Full Disclosure: I earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
Welcome to my Weber Spirit E210 review. This model is still available, but has in the meantime been replaced by the Weber Spirit II E210. The old E210 is still a very good grill though, so I’ll keep this review up for anyone who may be interested in the new model.
NOTE: The E220 has now been discontinued.
Here is a quick summary of the features:
– 2 stainless steel burners putting out 26,500 BTU
– 360 square inches of primary cooking space
– 90 square inches warming rack
– porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates
– porcelain-enameled flavorizer bars
– electronic crossover ignition
– propane gas gauge
– thermometer
– foldable side trays
– 12,000 BTU side burner (E220 only)
So, what you get is a straightforward, well constructed grill without bells or whistles.
Who Is The Spirit Grills Perfect For?
A Weber Spirit E210 grill is perfect for someone who wants a durable, well-constructed small/medium sized gas grill. These grills don’t take up much space, so they’re perfect for a small patio or balcony. The side trays can be folded down to save even more space should you need to.
Assembly
The Spirit is not a difficult grill to assemble, but there are a lot of parts that need to be put together so it will take you a while. If this is not your type of thing, you may wish to get in some help as some parts of the assembly are easier when two people are involved.
You should be able to do the assembly within 2 hours. All you need is a Philips screwdriver and a good socket wrench.
Construction Quality
The manufacturing of the Spirit series is apparently outsourced to China. This may not appeal to you for various reasons, but all we can say is that you can’t fault the manufacturing on this grill. There’s hardly any plastic on it and most of it is stainless steel.
It is heavy and sturdy and looks like it could last a very long time. Construction-wise it still beats the cheaper competing brands hands down.
Heating
The electronic crossover ignition gives you instant flames at the push of a button. The surprising thing is how fast the grill heats up. Despite having only two burners and a fairly low BTU output, reaching 500 degrees in around 10 minutes is no problem.
As we saw when we reviewed the Weber Genesis grills, Weber has a real knack for creating a heat efficient design that gives you maximum value for every BTU the burners put out. The quality and thickness of the metal may have something to do with the good heat retention as well. The Spirit continues that trend.
Cooking with the Weber Spirit E210
To give you an idea of the grill size, you can fit about 18 hamburgers patties at the same time, while a few chickens can also fit without problem.
Now, on cheaper grills a full load of food can be a problem due to uneven cooking and hot/cold spots. On the Spirit, cooking is very even. You get good grill marks thanks to the excellent cast-iron grates.
Problems
None of the small issues with the Spirit E210 or Spirit E220 are deal breakers. For example, you may come across small things like installing an LP gas tank being a little tricky as you have to lift it onto a hook inside the small compartment.
However, there’s nothing here that prevents the product from delivering what it should: a great grilling experience.
User Results
Let’s take a quick look at some typical user experiences with the Weber Spirit E210 or Spirit E220:
“Deal maker for me was the heavy cast iron grates. These are exactly the same quality as the $699 E-310 Genesis, just smaller, and they leave great grill marks! Even though this grill has 2 burners it gets hot! Up to 550 degrees within 10 min on high. Turn down the temp and it dropped to 400 within a couple of minutes.” D. Meador, Amazon.com Verified Purchase
“I can tell you that the E-220 will fit 3 butterflied chickens (thats 6 2-3 pound halves at once) with out an issue. I put 4 halves on at a time recently to finish after smoking on my Weber Smokey Mountain to just crisp up the skin a bit, but had plenty of room to ad another chicken with out being cramped for space.” A. Foley, Amazon.com Verified Purchase
“I have been very pleased with the performance of this grill so far. As others have noted the grill easily reaches about 550 degrees in about 10min (a little faster or slower depending on weather conditions), and the cast iron grates give a great sear. Flare-ups are a non-issue and the proven flavorizer system does a fine job of protecting the burners and turning drippings into flavorful smoke, seasoning your grill over time.” W. Nathaniel Jones, Amazon.com Verified Purchase
Online Ratings:
Amazon.com: 4.5 out of 5
About.com: 4 out of 5
Buying Advice
The Weber Spirit E-210 is still available on Amazon. The E220 has been discontinued.
Check availability for the E210 on Amazon.
Verdict
Both the Weber Spirit E-210 and the Spirit E-220 (discontinued) are excellent gas grills for couples and small families. The folding side tables help to save space and are useful for storage as well. Cooking is even, heat not a problem and construction is solid. If the size is enough for you, you can’t go wrong with these.
The price may feel a little steep for a straightforward grill with no frills, but once you compare the construction quality to that of lower priced competitors you’ll understand why you’re paying more.
Pros:
– Good construction
– Gas gauge
– Even cooking
– Good heat
– Weber service and support
Cons:
– Assembly can be time consuming
– Installing LP gas tank can be tricky
Hope you enjoyed this Weber Spirit E210 review, and remember to check out the new model (Spirit II) on Amazon as well.