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Power and performance meets stylish design with this gas grill. Here's what we learned from firsthand testing.
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Weber Genesis E-325 Review: A Stylish Top Performer for Flavorful Cooking
Updated Aug. 01, 2024
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.
What is the Weber Genesis E-325?
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.
TASTE OF HOME
We Tried It
Weber Genesis E-325 Gas Grill
The extra-large sear zone delivers legendary Weber quality, performance and durability in a grill you can rely on.
Weber Genesis E-325 Features
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.
How We Tested the Weber Genesis E-325
To assess this gas grill, the Taste of Home 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.”
Pros
- Reaches temperature in 5 minutes
- Concentrated 13,000 BTUs sear zone
- Flavorizer bars catch and vaporize juices, boosting grilled flavor
- Large, sturdy side tables and cabinet for storage
- Easy-to-clean grease drip system
Cons
- A lot of parts for assembly
FAQ
How do you clean a Weber Genesis grill?
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.
How do you light a Weber Genesis grill?
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.
Why You Should Trust Us
The Taste of Home 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.
Product Comparison
In our larger test of the best grills, we noted the Weber Genesis E-325 gas grill as Weber’s best gas grill. It earned this top spot for its powerful performance, stylish design and extra clever features. Compared to other Weber gas grills, it’s larger and has higher BTUs than the compact Weber Spirit II E-310, which is excellent for small backyards. 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.
Final Verdict
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.
Where to Buy the Weber Genesis E-325
TASTE OF HOME
We Tried It
Weber Genesis E-325 Gas Grill
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.
Originally Published: June 18, 2024
