HOTSPOT HASSLES
Q I have a six burner barbeque, it’s pretty good but the problem is that it
always gets hotter at the back and not as hot at the front. The burners all
burn evenly from front to back and the bbq is level (oil poured on the plate
does not run in any particular direction). Can you tell what is wrong and
maybe how to fix it. It may seem petty but when I’m cooking a full load it
does make a difference.
Harry
Geebung
Queensland
A There's nothing wrong Harry. Most barbys have hot spots. In fact, if you
know where they are they can be used to your advantage by 'parking' items
that don't need so much cooking (such as thinner steaks or vegetables).
When using a barby or gas grill for the first time, one professional cook I
know puts slices of while bread over the cooking surface, switches on the
burners and when the first puff of smoke appears he switches everything off
and removes the bread - piece by piece. He reckons this gives him a
'temperature' map of
the barby.
The only gas barby I've ever cooked on with a uniformly even heat was a rather
expensive US-made one. But while the temp might have been perfectly even it was
also evenly low and was hopeless at steaks.
If it really bugs you, some manufacturers make thick stainless steel plates containing
a special heat conductor that goes a long way to providing even heat.
BBQ Blue