Unpopular opinion: when using a Weber kettle only, “forward” sear is better than reverse sear.
It’s faster
It’s easier and more consistently gives preferred results
It creates a better crust (due to the inability to get the grill super hot after doing low and slow in a timely manner, cast iron on the grill can fix this but adds time and creates more dishes)
by minimalstrategy
15 Comments
Beautiful crust, juicy middle, great job! Looks delicious!!
I’d eat all of it
I also forward sear, great job.
This opinion is popular with me. My name is BigRedJohnson, and I’m a forward searer.
Looks great !!
It may be unpopular but it’s the way I was taught to do it years ago and it works quite well.
By forward sear, do you mean you just sear first then lower temp and cook longer duration? I’ve played around w this since I’ve been trying to get a better sear and sometimes w reverse you end up w a hockey puck because I’m too fixated on getting a good sear
Forward sears always give me the best crust.
Looks great, nice cook.
Wait, you can’t get your Weber kettle super hot? I can make the thermometer’s needle do a lap. I’ve warped grates. No accelerant used.
Getting the Weber hot enough shouldn’t be an issue. Ever.
You should most definitely be able to get a chimney of charcoal rip roaring hot to throw in the kettle after your low and slow portion of the cook. Lid off, bottom vent wide open, Vortex…
You should go from zero to hero before you can even say the words.
Yum. That looks so good.
Can’t really argue with those results
Imo the only reason to reverse sear is if you’re adding some smoke to the low and slow portion of the cook or if you want a bit of smoke flavor from the charcoal. As the op points out getting a low temp grill up to high heat is sometimes an issue and you can also overshoot final target temp. I’ve been in a situation where Ive had to choose between my ideal target temp and getting a good crust. My unpopular opinion is that a slightly overcooked steak (med to low end of mid well) with a good crust is better than a grey ass perfectly tempted steak with no crust.
Looks like the US without Florida.
Mmmm