Then, completely open the propane tank’s valve slowly and pause to allow time for the gas to travel through the gas line. You should hear and see each burner ignite after you’ve done that. The SmokeFire EX4 has a 20-pound pellet hopper, as well as a DC-powered engine designed to prevent auger jams. It can even walk you through the grilling process, letting you know when it’s time to flip food—a handy option for novice grillers.
Sam Sifton—the founding editor of New York Times Cooking— also participated in our testing. This two-burner grill is great for grilling novices or for folks with limited space. However, it lacks some of the versatility—and heat output—of our other picks. Here are some supplies and tools we find essential in our everyday work around the shop. We may receive a commission from sales referred by our links; however, we have carefully selected these products for their usefulness and quality.
This little two-burner grill puts a mean sear on steaks, chops, and burgers. It provides good heat control and can maintain a steady medium to medium-low for grilling chicken pieces with rendered skin and sticky glaze. The gas tank mounts externally (see the top photo in this section) instead of in a cabinet underneath the grill, so replacing the tank is easier here than on other models.
The two models have the same bones—the same burners, side tables, and overall dimensions. The Spirit SX-315 connects to Wi-Fi and lets you monitor the meat probe through an app. The smart features may be helpful for some people, but we didn’t find them worth the price increase.
To start, the grill is embedded within an easy-to-move cart that features an extra-large side table and enclosed charcoal storage. PureBlu burners with a unique, tapered design, create a consistent flame and even heat across the grilling surface. Raised flame weber natural gas grill openings keep food debris falling away, minimizing clogs and corrosion. From burgers on the grate to chicken on the rotisserie, or even adding a touch of smoke to the dish, a Weber gas grill boasts an abundance of features for whatever you have a taste for.
A sturdy shelf under the grill and a side table, which folds down for storage, give you some outdoor “counter space” while you’re cooking. We brought the grills to temperature with their two outer burners lit and the middle burner unlit. Then we placed a chicken weighing 3 to 4 pounds in the center of the grate and closed the lid. We monitored the grills’ temperature for the hour-long cook, and we noted the depth and evenness of browning at the end.
Ariane Resnick, who also updated this article, is a special diet chef, certified nutritionist, and bestselling author. She has more than 20 years experience in the food and writing spaces and believes in a joy-filled approach to health and wellness. Sun, rain, snow, hail, and wind are bound to take a toll on the outer surface of your grill, so it’s important to pick a material that’s very durable. While stainless steel can discolor from high heat, it won’t rust or corrode with rain and snow.
On the other hand, gas is more convenient once you have it—you simply turn a knob to start the fire, and there’s no need to wait for coals to burn down before you begin cooking. But you’ll need a special hook-up for natural gas, or to run to the store weber genesis grill for liquid propane. Gas-cooked foods also can lack a certain charred grilling taste preferred by some. If you know that you’ll be cooking multiple different types of food or meats, you might also need to consider multiple burners on a larger grill.
This may involve removing the propane components from the grill and replacing them with the natural gas components. Be sure to tighten all connections securely with the adjustable wrench and apply Teflon tape to the threads to ensure a leak-free connection. Before you start any work, it’s important to turn off the gas supply to the grill. If your grill is connected to a gas line, locate the valve that controls the gas supply and turn it off.
The grill is available in several colors, and it has an easy-to-read fuel gauge next to the propane tank to let you know how much fuel you have remaining. Cook up sizzling steaks, juicy burgers and more mouthwatering meals with a Weber gas grill available at Ace Hardware. Shop now to find a variety of Weber gas grill designs, including big backyard models and smaller, portable options for tailgating and camping adventures. A sear zone is basically three burners that are closer together than the other burners on the grill.