Are you looking for a delicious and impressive dish to serve at your next barbecue or dinner party?
Look no further than pork belly cooked on a Weber Baby Q!
With the right technique, you can achieve perfectly crispy crackling and tender, juicy meat.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to cook pork belly on your Weber Baby Q, including tips for maintaining the right temperature and achieving that coveted crackling.
Get ready to impress your guests with this mouth-watering dish!
How To Cook Pork Belly In Weber Baby Q?
1. Prepare the Pork Belly
Start by scoring the skin side of the pork belly in a diamond pattern, cutting through the skin and fat but not the meat. Keep the cuts close together.
Next, flip the pork belly skin side down and spread the rub evenly over the meat. Flip it again, meat side down, and rub the skin side with a generous amount of salt. This will help create a good crackling.
2. Preheat Your Weber Baby Q
Prepare your Weber Baby Q for indirect cooking over high heat (450° to 550°F). Brush the cooking grates clean.
3. Grill the Pork Belly
Place the pork belly onto the centre of the trivet and insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the belly. Close the lid on your Weber Baby Q and turn the gas control knob off.
Maintain a temperature between 180°C (355°F) and 200°C (390°F) for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, turn the gas control knob back on to low heat and continue cooking until the belly reaches an internal temperature of 68°C (155°F).
For best results, try to maintain a temperature between 240C (465°F) and 260C (500°F) until the belly reaches its desired temperature. This will give the skin time to crackle.
4. Rest and Serve
Once cooked, take the pork belly out of your Weber Baby Q and set it aside to rest for 10 minutes. Slice it down the score marks, cut into strips, and place onto hotdog rolls.
Drizzle with your favorite sauce or gravy recipe and serve immediately.
Preparing The Pork Belly For Cooking
Before cooking your pork belly in the Weber Baby Q, it is important to prepare it properly. This will help ensure that the meat is tender and juicy, and that the skin is crispy and delicious.
To start, use a sharp knife to score the skin side of the pork belly in a diamond pattern, cutting through the skin and fat but not the meat. Keep the cuts close together to create a diamond-shaped pattern. This will help the fat render out and the skin to crisp up.
Next, flip the pork belly skin side down and spread your chosen rub evenly over the meat. Flip it again, meat side down, and rub the skin side with a generous amount of salt. This will help create a good crackling when cooked.
Once your pork belly is prepared, you are ready to start cooking it on your Weber Baby Q. Follow the steps outlined above to grill your pork belly to perfection, and enjoy a delicious and flavorful meal that is sure to impress.
Setting Up Your Weber Baby Q For Pork Belly
Before you start cooking your pork belly, it’s important to properly set up your Weber Baby Q to ensure even cooking and delicious results.
1. Clean Your Weber Baby Q
Make sure your Weber Baby Q is clean and free from any grease or debris before you start cooking. Use a grill brush to clean the cooking grates and remove any leftover food or residue.
2. Set Up for Indirect Cooking
For the best results, set up your Weber Baby Q for indirect cooking over high heat (450° to 550°F). This means that the heat source will be on one side of the grill, and the pork belly will be placed on the other side, away from direct heat.
To set up for indirect cooking on your Weber Baby Q, place a convection tray on top of the cooking grates and then place a trivet on top of the tray. This will create a space between the heat source and the pork belly, allowing for indirect cooking.
3. Preheat Your Weber Baby Q
Before placing the pork belly onto the trivet, preheat your Weber Baby Q for at least 10 minutes with the lid closed. This will ensure that the grill is hot enough to cook the pork belly properly.
4. Monitor Temperature
Monitor the temperature of your Weber Baby Q throughout the cooking process to ensure that it stays within the desired range. Adjust the gas control knob as needed to maintain a consistent temperature.
5. Use a Meat Thermometer
Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the pork belly throughout the cooking process. This will help you determine when it’s cooked to your desired level of doneness.
By following these steps, you can set up your Weber Baby Q for pork belly and achieve delicious, tender results every time.
Achieving Perfectly Crispy Crackling
Achieving perfectly crispy crackling is a crucial step in cooking pork belly on your Weber Baby Q. To achieve this, it’s important to start with a clean grill and a dry pork skin. Make sure to pat the skin dry with paper towels before scoring it.
Rubbing a little olive oil all over the pork and seasoning it with salt will also help create that perfect crackling. After the first 30 minutes of high heat, avoid lifting the lid to prevent any heat from escaping. This will allow the skin to crisp up and create that satisfying crunch.
It’s also essential to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the cooking process. Keeping the temperature between 240°C (465°F) and 260°C (500°F) until the belly reaches its desired temperature will give the skin enough time to crackle.
Once cooked, let the pork belly rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing it down the score marks and cutting it into strips. This will allow all the natural juices to re-distribute back into the meat and make it moist and tender.
By following these steps, you can achieve perfectly crispy crackling on your pork belly cooked on your Weber Baby Q, making for a delicious and impressive meal.