Weber Spirit E-310 Gas Grill Reviews and Comparisons

Weber is one of the oldest grill makers in the U.S., coming out with new lines for over 50 years. One of their recent slogans is “it has to be uncomplicated…and it has to be delicious.” The Weber Spirit E-310 model seems to meet those standards, according to reviews by users.

The Weber Spirit E-310 Liquid Propane Gas Grill is a mid-size model with three burners. Both beginning, intermediate and advanced grillers were impressed with it.  The Spirit E-310 builds on Weber’s best-selling Spirit E-210 model by adding one additional burner and extra grilling surface space.

Here is a closer look at the Weber Spirit E-310, what people liked about it and what they didn’t. It will help you decide if this model is the best one for your needs.

Differences between the Spirit E-310 and the Spirit II E-310

Weber Spirit II E-310 Specs

Model: 45010001
Burners: Three 30,000 BTUph burners
Dimensions Lid Closed: 44.5″H x 52″W x 27″D
Dimensions Lid Open: 57″H x 52″W x 26″D
Warming Rack Area: 105 square inches
Primary Cooking Area: 424 square inches
Total Cooking Area: 529 square inches
Available in Natural Gas: Yes

• Storage: Open and grease retention system
• Equipped with the GS4 Grilling System
• iGrill 3 compatible

MSRP: $519 USD

From Amazon.com:

Overall Rating: 4.7/5
Number of Reviews: 823 (as of June 11, 2021)
Read the reviews

From Home Depot:

Number of Reviews: 10,443 (as of June 11, 2021)
94% of customers recommend this grill.
Read the reviews

Primary Differences and Similarities Between Models

For the most part, the specifications between the grills are the same.  Just about the same size, they have the same BTUs, etc.  The main differences and why these are important are:

The original has an enclosed propane tank, and the grease tray is enclosed.  The Spirit II does has an open system. 

This would really be important if you have animals that might enjoy licking the grease pan, or if you are in an area with a lot of insects.   I personally use a Weber Genesis II E-410 which has the open system like the Spirit II.  I have to make sure to keep the grill covered or else the flies, and my dog, will be all over the exposed grease tray.  If you get a good cover for your grill, then this may not be any issue at all. A cover certainly takes care of it for me.

The open system of the Spirit II is what makes the cost lower than the original Spirit.  Less steel material, less weight for transport and manufacture, and few parts.

The Spirit II has the G4 Grilling System and the iGrill3.  The original Spirit does not.

The iGrill 3, in a nutshell, is a system where you can use two temperature probes for your food.  These probes will connect with the iGrill 3 app on your phone and alert you to temperature. Insert one or both into your food and you can be alerted when your food is at temp.

I personally don’t use the iGrill system on my Genesis II.  I do have it installed and have used it a couple of times. I found the alerts obnoxious.  I prefer to grill “old-school” and use my senses – along with a digital temperature probe. The GS4 grilling system however, is wonderful.

My Weber cooks like no other grill I’ve ever owned, and I attribute that to the GS4 system.  The GS4 System consists of the following four items:

• Electronic ignition. Calling it the Infinity Ignition, Weber says it is guaranteed to light the burners every time. All you need to do is turn a knob to ignite the individual burners.
• High performance burners. The new design makes gas flow more consistent, so heat is distributed evenly over the entire cooking surface.
• Flavorizer bars. The Flavorizer bars have been a big selling point for Weber for years. They catch drippings and vaporize them, adding a smoky flavor to the food.
• Grease Management System. The grease management system catches the drippings that aren’t vaporized, which lessens the risk of flare-ups. Grease is directed away from the burners and into a drip tray, which is disposable. It is a simple matter to slip out the catch pan and switch out the used drip tray for a new one. NOTE: The original Spirit E-310 has these items as well – they just did not call it the GS4 system then.

The Spirit II catch pan is different from other Weber II grills in that is is a slide-out design.  I use a Weber Genesis II E-410 and I wish this grill’s catch pan was designed like the Spirit II.

In this author’s opinion, it comes down to the open vs. closed storage and grease system, and the GS4 cooking system.  If you can be okay with the open storage, then I’d highly suggest going with the Spirit II and the GS4 system.

Weber Spirit E-310 Features:

• The Weber Spirit E-310 Liquid Propane Gas Grill has three burners and porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates.
• The burners put out 32,000 BTU an hour. It is started using an electronic ignition system.
• The Weber Spirit E-310 has a total cooking area of 529 sq. in., divided into 424 sq. in. of main cooking space plus 105 sq. in. for the warming rack. This is room enough to cook a 20 lb. turkey or roast both vegetables and meats or chicken at the same time.
• It has two work surfaces that are made of stainless steel, with the control panel is mounted in front. The shroud is porcelain-enameled, with a thermometer at the center. It has four heavy-duty casters, two front-locking and two swivel.
• There is a fuel gauge for the liquid propane models. You can also buy a natural gas model with a 10’ flexible hose.

Weber Spirit E-310 Liquid Propane Gas Grill Review Summary

Best Features

Five features that reviewers especially noted were:

• The construction is solid.
• Assembly took time, but wasn’t actually difficult. The instructions are very easy to follow.
• It is easy to control the heat and you get even cooking.
• The grates heat quickly and evenly.
• The fuel gauge is very handy so you don’t run out of fuel.

Spirit E-310 Positives

Here is a look at what reviewers commented favorably on:

• The cast iron grates are a delight to cook on, providing high heat and even temperature.
• Food comes out juicy.
• The temperature gauge is very handy.
• The propane gauge makes it easy to see how much fuel is left.
• It has lots of cooking space and it is very easy to cook two chickens on a rotisserie at the same time, or 10 or more hamburger patties.
• Several people commented that Weber products last for years and years.
• The warranty is very good and parts are easy to find.
• There is a useful amount of storage beneath the grill.
• It is easy to clean.
• The stainless steel gas tubes are solidly constructed.
• It is very quiet.

Spirit E-310 Negatives

Here is a look at what users didn’t like:

• The side tables don’t fold down.
• Some models have do not have a hinged front door to get to the propane tank. Instead it has an inconvenient cheap panel. This does not seem to be true of all models but depends on where you buy it, for example, Lowe’s.
• The cover is an additional cost, not included with the original purchase.
• Some reviewers felt the casters were cheaply made.

Comparing Grills

If you are looking at similar Weber grills, here is a quick look at differences.

The Weber Spirit E-210 has 360 sq. in. cooking space and stainless steel fold-down tables.  The biggest difference though is that the Spirit E-210 sports two burners instead of three.  The Spirit E-210 is designed for small spaces.  Click here to learn more about the Weber Spirit E-210.

The Genesis E-310 has two differences:

• 38,000 BTU
• 637 sq. in. cooking and warming area

Who Is It Right For:

• The E-310 Liquid Propane Gas Grill is a good choice if you are cooking for 2-7 people.
• It is a mid-size grill that fits easily on most patios.
• It works well for beginner, intermediate and advanced grillers.
• If you can use a screwdriver fairly well and follow instructions, you should be able to assemble it.

The Spirit E-310 Might Not Right For You If:

• If you live in an apartment or otherwise have limited space, it is probably a little large.  You might want to look at Weber’s portable grills instead.
• If you routinely cook for four eaters or less, it might be bigger than you need.  Though if you have room for it, it’s nice to have extra grill space for entertaining.
• If you can’t assemble appliances using a screwdriver, this will cause you a headache. You can buy it with assembly provided for an additional price, or have a local handyman assemble it.

Overall, this is a good choice if you feed more than four people on a regular basis. A mid-size model, it will fit in well on most patios. It is a well made, easy to use grill for all levels of cooks.