Weber Genesis Gold C review
Written: Mar 29 '04
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Pros: Smartly designed
Stainless steel where it counts
Quality over quantity
large work surfaces
Hot!
Cons: Proprietary tool holder
Plastic wheels (noisy and seem fragile)
The Bottom Line: A quality grill, and an excellent value. When you're ready to make a commitment, and know what you want, keep the Weber line in mind.
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| dosperado's Full Review: Weber-Stephen Products Genesis Gold C Premium (LP)... |
This grill is my first attempt at buying a "keeper" type grill that I can develop a long term cook/appliance relationship with. My last three grills were all disposable Charbroils, at about $120 each, give or take, and although I paid $479 for this grill (delivered, from Amazon, and on sale) I know already that the quality of the product will make the next ten years cooking results much more consistent and satisfactory.
I had planned on getting a stainless steel grill from BJ's or SAMS wholesale club, because the amount of stainless steel you get for the price is impressive, and I was ill-informed enough to look at BTU's as the most important factor (aside from material) and the owners of these are quite vocal at pointing out how great they are.
The Weber is actually engineered to be an efficient appliance, and to produce consistent results every time. Don't be fooled by the seemingly low 36,000 BTU rating, when comparing to other large grills in this price range. I had reservations myself, but after the first use, those were quickly put to rest. The lid is a tight fit to the grill, and with the 3 burners on high it easily exceeds 550 degrees in 10 minutes. The actual temperature is what counts, and this grill has no problems with high temperatures. In fact, it's a major advantage that using only 36,000 BTU's the Weber easily exceeds 550 degrees, where you often read about Virco and Members Mark grill users boasting about who uses more BTU's to the tune of 56,000 - 60,000 BTU output, which is kind of like a Hummer owner boasting about getting 10 miles per gallon. Attainable temperature is what counts, and this Weber is designed efficiently, so you get substantially longer grilling time before needing to refill/change the tank. Of course some just need the biggest everything, with the biggest numbers, and the bigger the better, and I'm sure they have their reasons... And Weber also makes a line to satisfy that crowd under the "Summit" line.
As far as the layout and features of the Genesis Gold C, what I like is the famous direct/indirect-convection cooking choices allowed by the three burners laid out lengthwise, left to right, that Weber is known for. Also, the way they setup the stainless steel burners and flavorizer bars yields a nice balance for flavor, without flareups. The cooking grates are welded stainless steel, which is a nice compromise between durability and convenience, though still not perfect. Some like cast iron for it's ability to hold heat and give nice sear marks, but it requires constant upkeep. Then there's porcelain coated, which is low maintenance, but less durable, and over time can become pitted. Stainless holds heat well enough for my needs, but my faith in the welds is not yet 100%. The ultimate would be cast stainless (I've read about it, but I didn't find it for the Weber yet) but for now I will see how the welded stainless holds up.
I used the side burner once (The Gold B is the same grill without the side burner, which would be fine, but in the end the C was cheaper than the B, go figure) and it's well built, although even on it's lowest setting I found it was quite hot. The fold away shelves are a very nice touch, and make up for the questionable placement of the burner knobs on what would be bonus workspace.
The cutouts for holding tools fit Weber brand tools nicely, go figure. I think that was a little inconsiderate on their part, as hooks would accommodate any tools, but these are very brand specific. If you're going to dictate which tools fit the holder, give us the tools! Marketing scams... blech!
The dual purpose thermometer is great, although I ordered a digital timer/thermometer to allow monitoring larger cuts without constantly opening to check.
Assembly was a breeze. I tackled it solo, and had it done in 30 minutes, but most people would be advised to have a helper for placing the main grill on the legs, as it's awkward to handle and hard to see where things are going. Not as heavy as it looks though.
Another factor that drew me to Weber were the number of satisfied lifetime users this company has. Loyalty to a brand does not come easy, especially at the higher pricetag that Weber usually demands. I had already ordered this grill at $599, and then was able to get the price adjusted when it went on sale for $479, so that was just a fantastic bonus for me. I could take a chance with a brand that looks great in the store, and even when you get it home, but that doesn't mean it will still be around or worth owning in 5 years. I know Weber isn't going anywhere, and their longevity to date is proven.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 479
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Epinions.com ID:
dosperado
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Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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