Weber Spirit EP-425 Propane Grill Evaluation

I’ve solely had the glory of christening a brand new grill a few instances in my life. That’s as a result of an excellent grill can final 10 years or extra, which, in actuality, is fairly nice.

So it was a very big day on the tail finish of winter after I constructed up Weber’s newest providing, the Weber Spirit EP-425 4-Burner Propane Grill. I related the propane, pressed the igniter, and watched the flames emerge for the primary time. Warmth wafted previous my face, and I smiled.

Now, after grilling many meals on this revolutionary propane dandy, I’m right here to let you know the Weber Spirit is difficult to beat. The enjoyment of cooking on this grill is throughout the 4 singular burners, two of which have a lift setting that helps seal in taste. Coupled with an excellent value and sturdy construct, this grill is — pardon the cliché — cooking with fuel.

For 2025, the Spirit line is all new. Weber went again to the drafting board to see what it might bake into an entry-level grill line.

In brief: Weber’s new Spirit line of propane grills resets the bar for entry-level outside cooking. With a deal with taste, simple meeting, and straightforward cleansing, Spirit grills supply nice worth to boost outside cooking.

Seeking to improve your tailgate? Try the greatest moveable grills right here.

Weber Spirit EP-425 Propane Grill Evaluation

Options

The Spirit EP-425 ($699) is a four-burner propane grill with the power to crank out 35,000 BTUs per hour. Every burner makes use of Weber’s Snap-Jet ignition that lights them independently with a flip of the knob. The suitable two “increase” burners can unleash 40% extra warmth within the sear zone. That is the world the place you’ll set your grill marks to offer your bragging rights at your subsequent cookout.

There’s a battery-powered digital temperature gauge on the entrance of the right-side prep desk. It’s an actual ache to get the screw on the battery door eliminated, so be warned.

Like all Weber grills, the Spirit makes use of Flavorizer bars that divert the flame and unfold it out in order that it simply touches the flame of the following burner. On my previous Weber Genesis, the bars touched. Nevertheless, on the Spirit, there’s a massive hole between the 2.

I could also be in my honeymoon part with this grill, however after cooking steaks, rooster, and a number of types of sausage, I consider the gaps enhance the general effectivity of the grill. I can also respect that these gaps permit for something that falls by way of the grates to succeed in the underside as an alternative of getting hung up within the bars, creating a large number.

Moreover, the Spirit has two facet tables. Each tables supply an space to work and retailer your utensils on their built-in hooks on the perimeters. Nevertheless, house owners can change the best desk with the Weber Works Reducing Board and Basin ($40). This has come in useful for transporting no matter I’m grilling from the kitchen out to the grill.

By way of cleansing, the underside pan of the Spirit is angled so every thing flows down into an easy-access and easy-to-remove foil pan. This pan is stored inside the underside cupboard with the propane tank, out of sight and out of thoughts.

Why the EP-425?

For its new Spirit lineup, Weber gives 16 completely different fashions. 9 of them are propane, and the opposite seven are pure fuel. In that providing, there may be one two-burner mannequin, 5 three-burner fashions, and 10 four-burner fashions.

There’s lots of overlap from mannequin to mannequin in addition to the selection between black or chrome steel. So, whenever you’re wanting on the location, it may be a bit overwhelming.

When wanting into what I needed to check and assessment, I knew I needed a big cooking space that had as many cooking zones as attainable. With 4 burners, I might alter every zone to zero in on what I used to be cooking on it. It is a massive deal whenever you’re cooking quite a lot of various things unexpectedly. I additionally knew I didn’t want a facet burner. I’ve by no means had one, and I don’t need one. This led me to 1 alternative — what number of wheels do I need on it?

No joke. I picked the EP-425 as a result of it had 4 burners and 4 wheels. I don’t want to maneuver the grill round that a lot, however after I do, I don’t need it to be a problem. The EP-425 has two locking casters and two that spin freely.

Assembling the Spirit

Weber has taken particular care in ensuring that constructing their grills isn’t a burden. Actually, it takes extra time to unpack the entire elements and {hardware} than it does to place the entire thing collectively. Each bit is packed in such a approach that it gained’t get broken in delivery. Moreover, the entire nuts and bolts are separated into particular person luggage which are marked after which referred to within the directions.

These directions are pretty easy. They rely extra on pictures than phrases. Nevertheless, I discovered them to nonetheless be easy and the elements simple to establish. In lower than an hour, I had a brand new grill to admire whereas contemplating what lower of meat I used to be going to christen it with that evening. I additionally had a mountain of cardboard that was as spectacular because it was a burden to interrupt down and completely place into my recycling bin.

One thing’s Lacking

One thing that’s at all times been a staple within the Weber grills I’ve owned or have seen has been a propane gauge. Previously, they’ve been bolted to the facet of the grill, below a facet desk. You’ll hold your propane tank off of it, and because the tank received lighter, the indicator would let you recognize when it was time to refill it.

Possibly omitting it’s one thing they do to distinguish it from higher-tiered fashions like its Genesis or Summit traces? Both approach, the short treatment to this illness is a $30 Tank Degree Indicator. That also places you at greater than $400 lower than the lowest-level four-burner Genesis mannequin.

The Cooking Expertise

For years, I solely cooked steak in a cast-iron skillet. Gordon Ramsay had me satisfied that the one method to do it proper was that approach, utilizing a bit butter and garlic. Nevertheless, as soon as I constructed the Spirit, my urge for food and endorphins took over. I made a decision to throw one of the crucial lovely items of beef tenderloin on these freshly seasoned grill grates and was blown away.

Coupled with a MEATER PRO ($130) thermometer to day trip every thing appropriately, I had a juicy, flavorful lower of medium-rare beef that couldn’t be beat.

I repeated that have two extra instances earlier than I moved on to rooster, after which breakfast sausage, hamburgers and hotdogs, and quite a lot of different sausages, massive and small. All in all, in the middle of a month, I switched each dinner I made for my household from the stovetop to the Spirit and couldn’t be happier.

Throughout the grill high, the cooking is even. I not often have needed to put this grill on excessive except I used to be seeking to heat it up rapidly, which it does effectively sufficient basically. The Sear Zone burners, which act like common burners once they’re not searing, supply up among the greatest grill marks with little effort as effectively. And, the mess has been minimal.

There may be one other factor I must convey up that entails the foil drip tray. The again of the grill cupboard is open. When it rains, rain is available in and fills the drip tray. As a result of it’s in a cupboard, I’m not anxious concerning the canine getting in there and having herself a disgusting, but connoisseur to her, meal. However it’s a little nasty having to cope with it when it’s full of water.

Weber Spirit Propane Grill Evaluation: Total Impressions

The Spirit EP-425 is my second Weber grill since 2004. The final one, an early model of the Genesis lineup, I purchased again in school. It served me effectively till I put it up on the high of the driveway in 2023 so it might go dwell its second life with whoever drove by and picked it up. (Somebody did about 10 minutes later).

I even have the Weber Traveler 22 Moveable Griddle, which I reviewed final summer time. So, I had some inkling of Weber’s revolutionary and interesting strategy to its fashionable merchandise going into this check and assessment session.

As revolutionary and spectacular because the Spirit is, time will inform to see if it lives as much as its practically 20-year-old predecessor. However, that mentioned, Weber grills are an funding due to that risk.

I’m positive that a couple of years from now, I might want to change the Flavorizer bars. Possibly a burner will crap out. Nevertheless, Weber does an excellent job of supporting its merchandise. Keep them, they usually preserve cranking out spectacular meals for years.

The place this grill may be overkill for a single individual or perhaps a couple, the Weber Spirit propane grill reviewed right here gives up loads of grilling area for a household, or somebody who hosts a couple of ragers at their home once in a while.

On the time of writing, I’ve received each Easter and a birthday for an incredible 9-year-old on the horizon. I’ve little doubt that this grill will get the job completed. As a lot as I like hanging across the grill, I hate realizing individuals are ready to eat. With this fuel workhorse, they gained’t be ready lengthy.