Weber Genesis is Weber's most popular grill series.
This series has decent sizes in three or four burners, has good burner output, and is built to last longer than other competitive grills.
Buying a Genesis is not easy. There are fewer choices, limited availability, and the model numbers can be confusing. Weber discontinued some of their models earlier this year due to component issues.
First, you will learn all about the features and differences between available Genesis grills. Then we'll show you the main benefits of buying a Weber Genesis grill. We'll also show you how to interpret Weber grill codes, so you will understand what you are buying plus the improvements made in 2022.
Then you can read a list of the available grills in separate videos. No series of grills are best for every type of grilling, so you will also see a comparison between Genesis and other grill types like charcoal, pellet, and professional grills.
By the end of the article, you will have complete information on how to decide if the Weber Genesis or another grill is right for you.
Let's get started.
You shop online or in-store and see a row of similar Weber Genesis grills with different model numbers. You almost need a Rosetta Stone or decoder ring to understand the Weber model numbers.
Here’s how to crack the code:
The better grills have the Weber Outdoor Grilling System or "OGS" for short. You will learn about the available OGS accessories later in the article.
Weber Genesis Grill Codes:
Look at this model number: S-435. "S" means it is stainless. "4" is the number of burners it has. "35" means it has a sear station, stainless grates, and a stainless cover.
What would the model number be if you want a three burner with side burners, stainless cover, a sear zone, and stainless grates? It would be an S-335.
The first significant difference is its size, three or four burners, and 9,000 BTU (British Thermal Unit). After size, in a normal year, you would have a choice of side burners, cabinet fronts, a sear station, and stainless or porcelain grates in either series.
Burner output differs by size.
Weber Genesis 3-burner Output
Weber Genesis 4-burner Output
A few years ago, Weber redesigned their grills to light faster, have fewer flare-ups, and more consistent flame. Grease management was also engineered into the grill.
It was dubbed their "GS4." Let's briefly look at the improvements.
The burner specifications of the Genesis have also remained the same at 13,000 BTU burners for a total of 39,000 BTU or 48,000 BTU for the four burners. The side burner if you like to boil corn or lobsters while grilling is the same as last year at 12,000 BTU.
They did increase the sear zone in the middle from 9,000 BTU to 13,000 BTU. It's more powerful, but it's just another row of burners, not an infrared like the better yet more expensive grill types.
The cooking square footage has increased to 787 square inches, but most of the extra space is from a larger top grate. Weber also added better side tables to fit larger plates and a tank monitor. Now you don't have to guess how much gas is left in the tank.
The Weber OGS system is a frame kit fitting new accessories. You could like some of them as it allows you to cook differently.
For 2022, the "Most Popular" should also be synonymous with "the most available." Finding a Weber (or any other appliance) will be challenging this year.
We have both on order. Of the two, the SP-E-325 is slightly better with the thicker grates and lights under the hood, so you see it at night when you cook.
S-325 Features:
SP-E-325s Features:
The SP-E-335 is enamel with porcelain grates. The 335s have a side burner allowing you to cook as you grill. The 335 series is fitted with the grates for the OGS accessories, so you can do more with this grill like a griddle, stir fry, and rotisserie.
Features:
Because of availability issues, we bought both the S-335 and the SP-E-335 (featured above). The difference is the stainless exterior, better grates, and stainless Flavorizer bars. The difference between the S and SP-E is thicker grates and lighting under the hood of the cover.
Features:
In theory, you can buy any of the three-burner grills as a four-burner. However, you will have a problem finding one. The SL-435 is available, at least for now. Availability does vary, so check in your area. It is like the SP-E-335, except it's larger and adds a burner for 48,000 BTU output.
Features:
First, any grill can be a Smart grill using the Weber iGrill App. And accessory The iGrill uses wireless meat probes to sense the inside temperature of your food.
Weber is at the forefront of Smart technology, and it is "smart." You can receive alerts to flip that burger or remove the food from your grill right off your phone and have access to recipes.
For the smart grills, the iGrill is built-in, and you can see the temperature on the grill. You can't change the temperature if you just buy the accessory.
Features:
You shop at Yale for brand selection. For example, you can choose between 14 different dishwasher brands and see 100 wall ovens in our three stores. However, we only sell one grill brand in this price range
We have tried the most competitive brands. Since we use these grills in demonstrations and leave them outside, many cannot handle a New England winter. Others do not perform as their specifications and marketing indicate.
Our chef once placed her hand in the middle of a competitive operating grill to show the cold spot. That is not a grill you would want in your house. Most stores would not even let you return it.
Weber is designed well on the outside with stainless steel, durable plastic, and enameled finishes to survive a New England winter for many years. Be careful what you buy. Most grills aren't designed to last.
Weber has the Sear Zone. It's just another row of burners delivering 13,000 BTU. It doesn't have infrared burners for searing like professional outdoor grills. Without a top burner to provide even heat, you have no rotisserie capability on the Genesis.
Smoking or the ability to add wood flavor is not built into the Genesis grill either. Most of these capabilities are only available in grills starting at $2,500 or higher.
You can buy many Genesis grills in natural or LP gas. However, they are designed to be one or the other and should not be field converted. Most Genesis series grills are available in natural gas, but the colors may vary.
You cannot place an LP (Liquid Propane) grill or wood pellet grill on your roof deck or balcony by code for Bostonians. When you think about it, carrying a liquid propane tank up five flights are a bad idea (I live in the South End). You can run a gas line and have a natural gas grill.
Spirit is the least expensive Weber grill. It is less powerful at 2-3 burners versus 3-4 for Genesis. Only three Spirit grills have the GS4. It is an older but still reliable line of grills.
Spirits will be tough to find this year, as many of Genesis. The Weber Spirit series is the most competitive to Genesis for features yet only has the GS4 grilling system in their Spirit II series models.
It has the same side burner output, but the grill and sear station are slightly underpowered compared to the Genesis at 32,000 versus 39,000 BTU and 7500 Versus 13,000 BTU for the sear station.
The Genesis is the larger version of the Spirit with better BTU output, even with the same three burners. The grates and burners are a bit better as well. Genesis also has the OGS and new improvements.
Read More: Weber Spirit vs. Genesis BBQ Grills
Summit is the largest Weber grill available in 4 and the largest size of 6 burners. Like the Spirit, the Summit does not have the latest GS4 improvements. With the six burners, you have 6 10,000 BTU burners, 10,000 BTU sear, 10,600 BTU infrared rotisserie burner, and 6,000 BTU smoker boxes.
You can do more with the Summit. It is larger, plus you can effectively roast your meat because there is an infrared burner behind the rotisserie. It's an important distinction. As we said, you can buy the rotisserie accessory with Genesis, but there is no burner behind it for even cooking.
The Genesis is 40% cheaper than the better Summit series. However, you can do more with the Summit. It has a rotisserie, smoker basket, and rotisserie burner. The smoker basket allows you to infuse your meat with wood or other flavors.
That said, Genesis is the better grill for grilling only, plus it has the OGS and other improvements not available in a Summit.
If you want a larger grill with better rotisserie and smoking capability, then Summit is better for you. However, if you want a technically more improved grill, Weber 4 series Genesis is the better choice.
So, how much better is a pro grill? Professional grills have higher BTU output at 23,000 -25,000 BTUs per burner, so you cook much faster than Genesis at 12,000-13,000 BTU output per burner. There is a much better sear as well. Pro grills use infrared technology, a hotter, more direct heat for much faster searing.
The Aspire by Hestan has a rotisserie that can fit up to 50 pounds of food with a much hotter 14,000 BTU infrared burner. Even the Weber Summit can only hold 20 pounds with a 10,600 BTU rotisserie burner. Sounds good? It should. However, a good pro grill will cost about $6,000 to start.
Read More: Best Professional Outdoor BBQ Grills
I do not know why they call pellet types of grills. They cannot reach the high temperatures of gas. It's an electric convection fan in a smoker. Pellets are a different type of cooking based on even indirect heat.
You can cook a brisket for a few hours with customized flavor pellets. However, you cannot cook that burger quickly. Its flavor is compared to speed.
Bostonians, as we said, you cannot place propane, wood pellet, or charcoal grill on your balcony. It's against the code.
Read More: New Weber SmokeFire Pellet Grill Series
Charcoal has heat and adds texture that gas cannot. Gas grills are more precise, consistent, and easy to clean than charcoal. You also do not have to add charcoal every time using the grill.
Gas is the easiest and the most precise way to grill, while charcoal will give you a better flavor with more prep and clean-up.
Read More: Differences Between Charcoal, Gas, Professional Gas, and Pellet Grills
It depends. For professionals or more seasoned chefs or grill aficionados, Lynx, DCS, and Hestan offer a much better grill with higher BTU, infrared sears, and better construction. You will have to pay a lot more for those features, usually over $3,799-$10,000.
Genesis, however, is the most popular grill for a reason. It is far more durable than a competitive brand. You also have the right size, options, output, and features for the price.
The basic Genesis is not expensive at $1,129. You can also buy a large grill with good features for under $1,300. It will light up quickly, maintain temperature, and you now have flexibility with the OGS accessories.
Weber is also built better than its competitors (we have carried most of them). It will last longer with better reliability. Genesis should be considered if you are looking for a great, dependable larger grill without frills.
No, not all Weber grills are made in the US. Most are now made in China.
Weber's Smart Grilling Hub is a connectivity accessory that mounts to the side of your grill. The way to "connect" the accessory piece is by downloading the Smart Grilling Hub app on your phone.
The app is Bluetooth connected and will send alerts to your phone, such as temperature readings for four different meat types. This includes alarming you when it reaches a minimum or maximum temperature.
You will know when your food is done cooking without cutting into the meat, checking the color, or standing by the grill. All this functionality is now built into the Smart grills.
Yes, most Genesis is available in natural gas.
Additional Resources
Want to know the latest information on all the best grills? Download the YaAle BBQ Grill Buying Guide with features, BTU outputs of all the grills, and detailed profiles of all the best brands. Well over 1 million people have read a Yale Guide.
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