I have a Weber spirit II with grill grates fitted. I just realized that the product goal of the flavorizer bars are (vaporize juices, even heating ) are the same talking points as the grill grates valley.
Do folks take out the flavorizer bars? It seems like its only dispersing some heat but it seems to also keep the actual burners debris free.
My perception is the flavorizer bars also protect the burners from drips and food particles. I don't remove the bars for that reason. GrillGrates don't directly protect the burners. They seem to work just fine with or without the bars.
You *NEED* the flavorizer bars. They protect the burners from getting gunked up and clogged with dripping grease - which WILL drip through the holes in the valley of Grillgrates. I have had several Weber gas grills outfitted with Grillgrates, but keep the flavorizer bars in. They are crucial. They spread the heat more before it hits the grillgrate panels, and as I said, protect the burners.
I guess I cannot think why you would think it would be good or desirable to remove them regardless of the grate you are using. As an engineer, just take my word for it - put them back. Better heat distribution AND cleaner burners. I would keep them in even if using a griddle top on my Genesis or Spirit due to the heat distribution and elimination of hot spots.
Weber was brilliant in coming up with name of Flavorizer bars. They really are steel baffles to deflect the grease from the burners. But baffle bars wouldn't sell.
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