Weber Genesis Silver A (LP) Grill

Pros
top quality construction, durable, ease of cleaning grills, choice of models, excellent cooking results, stylish

Cons
pricey, needs more tool hooks, fuel gauge is difficult to use

The Bottom Line
I recommend Weber's Genesis A line to both apartment dwellers and home owners. My family loves to cook on it. We are extremely happy with the cooking results.

Full Review
One Sunday last June, we needed to buy a grill for our new apartment in Florida. Our former apartment in the same complex had a thirteen-year-old Fiesta grill that was rusty and greasy and peeling. We decided that although the old one worked well, it was time for a new grill. Off we went to Home Depot to shop.

At the Outdoor Grill Department we requested a knowledgeable salesperson to help us choose from the many brands on display. Within seconds a young salesman arrived to assist us. We explained that we needed a sturdy, not too large grill that would stand up to exposure to salt, wind and direct sunlight. He recommended any of the Weber units. "They are very well built, cook exceptionally well and will hold up to all weather conditions," he said. We already knew of Weber's excellent reputation.

Since our patio table seats eight people, we decided to go for a smaller model. We chose the Genesis Silver A model that retailed for $349. Weber first introduced the Genesis style in 1986. The salesman explained that although the grill wasn't on sale, it came pre-assembled. Home Depot was running a special for Father's Day. The salesman said that he, himself, assembled all the units. He assured us that he owned one himself and had lots of experience assembling them in the store. After listening to his thorough descriptions, we knew he was competent. Great, we didn't have to assemble it.

Now, how were we going to get it home in our compact rental car? Even with removal of the hood, the unit was still too large to fit in the car. (The salesmen came out to the parking lot to measure the space we had in the car.) He suggested renting a Home Depot truck for $19. So, after purchasing the unit, off we went to arrange for a truck rental. A very kind salesman, however, offered to deliver it personally on his lunch hour at no cost. Boy, were we impressed! We accepted his offer and gave him the $20 we would have paid to rent the truck.

There are three Genesis Silver models and a Genesis Gold. The Gold model is a larger unit with extra bells and whistles. The units also come in either propane or natural gas models. We chose the propane model.

The Genesis Silver A has a cooking system consisting of 2 stainless Steel burners (other Genesis models have 3,) a BTU-per-hour input of 22,000 (other Silver units have 36,000; Gold-C has 39,000), crossover ignition system, cast iron cooking grills, porcelain enameled Flavorizer bars and a dual-purpose thermometer. The cooking (350 sq. in.) and warming rack areas (108 sq. in.) of the Silver- A unit is smaller than the Silver-B, Silver -C and Gold-C. It lacks the extra swing-up work area that the other two Genesis Silver units have. Since our patio is small, we couldn't use the swing up feature anyway. We also didn't need the extra burner. The width of the Silver-A is 51 1/4" (Genesis Silver-B is 53 �, Silver-C is 59 �", Gold-C is 69 �'.) All units come with a drip pan holder and pan. The propane tanks have a device to prevent over filling of the cylinder. Do not exchange tanks unless the new one is equipped with this feature.

What most impresses me about Weber's Genesis A grill is the top quality construction. The cart is welded together, not just held by rivets, nuts and bolts, as was our older unit. The handle is large, glass-reinforced nylon. It is maintenance-free and comfortable to grip. Large wheels allow it to be portable. I was a little disappointed in the quality of the wheels. They are, however, study enough to support and move the unit. Since our unit will sit in the same spot, it will not be moved often.

The cooking system prevents flare-up, which is especially important to us since the unit is in a large condo. Weber uses the Flavorizer bars as opposed to the usual lava rocks, pumice stone, ceramic tiles or metal plates found on other units like our old one. On the Flavorizer bars, fats don't ignite they smoke and enhance the flavor of the food. The heavy-duty grates retain heat and sear meats better.

The burner system eliminates hot spots and ensures even cooking over the entire cooking surface. Burner controls are limitless so perfect cooking temperature is achieved. The Crossover ignition system starts up the burners with just the push of a button. We have never experienced any trouble with start-ups.

The durable tight fitting hood permits slow cooking of turkeys and roasts while maintaining the desired cooking temperature using less fuel. Weber also has Spider Screens to prevent the creatures from blocking the gas. Our unit has 2 tool holders (other units have 3.) I love the Granite-style thermoset work area. It is stylish, practical and very handy to have. It removes for easy clean-up and is heat resistant.

Weber guarantees that the unit will be free of defects in material and workmanship as follows:

Aluminum Castings, lifetime-1 year paint
Porcelain Hood Section-------25 years
Burners-----------------------------10 years
Cooking Grates------------------5 years
Flavorizer Bars-------------------1 year against rust
Thermostat------------------------10 years
All remaining Parts-------------5 years

Weber Customer Service Centers are located in 27 countries.
Weber has been making grills for fifty years. Each and every part that leaves the factory is inspected to ensure the part is up to Weber's standards.

The construction, features and Warranty are great but how good does the food taste? We have used our grill to cook roast beef and pork loin roasts, whole turkeys, chickens and leg of lamb, hamburgers, sausages, hot dogs, vegetables, chops, steaks, ribs, lobsters and even pizza. Everything turns out moist, tasty and evenly cooked. The very first time we cooked on our grill, we were cooking for 10 people. The grill was large enough to accommodate all the food we needed to cook. Since that first time we have on occasion cooked for similar sized groups without a problem.

Food can be cooked using the indirect method by turning off burners directly below the food. Burners on either side of the food should be adjusted to equal amounts of heat. This allows heat to rise, reflect off the lid and grills. Food cooks from above, around and below. This type of cooking is similar to convection cooking. Turning the food is not necessary. High fat foods like sausage, duck and ribs should be cooked this way. Use the direct method for preheating and searing foods. Finish grilling using the indirect method. Weber suggest that you season the grills with solid shortening to prevent food from sticking.

The units come with an excellent 64 page cookbook inside a binder. The pages are glossy and sturdy. The binder is great because it protects the pages of the cookbook. I am slowly working my way through it. The cookbook contains guidelines for cooking various kinds of food including meats, poultry, fish, seafood, side dishes, marinades and sauces. There are excellent cooking tips and hints and lots of tempting recipes with delectable pictures. Weber even has a 24-hour a day, 7 days a week customer service number to call. You can speak to Barbecue experts about any grilling question you have. Go on their web site www.weber.com for grilling tips and recipes.

We have used our unit many times since purchase and have been pleased with the quality of its construction, the ease of igniting, cleaning and the taste of the food cooked. We have used it to cook for up to 10 guests at a time and found it was large enough to accommodate all the food. Weber is a well known company that makes quality products.

Other cooking accessories are available at all fine stores that carry Weber Grills. We purchased a Weber tool set ($39.99 - Weber suggests oiling them for easy clean up,) a Weber heavy duty high quality cover ($47) for our grill and a Weber plastic pan to place the unit on to protect our patio tiles from stains. Weber carries a rotisserie unit ($79.99) that fits all weber models.

If I needed a grill for my home in NY, I would buy a Weber Genesis model. I would probably pick a larger model since I I would be using it for large family BBQs and parties. Overall, all Weber Genesis models are a great value. Come on over, we have steaks sizzling on the grill!