Even if you own the latest and greatest barbecue grill you may need some pointers on how to barbeque food. There are some things you should be aware of when you use your grill or smoker. One good thing to do before you even begin is to rub a non stick solvent like oil on the grill to prevent the food from sticking. This will make cleanup much quicker and less stressful. Also put the meat out on the counter to bring it to room temperature before cooking it. Don't leave it out for more than an hour though as this may cause it to spoil. Make sure you bring the grill to the optimum cooking temperature before placing the meat on the grill. This will give you the best chance at getting a nice even cooking throughout the food. For gas grills turn them on 5 minutes before beginning, and for charcoal it is recommended to heat the coals for up to 30 minutes. Also, move the meat around periodically as those pieces closer to the center will likely cook faster. Use tongs or a spatula, and always where a protective glove to keep you from burning your skin. For even more flavor, baste the meat for an extended period before cooking it to let the flavor completely saturate it. There are many barbeque flavors to try including sweet sauce, traditional bbq sauce, and many more. One thing to consider is that if the marinade contains alot of sugar you should wait until the food is atleast half cooked before basting to avoid a drying effect on the meat. If you are barbequing kabobs you should leave a small amount of space between meat pieces to ensure ample heat penetrates all sides and cooks it evenly. You can even alternate meat and vegetable pieces to allow flavors to pass between them, giving a better all around taste. And if you are using chicken pieces, cut them with a knife to make sure they are completely cooked all the way through before removing them from the grill. Right after removing the meat, you can scrape the grills with a scraper to clean them. It's best to do this when they are still very hot as the excess food and other material will easily slide off. Just be careful not to burn yourself. Experiment with different recipes to find what works and what doesn't. Over time you will find many different things that bring the best taste out in various meats. And then you will feel like a seasoned backyard barbeque expert. |
