My New Best Friend
Written: Sep 02 '02
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Pros: Great temperature control; easy to clean
Cons: None
The Bottom Line: Lots of bang for your buck!
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| HNAC's Full Review: Weber-Stephen Products Genesis Silver A (LP) Propa... |
How many ways are there in which I can say I love my Weber? We got this grill a couple of months ago. We looked at the larger Webers, but with our small family, we simply didn't need that much cooking area. If you are a single, a couple or a family of three, this would be a good grill for you. If you are a larger family or you entertain a lot, I don't think you would be happy with this size grill. You would need a larger Weber.
I cannot comment on the ease of assembly as we had it assembled at the store. However, the instruction booklet we got with it, as far as how to operate it, was superb. It was so clear and easy to understand that in about 10 minutes of getting my new grill, I was cooking dinner on it!
What I like best about it is the temperature controls. Our old grill had two temps -- Char It Black and Raw But Warm. My Weber though has temperature controls like a stove, which means I can throw some steaks on it and I don't have to sit out there waiting for the precise time I need to pull them out of the fire. If something needs to be slow cooked, I can do that. It's also great if you're trying to time your meat to be done when the side dishes are done. The flame is adjustable anywhere it needs to be.
Furthermore, the Weber has dual temp controls, so you can have one side of the grill going hotter than the other side. This is a nice feature if you grill veggies, because you usually don't want to cook them at the same temp you would a steak or a burger.
Above the grill plates, in the back of the grill, is a shelf which I use to warm buns on or to keep baked potatoes warm until the rest of the meal is done cooking.
Another feature I love is the drip pan beneath the grill. There is an area designed to hold a specially made foil pan that catches the drips from the grill so they don't mess up your patio or deck. The grill comes with I think three of these foil pans. I haven't run out of them yet, but I'm assuming that when I do, I can buy replacements wherever grilling accessories are sold.
One of the best features of this grill though is the built-in thermometer that measures the temp inside the grill when the lid is down. I love this so much and I use it all the time! That's how I tell when the grill is hot enough to begin cooking and when it's time for me to check the food. It's also how I tell when we're getting low on propane. I never had a grill with a feature like this before and now, after having one for just a few months, I would be lost without it!
Cleaning this grill is very easy too, because the plates lift right off. You can wash them in your sink and clean the area below them. They are cast iron. I've been told not to wash them for that reason, because you have to "season" them, but I can't stand the thought of cooking on all that old grease so I scrape them with a wire brush before each use and I wipe them with a damp sponge. Every once in a while, I remove them completely and wash them and the area of the grill below them. No one has complained yet!
Extending to the left side of the grill is a "table top" area where you can put a plate or your grilling utensils. It's not very big. About the most I've been able to fit on it were one plate and my grilling tongs. Still, it's very sturdy and better than having to balance these items on my deck rail or a chair.
As for space, it takes up slightly more space than my old grill. We had to put it in a different section of our deck. We would not have had to do that if the "table top" piece would have folded down or could have been taken off, but neither was an option. The wheels on it though do make it very easy to move around whenever needed.
This is a very attractive grill and it performs up to the standards of the Weber name. The only way you will be sorry you bought this grill is if you should have bought one of the bigger ones. However, be assured that you will NOT be disappointed in the performance of this grill!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 350
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Epinions.com ID:
HNAC
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Member: Erin Howard
Location: Chicago, IL
Reviews written: 89
Trusted by: 31 members
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