WEBER SUMMIT/GENESIS ROAD TEST
Q I am thinking of buying a Weber Genesis Silver barbeque mostly for
the convenient grilling of steaks (I have a Weber kettle for indirect cooking
and Hibachi and they are good but time consuming). Do you have any
experience with this barby? I am worried about sufficient heat to properly
sear steaks, especially as it is only sold with a porcelain enamel grilling
grate.
Keith
Pennant Hills
New South Wales
A Keith, I personally don't have much experience with using current model
Weber gas barbys (but I do know they are exceptionally well made) so when
a visitor to the website said he intended to buy one I asked him to let me
know what he thought about it.
This is what Dean from Lane Cove had to say about his Weber Summit (the
Genesis has three burners compared to the Summit's four but heat output is
much the same per burner so his comments should apply to both):
"I've had the Weber for about three months now, and have used it fairly
extensively - about six bottles of gas. I've used it for grilling and for roasting,
and am really happy with its quality and with the results I've been able to get
from it.
”The temperature control is good, and the thermometer is easy to read right
down to under 100C. I've found that it's quite easy to keep the temp just above
100C for extended periods of time and have done some slow cooked meat.
It really is very good for roasting and slow cooking.
”For grilling steak, it is just a little bit under-powered by my reckoning. I take it
up to very hot with the lid down, then put the steak on and it works well for a while
but cools down a little quickly - not too bad. By the way, this is with the lid up. I
tried many times to cook steak with the lid down, but you kind of get a baked
rather than grilled result.
“I like it to be charred on the outside and juicy in the middle. With the lid down, it's
either just grey on the outside or dry and tough in the middle or both.
"Since giving up on grilling steak with the lid down, the results are much better
- similar (but not quite the same) as with the charcoal grill.
”Thanks for your advice on the barbecue. It's been a very good buy. Oh, and I never
use the wok burner!"
I hope this answers your questions Keith.
Cheers
BBQ Blue