Direct Cooking on a Pellet Barbecue
What is direct cooking
Direct cooking is the classic method of barbecuing where food is cooked directly above the heat source - perfect for fast, high-temperature grilling. On a Weber wood pellet barbecue, this means placing your food on the cooking grill, directly over the intense heat created by a hot pellet fire.
Direct cooking is ideal for foods that are small, tender, and cook in less than 20 minutes. Think steaks, burgers, fish fillets, boneless chicken pieces, sliced vegetables, and shellfish - anything that benefits from a quick sear and flavourful caramelisation.
Set Up
Ensure your cooking grills, or Weber Crafted Sear Grate, are in position.
Fill the hopper with your desired flavoured Weber All-Natural Hardwood Pellets.
Turn your controller dial to the recommended cooking settings below.
Close the barbecue lid and wait until the barbecue reaches the set temperature.
Once the barbecue has preheated, brush the cooking grills clean with a stainless steel grill brush, and you’re ready to get cooking.
Recommended Cook Settings
Depending on what you are cooking, there is a range of direct cooking preheat and cook settings you can use for the best results. Refer to your handbook or quick start guide for the specific preheat and cook settings for your barbecue.
The direct cooking temperature ranges below can help you determine the best temperature to set your barbecue to for the food you are cooking.
Hot TIps
- Preheating is essential: Preheating your barbecue is crucial for several reasons: it helps prevent food from sticking to the grills, ensures you're cooking on a sanitised surface, and allows the food to sear and caramelise quickly for optimal flavour. When the grill is properly preheated, food cooks more evenly and develops that perfect, mouthwatering crust.
- Clean grills are non-negotiable: There's a common myth that a "dirty" grill adds flavour, but in reality, clean grills produce the best results. Caramelisation and searing occur most effectively on a clean surface. Once your barbecue has preheated to the set temperature and any leftover debris has turned to ash, use a Weber Grill Brush to clean the grills before cooking.
- Oil the food, not the grills: Avoid applying oil directly to the cooking grills, as this can lead to flare-ups. Instead, oil your food before seasoning it. This not only helps the seasonings adhere better but also ensures nicer grill marks and minimises the risk of flare-ups.
