Having the best barbecue grill does not necessarily mean that you know how to barbecue properly. Here are a couple of tips and tricks so that you get the most out of your barbecue:
-- Make sure the grill is well oiled before cooking to prevent food from sticking.
-- For the best results, marinate the meat in the fridge overnight or at least 2 hours at room temperature. Remove meat from the fridge and allow it to reach room temperature for not more than an hour.
-- Always use a spatula or a tong to turn the meat. Using a fork or anything that pierces the meat is a big no-no. Piercing the meat will let its juices flow out, and you will have dried up meat on your hands.
-- If you are using a gas barbecue, preheat the grill on high for 5 to 10 minutes then bring it to the desired cooking temperature. Only turn on one side of the grill and place the meat on the other side.
-- For charcoal barbecue grills, start lighting up the coals 30 minutes before cooking to allow them to release an even amount of heat.
-- If the marinade you used has low sugar content then by all means baste the meat during the entire process. However, if the marinade has high sugar content, better baste during the last few minutes before you remove the meat. This prevents the meat from being dried or charred.
-- Leave out the salt until after the meat is cooked. The salt, if added before cooking, dries up the meat by drawing out moisture.
-- The best burgers for grilling are those made from lean meat, which binds the burgers better.
-- Leave spaces in-between the meat pieces on the skewer so that when you grill the kebab the heat can evenly penetrate and properly cook the meat.
-- Cook pork roasts with the BBQ grill lid down. Place an aluminum drip pan containing water below the roast to prevent unwanted flare up.
-- Make sure the coals have low to medium heat when cooking steaks and chops. Turn the meat with a tong or a spatula, never a fork.
-- Precook ribs in simmering water for 15 minutes then grill over low to medium direct heat. Turn and baste often to prevent charring.
-- Make sure the grill is well oiled before cooking to prevent food from sticking.
-- For the best results, marinate the meat in the fridge overnight or at least 2 hours at room temperature. Remove meat from the fridge and allow it to reach room temperature for not more than an hour.
-- Always use a spatula or a tong to turn the meat. Using a fork or anything that pierces the meat is a big no-no. Piercing the meat will let its juices flow out, and you will have dried up meat on your hands.
-- If you are using a gas barbecue, preheat the grill on high for 5 to 10 minutes then bring it to the desired cooking temperature. Only turn on one side of the grill and place the meat on the other side.
-- For charcoal barbecue grills, start lighting up the coals 30 minutes before cooking to allow them to release an even amount of heat.
-- If the marinade you used has low sugar content then by all means baste the meat during the entire process. However, if the marinade has high sugar content, better baste during the last few minutes before you remove the meat. This prevents the meat from being dried or charred.
-- Leave out the salt until after the meat is cooked. The salt, if added before cooking, dries up the meat by drawing out moisture.
-- The best burgers for grilling are those made from lean meat, which binds the burgers better.
-- Leave spaces in-between the meat pieces on the skewer so that when you grill the kebab the heat can evenly penetrate and properly cook the meat.
-- Cook pork roasts with the BBQ grill lid down. Place an aluminum drip pan containing water below the roast to prevent unwanted flare up.
-- Make sure the coals have low to medium heat when cooking steaks and chops. Turn the meat with a tong or a spatula, never a fork.
-- Precook ribs in simmering water for 15 minutes then grill over low to medium direct heat. Turn and baste often to prevent charring.
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And don't forget, take care not to burn your hands or wrist, by using heat resistant gloves. And check out the author's site about some cool barbecue products.