Use and Care Manual

21
TIPS & TRICKS FOR
GRILLINGSUCCESS
Choose a Proper Location toGrill
• Only use this grill outdoors in a well-ventilated
area. Do not use in a garage, building,
breezeway, or any other enclosed area.
• Keep the grill on a secure, level surface at all
times.
• Do not use grill within two feet of any
combustible material. Combustible materials
include, but are not limited to, wood or treated
wood decks, patios, and porches.
Preheat the Grill
Preheating your grill is a key factor when grilling
directly, indirectly, and smoking. When the grill
has preheated, the heat loosens pieces of food
stuck to the grate, making it easy to brush off
with a stainless steel bristle grill brush or a wood
scraper. Preheating also gets the grate hot enough
to sear properly and helps prevent food from
sticking to the grate.
Wear Gloves
Always wear barbecue mitts when using your
charcoal grill. Vents, dampers, handles, and the
bowl will all get hot during the grilling process,
so be sure to keep your hands and forearms
protected.
Igniting the Charcoal
WEBER recommends using a chimney starter (sold
separately) and lighter cubes (sold separately) to
ignite charcoal. Refrain from using lighter fluid as
it is messy and can transmit a chemical taste to
your food.
Oil the Food, Not the Grate
Lightly oiling your food adds flavor and moisture,
while also preventing the food from sticking to the
grate. We do not recommend oiling the grate, as
this could cause unnecessary flare-ups.
Put a Lid On It
Keep the lid closed as much as possible for these
reasons:
1. Keeps the grate hot enough to sear the food
when cooking directly.
2. Traps the smokiness that develops when fat and
juices vaporize in the grill.
3. Prevents flare-ups by limiting oxygen.
Diuser Plate Do’s and Don’ts
When smoking, the diffuser plate helps to maintain
consistent low temperatures and redirects the heat
and smoke around the food. However, the diffuser
plate can also be used when cooking indirectly to
maximize cooking space. Never put food or fuel on
the diffuserplate.
Tame the Flame
Flare-ups happen, which is typically good because
the flames sear the surface of the food. However,
too many flare-ups can cause the food to burn.
Keeping the lid closed as much as possible limits
the amount of oxygen inside the grill, which will
help extinguish any flare-ups. If the flames become
out of control, temporarily move the food over
indirect heat until they die down.
Watch the Time and Temperature
Grilling in a colder climate or higher altitude
will extend your cooking time. Windy weather
conditions will raise the grill’s temperature.
Keep It Clean
Follow the basic routine maintenance instructions
to keep your grill looking and functioning great for
years to come. Be sure to remove accumulated
ashes and old charcoal from the bottom of the bowl
and the ash catcher before every use.
Smoking with Wood
Experimenting with different woods while smoking
is encouraged to find the perfect balance of sweet
and savory. While smoking over long periods of
time, be sure to always use wood chunks instead of
wood chips. Chunks allow for a longer smoke that
penetrates slowly over a long cooking time. Wood
chips work best for a shorter cooking time because
they do not last as long during a long smoke.
Charcoal Quantity for Smoking & Cooking Times
Weight Cooking Time Charcoal Briquettes Wood Chunks
FISH
1 lb to 3 lb
(0.45 - 1.36 kg)
1 to 2½ hours 60 to 80 briquettes (1¾ cups) 2 to 4
3 lb to 6 lb
(1.36 - 2.7 kg)
2½ to 4 hours 60 to 80 briquettes (1¾ cups) 2 to 4
POULTRY
2 lb to 3 lb
(0.9 - 1.36 kg)
2 to 3½ hours 60 to 80 briquettes (1¾ cups) 1 to 3
4 lb to 8 lb
(1.81 - 3.62 kg)
3½ to 4 hours 80 to 100 briquettes (2¼ cups) 2 to 4
8 lb to 12 lb
(3.62 - 5.44 kg)
4 to 5 hours 80 to 100 briquettes (2¼ cups) 3 to 4
12 lb to 18 lb
(5.44 - 8.1 kg)
8 to 10 hours 100 to 120 briquettes (2¾ cups) 3 to 5
PORK
4 lb to 8 lb
(1.81 - 3.62 kg)
5 to 8 hours 80 to 100 briquettes (2¼ cups) 3 to 4
8 lb to 12 lb
(3.62 - 5.44 kg)
8 to 12 hours 100 to 120 briquettes (2¾ cups) 3 to 5
BEEF
4 lb to 8 lb
(1.81 - 3.62 kg)
7 to 12 hours 80 to 120 briquettes (2½ cups) 3 to 5
8 lb to 12 lb
(3.62 - 5.44 kg)
12 to 18 hours 120 to 140 briquettes (3¼ cups) 3 to 5
Cooking times for beef use the USDA’s definition of medium doneness. Cooking times listed are for foods
that have been completely thawed. The weights, charcoal quantities, and cooking times are meant to be
guidelines rather than hard and fast rules. Factors such as altitude, wind, and outside temperature can
affect cooking times.
m WARNING: Never use charcoal impregnated with charcoal lighter fluid.
Wood Flavors for Smoking
Wood Flavor Characteristics Pairs With
Apple SUBTLE
Slightly sweet
with a dense,
fruity smoke
flavor
Fish
Poultry
Pork
(particularly ham)
Vegetables
Cherry SUBTLE
Slightly sweet
with a fruity
smoke flavor
Fish
Poultry
Pork
Vegetables
Hickory RICH
Pungent and
smoky with a
bacon-like flavor
Poultry
Pork
Beef
Beech SUBTLE
Delicate with a
mildly smoky
flavor
Fish
Poultry
Pork
Lamb
Vegetables
Pecan RICH
Pungent with a
sweet flavor.
Ideal for smoking
at a very low
heat.
Fish
Poultry
Pork
Lamb
Beef
Mesquite BOLD
Big, bold smoke
flavor with a
borderline bitter
finish.
Pork
Lamb
Beef
GRILLING METHODS - SMOKING