Customer Reviews

Weber 3741001 Genesis E-310 Propane Gas Grill, Black

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

There's really nothing more that can be said to further the reputation of this series of grills. Those of us that own the Genesis E-310 series grill know how well this grill is manufactured, and just how very well it performs its duties. It is, by far, the very best gas grill in this price range I have ever owned or used. A couple of notes:
-The cross-over ignition system works wonderfully (it takes less than 3 seconds to fire up all three burners
-Those who say that their gas grill does not get hot enough to sear meats don't own this grill- I've had it up to 550 degrees on a very cold MN winter day
-That said, it seems to go through a good amount of propane when running all 3 burners on high...but that is probably obvious considering the temps you can obtain when running it on full. (It will be interesting to see if I can get 500 + degrees to sear meats on medium setting on a summer day....). The fuel gauge inside the cabinet is also a handy feature
-As always with this series of grills- No Flare ups, and the flavorizer bars do what Weber says they will, namely vaporize fats and juices into smoke that adds flavor to what you are grilling
-To keep this review balanced, there is one negative- I dislike the tool holders. Although there are plenty, your tools pretty much have to have one of those leather hanging loop things to keep the tools from falling off or even to use the holders (a small price to pay I guess)

Finally, the Genesis E-310 I purchased came in a copper color, something I haven't seen on Amazon, or on Weber's site for that matter. Maybe I missed it, or maybe I got lucky. Either way, it looks pretty darn sharp on our deck when it isn't covered.

We bought this recently from a local home supply store (shipping from Amazon, even though essentially free, seemed a bit much). Works very well. Solid.

One point that needs to be made is the choice of grates. Since this is where the meat hits the road, it is an important consideration. Weber offers three choices, although that is not very apparent from this site. All offer pros and cons.

The stainless steel is certainly the spiffiest looking and cleans up well. Wear is not a problem with stainless steel. Low maintenance.

Likewise the porcelain covered cast iron. Not as bright as stainless. You're also supposed to use a special cleaning pad, according to the Weber instructions. I imagine that like an porcelain covered cast iron pot, the porcelain may chip over time.

However, temperature is an issue with these two options. Look to a Cook's Illustrated test of gas grills. They measured the recovery time for these two types of grates as well as cast iron. For the stainless steel and porcelain covered cast iron, the recovery time was slow. This means that the grate's temperature will drop when you place the food on the grill and not recover very quickly. This could be a concern for creating a crust or carmelization.

The cast iron grate is the third alternative (and the one I chose, after much searching). As the Cook's Illustrated test showed, the temperature drop for the cast iron was much less than the alternatives. This makes sense if you ever use cast iron skillets on the stove.

Cast iron has some downsides. You must season it and keep seasoning it for awhile. Again, if you've ever used a new cast iron skillet on the stove, you know that while the seasoning process is a hassle at first, persistence pays off with a virtually non-stick surface after awhile. Cast iron takes a bit longer to heat up (but retains heat longer). Failure to season or leaving exposed to the elements will result in rust (not the end of the world, just wire brush it off and re-season).

When it came time for me to buy a grill, I looked immediately to the Weber Genesis series, mainly because my family has always owned Webers and we've never been disappointed by them. My dad's prior Genesis grill lasted about 10 years before needing to be replaced, and likely would have lasted longer if it weren't for the harsh South Florida climate (the humid air down there is really rough on anything metal that's left outside).

I opted for the E-310 as I didn't need a side burner and didn't quite feel like paying up for the stainless steel model (which is nice, but hard to keep clean!).

This is a GREAT all around grill. IMO, there's nothing worse than a cheap gas grill - they don't maintain even heat, they don't get hot enough, and they often have the heat source too close to the food. I have a feeling a lot of the charcoal snobs out there (and I admit I used to be one myself) believe so ardently in charcoal's superiority partly because they've compared it only to a cheapo gas grill - guess what, it isn't the "rich smokey flavor" that makes charcoal grills great, it's the heat (they get hotter than most of the cheaper gas grills available) and the evenness of the heat. When buying a gas grill, you DO get what you pay for - and the Weber Genesis series is worth it. My Weber will heat to 600+ degrees, maintains even heat, and the heat source is far enough from the food to limit flare ups.

I've had this for about 2 weeks now and even I'm surprised how much I use it - almost every night (and THAT IMO is the main advantage of gas vs. charcoal, this thing is so convenient that I use it probably 5 times a week even though I live alone so I'm usually cooking for one). Thus far I've cooked steaks, pork chops, chicken breasts, and chicken wings on it (as well as sides like corn on the cob, asparagus, and new potatoes, all done on the grill of course), and it's ALL come out great. I'm very happy with it and I'm sure it'll only get better as the grill gets broken in and as I get more experienced using it.

If I've helped convince you to spring for the E-310, there's one thing you should consider (aside from whether to go stainless steel and whether to go with a side burner - those are both personal preferences) that you may not know about: there's a choice between cast iron and stainless still grill grates. I'm pretty sure the one offered on Amazon has the cast iron. Now, in most cases I think cast iron is great for cooking (it really holds the heat in better and gives a superior sear vs. other metals), HOWEVER cast iron does not hold up very well when left outside, especially if you live in a humid climate. Also, it's harder to clean. For this reason, if you live in a humid climate I'd recommend going for the version of the E-310 that has a stainless steel grill, you can find them if you look around. You can still get that cast iron sear when you want it by simply buying a Lodge cast iron skillet or griddle (available here on Amazon for < $20) and using it right on the Weber grill for certain dishes - I did this for a Filet Mignon the other night and it produced an excellent sear.

Overall, 5 stars for the Weber Genesis for a great cooking experience AND great Weber quality that should last you 10 years or more, if properly taken care of.

All of the Weber Genesis grills are engineering marvels.

Often people will say cheaper brands will have better materials or features. But in the end, the Weber Genesis will have even heat everywhere on the grate. It will heat up to over 600F and will maintain much of that heat when opened. All of the parts are made from quality materials and the design is perfected. If people say a cheaper grill is better, they probably are not willing to pay the premium for quality. The Weber will cook your food properly and will last many years.

Here is some info on the different Weber Genesis models

E - no stainless steel
EP - stainless steel grates and flavorizor bars
S - Stainless Steel top, sides, grates and flavorizor bars
310 - no side burner
320 - side burner

GRILLING HISTORY
I've grilled on some diverse equipment over the years...cast iron grates on an open fire, tailgating hibachi's, cheapo `pot on a tripod' charcoal grills, fixed gas grills, and various grades of propane units. The Weber Genesis has given me the best overall grilling experience thus far.

For reference, I've been using this grill approximately once per week for the past 3 ˝ months. That's not a great deal of use, but plenty of time to know that I have a great product in my hands. I've grilled chicken, fish, steaks (beef and bison), shish-ka-bobs, veggies, pineapple, burgers, dogs, sausage, etc.

HOW IT COOKS

Let's face it, our primary goal with any grill is to cook great food for our friends, our families, and ourselves to enjoy. This Weber makes it easy to do just that.

HEAT- One of the main problems I've run into with other grills is a lack of heat. In roughly five minutes the E-310 reaches 500F with the lid closed. If you wait a little longer, it will push 550F no problem. Not only does it heat quickly, it heats evenly. Unlike some of the other grills I've used over the years, heat is dispersed nicely around the grill, and all cooking positions on the main grate work equally well.

NO FLARE-UPS- I have yet to have any sort of flare up. The bits and drips that fall from the grate are either caught in the catch tray, or turn to smoke/flavor. I've never used another grill that didn't have ANY issues with flare-ups. The convenience of this feature, and the positive impact it has on producing properly finished results can't be stressed enough.

CONSISTENCY- The factors above make for consistent grilling. I think that's the one benefit of this grill that I've noticed above all others. I've really been able to dial in my cook times, because I know the grill is going to react the same way every time. 3˝ minutes per side on a 1" thick steak at full heat produces a perfect medium restaurant-style steak...every time. All guesswork is eliminated. With other grills, I always seemed to be a bit off on my cook times. Food was either over or under-cooked, and I only stumbled on the perfect preparation once in a while. With only a little experience on this Weber, I'm already confident that I can churn out awesome meals every time. To me, that's what makes this grill so great.

HEAT RETENTION- Another outstanding heat-related feature of this grill is how quickly it comes back up to temperature after it's opened. I've never owned a grill that rebounds so quickly from the release of heat. You open the lid to check on your food, close the lid, and the thermometer on the grill face is racing back towards 500F. The thick, heavy duty lid and grate are obviously great heat sinks.

OTHER FEATURES

THERMOMETER- The thermometer on the face of the grill is a handy tool. It helps you adjust cook time by recognizing how much heat you've lost when the grill was opened. In other words, if you're shooting for 3 minutes per side on a burger at 500F, and you open the grill for some reason (add buns to toast, etc.), you can see when the grill is back at 500F, and how long it took to get there. That way you can cook a little longer to compensate for the loss of heat. It's a very handy feature.

EASY TO LIGHT- I've never had any issues lighting this grill. It lights on the first click every time, and the other two burners light instantly when you turn their knobs. When you look across the flames from the side, you see that the flames are all perfectly even.

DURABILITY- Since I don't have much time on my unit yet, I can't comment too much on durability. I can say that the grill appears to be very solidly constructed, and I don't have any concerns about how it will hold up.

ASSEMBLY- My wife put this grill together in the garage with basic hand tools. She laid everything out on the garage floor with the directions. I came back in after working on a yard project a couple of hours later, and it was done and ready to light. I consider her a little more handy than average, but she said it was a fairly intuitive build.

COVER- The cover fits snugly and seems to protect the grill well. We had an ill-fitting universal cover on our last grill, and it was always a pain to take off and put on. The one for this unit is a piece of cake, and covers the entire grill almost to the ground.

GAS TANK LEVEL- The `fuel remaining' indicator on the propane tank is handy, and should result in fewer major party-fouls. Not having enough gas for the grill at your BBQ is up there with running out of beer, or playing terrible music through a tiny boom box. If you commit any of these serious offenses you should be permanently banned from throwing parties in the future.

VS. CHARCOAL GRILLS

If you are a casual griller with the primary goal of producing consistently great food in your backyard, buy this grill and don't waste your time with charcoal. I recently went to a friend's house, where he proudly showed us his new charcoal/gas hybrid grill (it was actually also a Weber, except one that uses gas to start, and charcoal to cook). I felt bad watching him flail around with the thing. First he had to get the charcoal lit. Then he had to wait for all of the coals to light evenly. Then he wasn't sure how hot some of the coals were vs. others around the grilling area. Then he wasn't certain when to put the food on. His burgers came out overcooked, and the heat died so quickly that he struggled to finish a couple of measly hot dogs. What a train wreck. I felt bad for him, and longed for a giant, juicy burger off of my grill. He experienced all of those problems, and was only cooking for four at the time. I can't imagine cooking for a party of 30 on that thing. It would be a juggling act to produce reasonably good results for all. Also, don't buy into the `more flavor with charcoal' hype. If you season your burgers nicely when you prep them, and cook them properly on this grill, you won't be lacking any flavor!

CONS

Nothing is perfect, and there are a few things I'd like to see with this grill. First, I'd prefer to have a higher and larger top shelf grilling surface. I primarily use the top shelf for bun toasting and warming. I'd like to have it removed a little further from the direct heat of the burners. Also, it would be great to have more shelf space on the sides of the grill. No matter what grilling situation I've been in, I always seem to be lacking counter space, particularly when cooking for a sizeable group.

SUMMARY

If you have a few extra bucks, and you want to produce consistently great food, invest in this grill. The $250-$400 grills of the world can't compete with this Weber on producing repeatable, delicious results. They lack heat production, they flare-up, they don't retain or rebuild heat quickly, and their grates and burners tend to fall apart. Also, unless you're a BBQ connoisseur with a lot of spare time on your hands, don't waste your time with charcoal. You'll spend too much time futzing around, and stress yourself out trying to get consistent results (particularly if you're cooking for a sizeable group). You want a grill that's easy to "learn." That way can quickly and easily produce consistent results, and spend more time relaxing on your deck with a cold one, swimming in your pool, spending time with your friends and family, etc.

When it came time for me to buy a grill, I looked immediately to the Weber Genesis series, mainly because my family has always owned Webers and we've never been disappointed by them. My dad's prior Genesis grill lasted about 10 years before needing to be replaced, and likely would have lasted longer if it weren't for the harsh South Florida climate (the humid air down there is really rough on anything metal that's left outside).

I opted for the E-310 as I didn't need a side burner and didn't quite feel like paying up for the stainless steel model (which is nice, but hard to keep clean!).

This is a GREAT all around grill. IMO, there's nothing worse than a cheap gas grill - they don't maintain even heat, they don't get hot enough, and they often have the heat source too close to the food. I have a feeling a lot of the charcoal snobs out there (and I admit I used to be one myself) believe so ardently in charcoal's superiority partly because they've compared it only to a cheapo gas grill - guess what, it isn't the "rich smokey flavor" that makes charcoal grills great, it's the heat (they get hotter than most of the cheaper gas grills available) and the evenness of the heat. When buying a gas grill, you DO get what you pay for - and the Weber Genesis series is worth it. My Weber will heat to 600+ degrees, maintains even heat, and the heat source is far enough from the food to limit flare ups.

I've had this for about 2 weeks now and even I'm surprised how much I use it - almost every night (and THAT IMO is the main advantage of gas vs. charcoal, this thing is so convenient that I use it probably 5 times a week even though I live alone so I'm usually cooking for one). Thus far I've cooked steaks, pork chops, chicken breasts, and chicken wings on it (as well as sides like corn on the cob, asparagus, and new potatoes, all done on the grill of course), and it's ALL come out great. I'm very happy with it and I'm sure it'll only get better as the grill gets broken in and as I get more experienced using it.

If I've helped convince you to spring for the E-310, there's one thing you should consider (aside from whether to go stainless steel and whether to go with a side burner - those are both personal preferences) that you may not know about: there's a choice between cast iron and stainless still grill grates. I'm pretty sure the one offered on Amazon has the cast iron. Now, in most cases I think cast iron is great for cooking (it really holds the heat in better and gives a superior sear vs. other metals), HOWEVER cast iron does not hold up very well when left outside, especially if you live in a humid climate. Also, it's harder to clean. For this reason, if you live in a humid climate I'd recommend going for the version of the E-310 that has a stainless steel grill, you can find them if you look around. You can still get that cast iron sear when you want it by simply buying a Lodge cast iron skillet or griddle (available here on Amazon for < $20) and using it right on the Weber grill for certain dishes - I did this for a Filet Mignon the other night and it produced an excellent sear.

Overall, 5 stars for the Weber Genesis for a great cooking experience AND great Weber quality that should last you 10 years or more, if properly taken care of.

I assembled the Genesis yesterday and can offer a few tips.

It's heavy! It was challenging to move the 160 pound shipping container, and it took two people to wrestle the firebox into place.

It took about an hour to put together, and I'm sure I saved some time by using a 7/16 socket wrench along with a 7/16 nut driver. The little stamped wrench included with the barbeque is a knuckle buster.

The instructions were better than most but certainly not in the same league as Heathkit. As far as I know, I only made one mistake: The unit comes with steel washers and rubber washers. The instructions show light and dark washers, but I didn't get that at first and I had to do some re-work.

My unit came with clevis pins pre-mounted on the lid hinge, and there were also some in the hardware bag, so I ended up having some extra parts.

I actually have the Genesis EP-310. The difference is basically I have solid steel cooking grates and not the porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates. Both grills are excellent quality, but of course its a Weber.

I like many people thought spending anywhere between 700 to 800 dollars for a grill was absolutely crazy! Initially I went to my local Walmart and purchased a Uniflame grill for 170 bucks instead and just over a year later I faced the decision of having to gut the whole grill and buying replacement parts for it or buy a new grill. The grill had rusted out in under a year. I called Uniflame and was advised that they were aware that the manufacture used sub par materials. But still would not replace the parts under warranty because it was just over a year since I purchased the grill. Crappy customer service and the idea of every year or so spending 100 dollars or more on grill that I had already sunk 170 dollars into just didn't make sense to me. And at what point would the grill rust completely out and I need to buy a whole new grill at another 170 bucks..
I did my research and I found that Weber uses ONLY USA steel! And these grills are made here IN the USA. Granted this doesn't mean there won't be problems with the quality of the materials. BUT Weber backs up their grills with one of the BEST warranties that I have found! The shortest time being 3 years (for the porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates) or 5 years (for the stainless steel cooking grates and all burners). I have ran into a few (not a lot) people who have had to call Weber's customer service and all accounts have pleasant and Weber solved the problem quickly.
So I took the plunge and I have never been happier! Let me tell you these grills are HEAVY and SOLID!! Weber has designed grills that work well for people.. No crazy reaching over the cooking area to open the lid (uniflame). Also you have kitchen like control over the flame. This is the first grill I have ever actually be able to control the temp with. It really makes me wonder what these other grills were thinking by putting thermometers on their lids. Until this grill I had NEVER been able to control the temp. Place raw chicken on a grill watch out for flare ups. Not on this grill.. The flavor saves do their job! Now I am sure you can burn your food. But as long as you pay attention to what you are doing I find that it will be hard to do it..
Here's another perk I've found with Weber.. The make attachments that WORK.. OH MY GOSH!! Hard to believe yes I know.. Granted this is away to keep revenues coming in I know this.. But I was able to buy the smoker box and the rotisserie for this grill. Bringing my total invested amount in this grill to 910 which is still cheaper then then Summits that includes those features.
All in all this grill is awesome! I have no regrets in purchasing it and would do it again in a heartbeat!

My last Weber Genesis lasted 10 years and other than replacing flavorizer bars and grates a couple times, it worked perfectly.

The new E-310 is great, it looks nice and performs well. Assembly was not technically difficult but was not a pleasant experience either. I'm good with tools and directions but this took me several painful hours to put together. Take a truck to pick it up and 2 guys. The box barely fit in my Honda Pilot with the seats folded flat there was only an inch to spare.

I have one complaint: The ignition system uses a AAA battery. I grill year-round but live in a cold climate (Colorado) and the battery needs to be replaced often. The switch which holds the battery eventually broke. No big deal expcept Weber's parts site has been down since December and customer support is nonexistent. I have to light my $700 grill manually and since the E-310 is so new none of the usual on-line parts places have the part. Recommend buying from a grill specialty store that can work these kinds of issues. My old Weber's manual igniter never failed to light with more than 2 attempts in 10 years grilling on average 2 days a week. Not sure why they would put in a such a cheap, unreliable system on such a nice grill. If not for this issue it would be 5 stars.

I've had this grill for about a month and overall I am quite happy with it. However, the documentation is simply unacceptable for a product in this price range. For example, there isn't a word in the instructions about care of the grate, or how to clean the grease tray. The assembly instructions are almost indecipherable (and I am an engineer), and an important brace is shown only on a separate 'errata' sheet.

I understand most companies now ship instructions in many languages, and this increases their costs. Even so, for a few dollars more Weber could have included decent assembly instructions, usage instructions, and "tips."

(I notice that the instructions we printed on cheap paper and small print, but they managed to include a glossy, fully color accessory catalog.)

The poor documentation is not a reason to not buy this grill - but Weber should be ashamed of short-changing their customers on such a basic item.