Power and performance meets stylish design with this gas grill. Here's what we learned from firsthand testing.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Power and performance meets stylish design with this gas grill. Here's what we learned from firsthand testing.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
When it comes to cooking outside, there are plenty of options. Firing up the best charcoal grill provides great flavor and a novel experience. But a gas grill is the perfect fit if you’re looking for convenience and ease of use. The best gas grills provide a mixture of performance and power, which allows you to ignite at the touch of a button.
As a grilling enthusiast, I’m impressed with the sear zone on the Weber Genesis E-325 for even more cooking options. Test Kitchen grilling expert, Catherine Ward, was impressed with its large grilling area, attractive design and sturdy build—noting it was the best overall gas grill on our list of the best Weber grills. Here’s what we learned about this top-notch grill while testing.
The extra-large sear zone delivers legendary Weber quality, performance and durability in a grill you can rely on.
Part of Weber’s Genesis line of gas grills, the Genesis E-325 is a mid-size grill. It is designed with a sleek black and silver steel exterior and a storage cabinet at the base so you can tuck away the propane tank and have room left for other grilling accessories. The grill has sturdy tables on each side, simplifying prep and cooking. It features four wheels for mobility, all of which lock in place so the grill stays put once you’ve found the perfect spot on your patio. There is a built-in thermometer on the top of the grill, and both the temperature dials and the ignition switch are located on the front for convenient access.
The Genesis E-325 has three burners, cranking at 39,000 BTUs for powerful performance. Inside, it has heavy-duty cast-iron grill grates for excellent heat retention, which are porcelain enamel-coated to make cleaning easier. The grill has a cooking area of 531 square inches, with 513 square inches comprising the three-burner main cooking area. The sear zone is concentrated, delivering 13,000 BTUs for high heat searing of steaks. There is also a 128-square-inch warming rack to keep cooked food warm before serving. The cabinet’s design below provides extra covered space to store Weber grilling accessories, so they’re easily in reach.
To assess this gas grill, the Taste Recipes Test Kitchen first evaluated it by ease of assembly. Although there were many parts to this grill, the directions were clear, and the parts were labeled to make assembly simpler.
Then, it was time to get cooking! Test Kitchen pro Catherine Ward grilled a 1 1/2-inch thick steak on high heat at 500 degrees on this grill. With a two-minute sear on each side and a four-minute covered cook between sears, she found that this grill produced steakhouse-quality sears for excellent flavor. A whole cut-up chicken was cooked at a medium heat of 350 degrees for 45 minutes, resulting in a deep golden mahogany color without being overly charred. It had excellent color and deep, delicious flavor.
While testing this grill, Catherine found that it took about 5 minutes to get it up to temperature each time, and it maintained temperature perfectly. The grilling surface provided plenty of space between the grates and the warming rack, allowing room for flipping and basting items while cooking. There was also plenty of space between burners for indirect grilling without charring cooked items. This makes the grill versatile for a variety of cooking needs, whether you’re cooking straight on the grates or using a grilling basket or cast-iron griddle.
Overall, the grill was easy to clean with a grill brush to remove stuck-on food. Grease is directed into a drip tray with a disposable foil liner to make cleanup that much simpler.
Once initial testing in our Outdoor Product Testing Lab was complete, Catherine took the grill home for additional long-term testing. She’s used it over a dozen times to prep salmon, pork chops, burgers, brats, chicken breasts, veggies, corn on the cob and steak. Whew!
“I’ve used the sear zone on pork chops and steaks for a quicker cook. I really appreciate that I can get a good sear without overcooking,” Catherine says. “I also like the warming rack. It is narrow and can be used as is, or you can easily fold it out for a deeper area. I have used that for brats and burgers when some are done sooner than others. It means I can keep them warm instead of removing them to a platter and risking a cool-down before I serve them.”
Catherine also loves that the grill heats up quickly so she can get dinner started in a snap. It also cools down quickly. “With two side tables, there is plenty of room to hold everything I need while grilling. I really like the large cabinet under the grill for storing my grill brush and grilling utensils,” she notes.” Another great feature is the hook that holds the propane—it measures the fullness of the tank. No need to open the cabinet to check as there is a red arrow on the exterior.”
In our larger test of the best grills, we awarded the Weber Genesis E-325 our top spot as best gas grill. It earned this for its powerful performance, stylish design and extra clever features. It’s larger and has higher BTUs than the compact Weber Spirit II E-310, which is excellent for small backyards.
The Spirit line of Weber grills is more suited to beginners or those on tighter budgets. But don’t mistake their simplicity for poor performance: Weber Spirit grills offer the same renowned Weber grilling power, just with fewer bells and whistles. Where the Spirit II E-310 and Genesis E-325 really differ is in build quality. The Spirit has more plastic components, so it is inherently less durable than the Genesis. However, we’re confident you can still get a lot of good years out of the Weber Spirit.
If you want simple, go with the Spirit. If you have more money to spend and want the best in a mid-tier price range, go for the Genesis.
It’s still in the mid-size range compared to Weber’s much larger gas grill options, making it more budget-friendly. This would be an excellent grill for beginners, but it also has enough power and additional features to be a great upgrade for someone who already loves grilling.
The Weber Genesis E-325 has it all; with an attractive design, helpful storage cabinet and side tables, powerful heat performance across three burners, a concentrated sear zone and a grease drip cleaning system. It’s well-built and sturdy to bring the heat without taking up too much space.
Featuring flavorizer bars to catch and vaporize juices, boosting grilled flavor.
Ready to master the grill? The Weber Genesis E-325 is available at Amazon, Ace Hardware and BBQ Guys for $849. You can also order directly from Weber. While we tested the liquid propane version, there is also an E-325 model compatible with natural gas.
Weber is known for making grills with excellent build quality, and durability is associated with the Weber name. You can expect to get at least a good 10 to 15 years out of your Weber Genesis. In fact, Weber offers a 10-year warranty on most components of the grill, with 12 years on the lid assembly and cookbox (three years on electrical components and 5 on all other parts). So, 10 years or more is a fair lifespan for a Weber Genesis.
Webers with an “S” in the product name have stainless steel finishes, while Webers with an “E” in the product name have porcelain-enamel finishes.
In our testing, we found the Weber Genesis E-325 to reach about 500 degrees Fahrenheit on the highest settings. We’ve seen other reviewers state that it reaches 515 degrees.
The Weber Genesis E-325 has porcelain-enameled grill grates inside. That enameled coating makes it easier to use a grill brush to clean the grill. The grill also has a grease management system, so you can easily pull the tray out after the grill has cooled and throw away what’s in it.
When it comes time to fire up the grill, open the lid of the grill and turn the valve on the gas tank all the way open to allow propane to flow. Next, turn the burner control knob to high and then press the ignition button.
Some Weber Genesis grills are made in China. According to the company, between November 2018 and November 2019, Weber took a “dual source” approach and manufactured some of its Genesis II grills in China. As of November 19, the manufacturing of Genesis II grills was taken back to Weber’s Illinois facilities. However, Weber still sources components globally, so though their grills are engineered and (mostly) assembled in the U.S., some parts come from China and other countries.
Yes, Weber strongly recommends cleaning your grill after each use to maintain proper functioning.
The Taste Recipes Test Kitchen tested this Weber Genesis grill, along with other Weber grill models, with grilling expert Catherine Ward taking the lead. The grill was thoroughly evaluated for assembly, performance, design and ease of cleaning.
I am a writer specializing in food and lifestyle, with a specific passion for outdoor cooking and grilling. While I love to keep my eye on the latest food trends and kitchen gadgets, I also test established products. My goal is to recommend items that are worth the investment and will last, including pizza ovens, fire pits, grills and smokers.