Part of the Weber Spirit series, the E-310 Gas Grill 3721001 is one of the smallest in Weber's line of full-size grills. Even so, this model has three burners and 424 square inches of primary cooking space, making it perfectly suited for family-style barbecues. For such an affordable price of about $400, we were expecting this grill to skimp on amenities. Yet we were pleasantly surprised at all the convenient features, from the front condiment shelves to the dual warming racks and fully enclosed storage cart.

The Spirit E-310 boasts 36,000 Btu of cooking power, which ably handles all types of grilling tasks. One thing we did notice was that the left side of the grill surface gets noticeably hotter than the right -- most likely due to the fact that the cross-over ignition tube is located at the far left side of the cookbox. The grill is supported by a painted steel cart frame, with stainless steel doors and painted side and rear panels. The hood is constructed with cast-aluminum end caps and a porcelain-enamel shroud. A center-mounted thermostat keeps track of the temperature while the lid is closed.

The grill has one dedicated side shelf with molded handle and front condiment basket. On the other side the usable surface space is diminished by the placement of the three control knobs. Some may appreciate this feature for its child safety aspects. As with all grills in the Weber line, you get quality stainless steel burner tubes, which run horizontally to deliver a searing heat to the entire cooking surface. The unit relies on a pushbutton igniter, which has a flint-style spark generator.

The Weber Spirit has several components made from heavy plastic, rather than metal, which not only keeps the cost down, but also provides noticeably cooler surfaces and edges. It is also energy efficient, operating at a low Btu rate. It took slightly longer to preheat but once the correct cooking temperature was reached, the grill maintained a steady heat for the duration of cooking. With all burners set to high, the grill reached a temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit at the 10-minute mark and 600 degrees after 15 minutes.

Another trademark Weber feature is the Flavorizer bar system, a group of five porcelain-enameled bars that sit below the cooking grates but atop the burners to catch and vaporize juices and drippings, thereby imparting a delicious smokey flavor to foods. There are also handy molded utensil hooks, which keep your tools within reach. Of the two warming racks on this model, one is a traditional wire rack for keeping cooked foods warm and the other is a swinging basket (which is actually attached to the food) for smaller, more delicate food items. The majority of your cooking will be done on the main porcelain-enamel cooking grates. Unlike some of Weber's higher-priced grills, the grates on this model are not cast iron or stainless steel so they may show signs of wear quicker; however, they are well suited to a full range of grilling tasks. All things considered, for the low price, the Weber Spirit is an exceptional value.


Pros: Three burners, 36,000 Btu, stainless steel burners, enclosed cabinet with stainless steel doors, cast-aluminum end caps on hood, front condiment bins, hood thermometer
Cons: Porcelain-enamel cooking grates may rust over time

Warranty
2 years, parts; 3 years, Flavorizer bars; 10 years, porceline lid section and stainless steel burner tubes; 25 years, aluminum castings