Weber Genesis E-320 Gas Grill Review

Bottom-Line: Buy it, grill it, love it!

I like grilled food, all types of grilled foods, well except vegetables.  Problem is I do not enjoy the process of grilling on a (traditional) charcoal grill.  Too much fuss, and mess to make grilling on a charcoal grill enjoyable.  And the lighter fluid taste was at times unbearable.  And the clean up!  So, my Weber charcoal grill sat for the most part on my patio cool to the touch and lonely. 

The Grill

The Weber Genesis Silver B is a middle of the product-line propane gas grill, with 611 sq. inches of total cooking area (primary cooking area = 424 sq. inches).  The unit features 3 stainless steel burners that output 36,000 BTU (British Thermal Unit); a crossover ignition system, and Porcelain-enameled cooking grates and flavorizer bars (to minimize flare-ups). 

Like all Weber gas grills the Genesis Silver B uses a crossover ignition system to start the fires burning.  Just turn a knob, and push the button and flame leaps to glorious life.  When you are done grilling simply turn the burners off!  What could be easier? 

Under the Porcelain-enameled cooking grates, and over the stainless steel burners sit three triangular shaped Weber flavorizer bars which the company designed the minimize flare-ups.  The flavorizer bars run the length of the grill.  Instead of grease and fat dripping on the burners they drip on the bars, roll off and into the catch basin below the burners.  Sometimes this works, other times...        

My Viewpoint

So how is the experiment in (LP) gas grilling going?  One recent afternoon before dinner my daughter asked if I were going to grill again.  I love my Weber Genesis Silver B.  Sure the temperature controls take some getting used to, but I believe I have mastered the art of cooking with burners, directly and indirectly.  Of course I sought professional help in the guise of Weber's Big Book O' Grilling (review to come), and invaluable tome about the art of grill cooking, be it over charcoal or gas.  I highly recommend it. 

So far I have grilled all of the basics: pork short ribs (slowly cooked over 6 hours, and so tender they fall off the bone), BBQ chicken, beef short ribs, steak, hamburgers, bratwurst, country style ribs, pork chops etc.  With one rare exception, all of my grilling adventures turn out the way I envisioned and tasted like nothing from the oven ever could.  My grilled BBQ chicken breasts are juicy and oh so flavorful; I was surprised white meat could be so juicy.  As I told my wife, I shall never prepare another chicken breast in the oven!  

Concluding Viewpoint

I have no regrets in purchasing my Weber Genesis Silver B, though the price ($500.00) was rather steep; this was one of the few times when I took off my Frugal Hat.  These things cost more then my oven!  But the enjoyment I derive from grilling now was well worth the cost, not to mention the taste of my meats.  I now plan my meals around the grill, and since I brought the grill home I have not cooked a single piece of meat in the oven...