Weber E310 Genesis Rotisserie Review

So, I couldn't have been happier to upgrade my 15 year old Weber Summit grill with a brand, spanking new Weber Genesis E310 gas grill.   But then I brought the new grill home, dismantled my old Weber rotisserie, and tried to install it on my new grill.  Oopsie.  You thought you'd save a buck or two.  Wrong-O, BBQ-boy.  Your new grill is larger and your old gear won't work.  Please visit Home Depot and sacrifice $80 of your hard earned moolah to replace a perfectly functional rotisserie.  What an ugly lesson to have to learn at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon with your family expecting a delicious rotisserie chicken by 6:00 Pm.

Setting aside the ridiculous issues around replacing a fully functional rotisserie, my main beef with the new Weber rotisserie is the handle.  My old rotisserie spear had a nice insulated wood handle  with a screw off cap that allowed you to add a counter-balance to help with even rotation.  My new rotisserie is equipped with a simple metal handle that gets HOT HOT HOT!  And I've been deprived of the ability of using a simple counterbalance to offset odd shaped meat.  This is improvement?  This is innovation?  Color me disappointed when my favorite grill company (four grills in my possession and counting) squeezes me for a new rotisserie kit that doesn't improve AT ALL on the old version.  This isn't improvement.  This is a crappy ploy to squeeze me for more bucks.    Here's my problems - in order:

1.  I should have been able to only replace a portion of my old rotisserie kit.  My motor was fine, as were my rotisserie clamps.  Why can't I buy a new spear that fits the new 310 series and salvage the rest?  Do you really need my money that bad?  Your grills run at a premium at the local home improvement store.  This should have cost me no more than $20- $25 to accomplish.  Certainly not 10% of my overall spend on the grill.

2. The handle is  complete BS.  I should not a large kitchen towel to remove my rotisserie from my grill.  If the grill is running at 400 degrees, then so is the spear and so is the handle.  Dear Weber, this is not an improvement.

So, I'm still quite happy with my new Weber E310, but I could use a little love from the Weber Co.  I'll be watching my mail box for a gift certificate.

Thx - BBQgeek

Comments

[Foghorn Rhino]

OK, but how did it work when you heated it up? I just picked up a heavy duty Perfect Flame stainless rotisserie that Lowes said would fit the weber.... it's like the old weber rotisserie, but..

the Weber grooves will have to be ground out (including the lip) to fit the thicker shaft if i want to use this rotisserie.

I share your "Weber, I'm unhappy to have spent 700 bucks on a great grill to have such cheesy options for a rotisserie.

[Ed Schreibman]

How do you set your burners? I.E. do you set the middle one only on (and at full/half?) or do you keep the middle one off and set the front/back ones on (at at what setting?)
Thanks

[Mike Fincham]

Hi Ed,

Good question. I turn the middle burner off and I run the front and back on full. That usually gives me right around 400 degree. Don't forget to take out your grill grates!

Mike

[Sam]

Thanks for mentioning taking out the grill grates. I noticed how close it is to the grates and ended up with a big blackened mess. Plus the counterweight was off which didn't help There were no instructions in the box with the rotisserie. Poor thinking weber. Love the grill though

[Natalie Fisher]

Someone tell me what I'm doing wrong....I can't seem to cook anything on my rotisserie. There isn't enough room. Even when I take the grill grates off. Maybe I just cook large cuts of meat? I never had a problem with my old grill. I usually put a prime rib on my rotisserie with a pan of water underneath it and I can't do this anymore, my meat hits the water or won't turn at all. Can I take the flavorizer bars off? What am I doing?