Although cooking food on the bbq is extremely popular during the summer months, some people cook their food on the bbq all year round. As for the bbq, there are two types of bbq’s that are used, one is a gas barbecue and the other is the charcoal barbecue. Most people prefer one over the other.
Gas grilling is more convenient as there is no need to for briquettes, no lighting, and no fuel. There are no fumes given off from other substances other than the food. Regardless of these factors, some people still prefer the flavor of food that has been cooked over charcoal briquettes. Here are some tips for cooking food on the barbecue.
Tips for Cooking Food on the BBQ
- Plan Ahead – Plan well in advance as to what foods you want to have for the bbq. Purchase meats, fruits, fish, and side dishes ahead of time. Make sure that you have enough seasonings, oils, and vinaigrettes for marinating your meats.
- Use Seasonal Vegetables – Use seasonal vegetables for your grilling choices. This way you can save yourself some money.
- Marinate Overnight – Great barbecues start off with great marinades. Make sure to season your meat and allow at least 24 hours for the flavors to incorporate into the meat. An oil and vinegar base works well, along with the seasonings.
- Have Everything Ready – Have everything prepared and ready for your barbecue. Being prepared will mean that you are not running back and forth to get what you want to put on the grill.
- Loose the Fridge Chill – Take the meat that you are going to bbq out of the fridge a few hours before you plan on firing up your grill. If you do not, the outside of the meat will be well done and dark, while the inside part will be lighter in color and possibly not cooked properly.
- Control the Temperature – When grilling food, have some tin foil handy to place on the grill. Place food that finishes faster on it to displace the heat. You could also have a couple of overhead racks in the bbq in which to place cooked food to stay warm.
- Test for Doneness – Have a sharp knife and a fork handy to test the meat for doneness. Make a small incision in the meat to check to see whether or not it is cooked the way you like it.
- Rest Time – After you take your meat off of the bbq, give it a rest time. This action will allow the juices to flow back into the meat, keeping it soft, flavorable, and moist. If you do not do this action, your meat will be tough and dry.
Barbecue season is almost underway. Make sure that your bbq is in proper working order by giving it a maintenance check. You may have to replace your outdated propane tank or clean the ash tray. Try experimenting with the foods that you barbecue. Grill some fresh pineapple to use on top of a dish of ice cream for dessert. Utilizing the above tips will make your barbecue much more enjoyable and stress-free. Enjoy!
