Whether it is better to cook food with the barbecue lid on or off depends on the food you’re barbecuing.
We recommend leaving the BBQ lid open when grilling sausages & burgers as these will need to be turned regularly. Closing the BBQ lid when cooking chicken, steak, fish, and vegetables can help them cook evenly.
When you barbecue with the lid closed, you create convection, as the hot air moves around within the BBQ unable to escape. This helps to cook the interior of your food, in the same way an oven does. When you barbecue with the lid open, you’ll be able to sear thin food more effectively, without over-cooking the middle.
There are certain barbecue cooking techniques that require keeping the lid closed, for example, smoking or baking. Read our blog for more tips and guidance on how to cook on a BBQ.