000 BTU cast burner and the package includes a large 29 quart aluminum turkey pot with lid, and punched aluminum basket for boiling!
Use the left shelf side burner for sauces, boiling, simmering and sauteing veggies. If you’re looking for a big grill that has a larger cooking area and more power, consider the Weber Genesis E-325s. In our test group, the Spirit II E-310 had the most well-thought-out instructions, with clearly labeled parts. Even if you lack much experience with this sort of work, you’re likely to assemble it easily.