Seven out of 10 Americans own a smoker’s BBQ grill, which shows how much we love enjoying our food this way.
The beauty about BBQs is you can curate the ultimate meal, whether it’s treating your loved ones to juicy burgers or lemon-pepper salmon. But, if you’re struggling to level up your grill game, it could be because you’re making common mistakes. Luckily, these are easy to learn with enough practice and determination.
Perhaps you’re currently struggling with your grill and you’re looking for inspiration. Sounds like you? Don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 12 top BBQ tips.
Table of Contents
1. Gather Your Tools
Before you learn how to BBQ, it’s important to gather your tools. You’ll need extra-long tongs so you can easily move heavier cuts of meat while keeping your arms safe. You should also invest in grilling gloves, firelights, and a grilling apron with a pouch for your utensils.
And, of course, make sure you have a cutting board, plenty of aluminum foil, and knives for meat preparation.
2. Choose Your Flavors
Anyone interested in BBQ pro tips understands that flavor dictates everything, even before you crank up the grill. Treat yourself to good quality salt, seasoning, and dry rub so that everything going on in your BBQ packs a punch.
You should also experiment with woodchips as it infuses the smoke with sweetness. As a general rule, hickory or oak work best with pork and fish, while applewood is great for other meats. Or, if you prefer charcoal, then choose lump wood as it adds a natural flavor to your food.
3. Clean Your Grill
Regardless of which BBQ methods you choose, starting with a clean grill is crucial. If you’ve used it recently, then scrub the grates to remove any food remnants or char. Once you’re satisfied, wipe them down with a paper towel.
Cleaning the BBQ is everyone’s nightmare, but you can make the grates non-stick. Simply slice a potato in half and rub hot grates with them and you’re good to go. You can also lay down aluminum foil at the bottom of your grill before adding the briquettes.
4. Preparation Is Key
You don’t want to spend ages working the grill only to find nothing has been prepped. Before the big day, figure out how many people will attend your BBQ and the type of meat you need. For instance, hot dogs and skewers are fantastic for kids because you can make them fun.
Further, ask adults which cut of meat they’d prefer, such as t-bone, sirloin, or rump. Or, perhaps you’re catering for pescatarians, so make sure guests are happy with the menu. Once you know which meat you’re working with, then you know which condiments will work best with each option.
5. Avoid Fridge Chill
Make sure you remove your meat and fish from the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before lighting up the BBQ. If you forget this crucial step, then you could burn the outside without properly cooking the middle. Note, this is essential when cooking chicken, sausages, or pork, otherwise you could get ill.
6. Focus On the Temperature
Another important tool for BBQ aficionados is a meat thermometer. This tells you whether the meat is cooked enough and helps you be consistent. Plus, cooking times always fluctuated during a BBQ because it depends on multiple factors like the grill’s preheating time, fire, and thickness of the meat.
7. Always Marinate Your Meat
Anyone worried about perfecting the flavor should marinate their meat beforehand. Slather a Piri Piri or BBQ sauce over your meat and your guests will be happy. But make sure you remove any excess marinade, otherwise, it could burn or flare on the grill, which ruins your meat’s flavor.
8. Create Different Grilling Zones
Sure, your fish or meat is the main event, but you can’t have a BBQ without grilling your favorite veggies. The key to keeping everything organized is dividing the grill into different zones so you can monitor the temperature in each section. For instance, once your veggies are cooked through, move them to the cooler area to slow down the cooking process.
9. Don’t Move Food Around
Although it’s tempting to move your food around the grill, it’s best to leave it. Let your meat sit on the grate for as long as possible so that it’s thoroughly cooked through. Plus, you’ll get awesome grill marks, which is a sign of a successful BBQ session.
10. Add BBQ Sauce at the End
Many newbies douse their meat in BBQ sauce at the beginning, but this can ruin your entire meal. Instead, leave this step until the last minute. In fact, you only want the sauce on the grill for several minutes to prevent burning.
If you’re interested in premium-quality sauce, then check out hickoryhanks.com for a great selection of products.
11. Undercook Fish
A great tip for cooking fish is to keep it on your grill for a minimal time. For instance, make sure you remove salmon before it’s medium-rare. This means when you’re ready to serve, then it should be a succulent medium.
12. Let the Meat Rest Before Eating
Once your meat is ready, remove it from the grill and let it rest for several minutes. This lets the juices be reabsorbed into the fiber of your favorite cut of meat. If not, you will lose a huge amount of flavor and let heat escape before serving.
Enjoy Our BBQ Tips
Hopefully, you’ll use these BBQ tips next time you have a get-together with your loved ones.
Start by gathering your cooking tools, prioritize preparation, and monitor the temperature throughout the BBQ process. You should also marinate your meat and leave everything to rest before serving so it can retain the flavor. Good luck!
Found this article helpful? If yes, then check out the rest of our blog for more tips and tricks.
