The Two Weber Cooking Methods; The Direct Cooking Method; The Indirect Cooking Method; Barbecue Setup - Weber GENESIS Manual

Your GENESIS barbecue is designed to cook sensational barbecues – whether it's grilling your favourite
meats and vegetables, roasting larger cuts of meats or pizzas, or baking a dessert. Weber's lid down
cooking system allows you to re-create any of your favourite recipes in your backyard and all with
incredible flavour.
There are two cooking methods you'll use on your GENESIS – direct cooking and indirect cooking.
Regardless of the method you're using, it's always important to preheat your barbecue before use and
always cook with the lid closed.

The direct cooking method

(grilling)
The direct cooking method is what you might
think of as traditional barbecuing. Food is cooked
directly above a heat source. On your GENESIS,
that means cooking directly above a lit burner.
When using the direct method we recommend
you turn your food once, half way through the
cooking time. For direct cooking, you can adjust
the burner settings depending on the level of heat
required for the recipe.
Direct cooking is used for searing meat, cooking
traditional barbecue food like lamb chops,
sausages or steak and grilling chicken, seafood
or vegetables. The direct method should also
be used with the hotplate supplied with your
barbecue for cooking food such as eggs, pancakes
and onion rings.
The direct cooking method will sear and brown
(or caramelise) food, giving a characteristic
barbecued appearance, texture and flavour.
Position of GENESIS 3 burners
Burner 1 Burner 2

The two Weber cooking methods

Burner 3
Sear
burner
7

The indirect cooking method

(for roasting, baking and low and slow cooking)
The indirect cooking method is similar to roasting
or baking, but with a barbecued texture and
flavour you can't get in an oven. Food is not
cooked directly above a heat source.
For most indirect cooking (roasting and baking)
we recommend you cook with the left and right
burners on and the centre burner off. Food is
placed over the centre burner and cooked by
the indirect heat produced by the left and right
burners. Heat rises and hot air circulates to
cook food evenly on all sides. There is no need to
turn your food when using the indirect cooking
method.
Indirect cooking is best used for roasting thick
cuts of meat, poultry or whole fish.
Slow cooking can also be achieved on your
GENESIS by using the indirect method (see low
and slow cooking).
Note: Your GENESIS will perform at its best when
you let natural convection do its work under the
lid. Try to resist the temptation to open the lid
or turn the food unnecessarily. Your food cooks
faster, more evenly and with more flavour if you
leave the lid closed as much as possible.