Finding The Right Charcoal Grill

Cooking with a charcoal grill can provide a flavor that isn’t found when cooking with seemingly more modern gas grills. A good charcoal grill will give the meat you cook a classic BBQ flavor. Charcoal grills come in many different styles and the one that is right for you will depend of exactly what you are trying do to. You can find grills that are portable and great for a picnic, right on up in size to large cooking pits built in backyards made of brick and cement.

What kind of charcoal grill is right for you? You need to think of exactly what you want it for. It is important to consider if portability is important, it is if you intend to take the grill with you on picnics or camping. You will also need to consider how much food you are going to need to be cooking at any time. The small grill that is easy to toss into the trunk may not serve you very well if you need to cook for five people. Consider the cooking area the charcoal grill you are considering will provide.

When cooking with charcoal grill safety is a major concern. The most important part of the grill in this respect are the legs. If the legs are not sufficient or are unsafe the whole grill will tip over. When a charcoal grill falls over it throws its load of extremely hot coals. Check to be sure that the legs of any grill you are considering buying has very sturdy legs that won’t allow the grill to fall.

In addition to good legs some charcoal grills will provide a water reservoir that can be used to douse some or all of the coals if the heat becomes too much. Even if your grill doesn’t have that feature you should keep a metal bucket of water around for dousing the coals when you have finished cooking. Let coals cool down first then you need to dump the coals into the water slowly, watch out for the steam that may be produced. Don’t throw the water on the coals that will make a large mess.

Once you have your charcoal grill all picked out you will need to buy charcoal when you intend to use it. The coal is available at most supermarkets and hardware stores and is not at all expensive. In order to get the coal burning you will need to buy some lighter fluid. The coals are placed in the grill and stacked in a pyramid. Once stacked they are then doused in lighter fluid, after allowing a second for the fluid to soak into the pile it can be set ablaze. Allow the coal to get burning red hot, spread it around the grill and then enjoy cooking your dinner.

The Basics of BBQ Grilling – From Start to Finish

If you are looking to grill your way to greatness, you need to know the basics. Here, all in one nutshell, is everything you need to know about grilling…from choosing which wood chips to use, to knowing the best ways of basting your food.

What sets grilled food apart from every other kind of cooking is the deep, seared flavors and wonderful aroma you create in the grilling process.

When food is placed directly over a hot cooking grate, it develops multiple layers of great tastes and beautiful grill marks. Juices drip through the grate and into the heat source of the grill, adding an irresistible aroma to the food. Grilling over direct heat allows you to caramelize the sauces on the surface of the food.

If you are considering using a commercial barbecue sauce, keep in mind that most of these sauces contain sugar or other sweetener, which will have a tendency to burn over the intense heat of a grill. It is best to wait about fifteen minutes or less before the food is done before adding barbecue sauce. It will then turn into a sweet and delicious glaze, instead of a charred and bitter coating.

You can give your grilled foods a bolder smokiness by using wood chips or wood chunks. Soak them in water for at least thirty minutes, and then add them to the grill. Some gas grills come with smoker boxes that sit between the cooking burners. These get so hot that the wood will smolder instead of just burn up.

When using a charcoal grill, all you have to do is drop the wood over the hot coals. A good technique is to use wood chunks or chips in combination with indirect heat. In other words, the food sits in the middle of the cooking grate, while the heat is either side of the food. This allows you to cook larger cuts of meat very slowly, giving the smoke time to penetrate the meat.

10 tips to great grilling success:

1. Always buy the best meats. A poor cut of meat can never be saved by even the best grilling techniques.

2. Be as organized as possible. Always have your food, sauces and equipment by the bbq grill when you are ready to start cooking.

3. Allow your meats to sit at room temperature for about thirty minutes before grilling.

4. Try experimenting with different kinds of woods for different kinds of tastes.

5. Always make sure you have enough fuel or charcoal before starting.

6. Use a chimney starter to start charcoal fires. If you choose to use charcoal lighter fluid, allow the fluid to soak into the coals for about 10 minutes before starting the fire. This allows the coals to start slowly and burn off the bitter fluid.

7. Cut down on flareups and burned meat by keeping a clean spray bottle filled with water handy. When flames start to rise, spray a little water on them to keep them down. Try using apple juice instead of water to add some extra flavor.

8. Never stab your meat with a fork or knife after the grilling starts. The juices will flow right out of the meat. Use tongs to turn the meat.

9. When using indirect heat methods, keep the bbq grill covered most of the time. Opening the grill will cause you to lose heat rapidly.

10. After cooking, let the meat rest for a few minutes. The juices will redistribute through the meat, and not run out onto the plate.

Over time, these bbq techniques will will become second-natured to you. You will be organized, efficient, and cooking great bbq grill foods for years to come. The only thing that will change from each grilling experience will be the food.

About The Author
Billy Bristol is the editor and pitmaster for TexasBarbeques.com

Eliminate Outdoor Cooking Mistakes

As humans, we all make mistakes. It is human nature to do so, and cannot be prevented each and every time. When it comes to barbequing, this rule is no different. We often make mistakes that we do not even realize until we taste our food, or something potentially dangerous happens.

Some mistakes just mean that the food you cook is not going to taste very good, while others could potentially mean a trip to the hospital, or a visit from your claims representative on your home insurance policy. No matter the severity of the mistake, you should do your best to try to avoid them whenever possible.

Cooking Mistakes

You must properly prepare the meat you are cooking, before cooking it. You should never attempt to cook meat on a grill when it is still frozen, or even partially frozen. Thaw your meat by sitting it out about 12 to 24 hours before you plan on cooking it, or by thawing it in a microwave.

Once meat is cooked, never put it back in on the same plate you had it on when it was raw. This could cause the spread of many unwanted illnesses.

Cooking with charcoal lighter fluid can be good or bad. The lighter fluid will cause the food you are cooking to taste different then with other types of grills. Alternatively, attempting to not use lighter fluid may cause a lot of frustration due to the fact that charcoal can be difficult if not impossible to light without lighter fluid.

Never poke you meat while it is cooking. Poking holes in meat will cause the juice inside to leak out into the bottom of the grill. Not only will this make your food dry and unappealing in the end, but it also could potentially ruin your barbeque grill. At the very least, it will cause a buildup of unwanted grease and juices on your grill, which will make cleanup harder.

Once the meat is on the grill, try not to open the lid to many times. Each time you open the lid, you change the temperature in the grill. The constant change in temperature and the air flow will cause your meat to dry up quickly.

Remember that the higher the heat is not always the better. While it is ok to quickly cook food, turning the heat up will just cause the meat to dry up and potentially burn.

While using tin foil or aluminum foil will make cleaning easier, it will cause your food to have more of a fried taste then a grilled taste.

Dangerous Mistakes

Never, under any circumstance, should you leave a grill alone when it is in use. Grilling does have fire involved, and accidents can happen. Fire spreads quickly, so being aware of your grill could mean the difference between a small fire that is quickly extinguished, and a visit from the fire department.

Never place a hot grill against a wall, even if the fire is already completely out. A hot grill can heat up an exterior wall to the point of combustion. Also, do not put the grill cover back on until you are sure that the grill is completely cool.

You grill should be cleaned after each and every use, no exceptions. While no one likes cleaning the grill, it is essential for the life and safety of your grill. If you allow your grill to sit dirty, not only are you causing a potential fire and health hazard, but you are ultimately making it harder on yourself when it does come time to clean your grill.

Make sure that your grill is completely cold before cleaning it. Spraying oil and cleaning agents on a hot surface could cause it to ignite. Be careful, because the grill may seem cool, but may still be hot in certain areas. You do not want to sustain a burn.

Planning a BBQ Clambake Party

Barbeques are popular for events such as the 4th of July, birthday parties, receptions, and going away parties. No matter why you have decided to plan a barbeque party, the memories that will come from it are sure to stick with your guests for many years to come, provided that you plan ahead. Alternatively, a new popular type of barbeque is a barbeque clambake. Clambakes are typically held in a pit on the beach, but if a beach is not available, you may want to consider holding your clambake right from your grill.

1) First, no barbeque would be complete without guests. Plan ahead of time, checking with your potential guest for scheduling conflicts and issues. Finding a date and time that is suitable for everyone should not be to far as long as you everyone enough advanced notice. Remember that not everyone will be able to come, no matter how much notice you give them, so do not get discouraged if you do not get as many RSVPs as your originally hoped for.

2) Be sure to check the weather for that type of year. If you live in a climate that cannot be predicted, then you may want to have a backup plan just incase unusual weather comes. You cannot predict things like rain and thunderstorms ahead of time, but you can make sure that you hold you barbeque during the time of year that will be pleasant to your guests. A barbeque in cold weather may hold more negative memories of trying to keep warm rather then good memories of family and friends.

3) You will need to purchase the items for your clambake. The traditional items you will need is Clams still in the shell, seawater(if available), corn still in the husk, and potatoes.

Side dishes can also be bought, but are not necessary since the potatoes and corn can act as such. If you feel that you need other side dishes, the simplest approach to side dishes is chips and dip. Chips and dip do not require any cooking on your part, and will still be loved by the majority of your guests.

4) Depending on the theme of your party, you may or may not want to purchase decorations. Festive decorations can be found at any local party or general store. You may also consider purchasing decorations that can be stored and reused at a different time, such as reusable tablecloths and Tiki torches. Give your clambake a beach theme by adding tropical music and you may even consider adding some sand.

5) The day before you party, you will want to make sure to thaw, prepare, and marinate the meat you will be cooking. Store the meat stored away, soaking up the marinate until it is time for it to go on the grill. Prepare any side dishes that you can ahead of time.

6) The day of the party, get up early and start preparing for it. You do not want your guest arriving while you are still cooking or hanging decorations. It should only take you a few hours at most to prepare the area in which you will be having the party, but the reactions from your guest will probably seem as if you have been planning this for weeks.

Place your clambake on the grill, layering your already cooked potatoes, corn still in the husk, and your clams on the grill. Then grill these until the corn and clams are complete.

Depending on the time in which your guests arrive, you may want to include you guests in the actual cooking of the clambake. Enjoying a few drinks around the pit or stove will not only give you time to gather and converse, but will also make your guests hungry, as they smell the wonderful aroma coming from the steaming or boiling vegetables and clams.

Properly Cleaning Your Grill

When purchasing your barbeque grill, think of it as an investment rather then just another item for your outdoor entertainment. You should expect this item to become a large part of your outdoor activities for many years to come. But like any other investments, proper maintenance and care is needed to ensure that your barbeque grill will work for you for many years to come.

Leaving you grill messy after each use will not only make it harder on you when you finally do clean the grill, but it will also drastically decrease the lifespan of your grill. If you grill sits dirty, you increase the risk of rust.

While some maintenance and cleaning is specific to the type of barbeque grill your own (gas, electric, charcoal or smoke barbecue grill), the majority of maintenance that should be carried on does not change from grill to grill.

Step 1- Gathering The Necessary Items

You will need some common household items on hand when it comes time to clean your barbeque grill.

Brass wire grill brush
Steel wool pads, preferably that contains soap already.
Mild dish soap
Sponge or dishcloth
Spray cooking oil
Dry baking soda
Aluminum foil

Step 2- Brushing Your Grill Off

The first thing that should always be done to your grill is a routine brushing. Using your brass wire grill brush (or other brush suitable to your type of grill) you should brush off all the surfaces. By routinely brushing your barbeque grill, you will prevent any type of buildup. If buildup from food is left to long, it can become increasingly difficult to remove, and can end up causing problems such as rust.

Step 3- Spray Cooking Oil

Once you are sure that your grill is free of all buildup and debris, and that your grill is completely cooled off, you will want to spray it down with a light layer of cooking oil. Spraying it down with cooking oil will prevent your barbeque grill from rusting. It is especially important to make sure you barbeque grill is completely cold, as spraying cooking oil on a hot surface may cause the oil to heat up and ignite, which could be potentially dangerous to you and your barbeque grill.

Step 4- Use Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil on Your Grill
Baking soda is a very nice cleaning and polishing agent. Once you have removed any extra debris and buildup, lightly scrubbing your barbeque grill with baking soda will give it that extra shine, similar to the day that you brought it home from the store. This can also be used on handles and knobs to remove any extra buildup tat cannot be taken off with a wire brush.

Aluminum foil can also be used to keep your grill looking nice. Gently rub the aluminum foil on your grill, and you will notice that it removes grim and buildup. This is a cheap and inexpensive way to clean your grill.

Step 5- Clean Your Racks

The racks in your grill are especially important as this is where the food touches when it is cooking. You will have to use the wire brush to remove as much buildup as possible. Once you remove as much as possible, start washing the racks with dish soap. If the racks are really dirty, you may also want to use the steel wool pads. Be sure to completely rinse off all soap and residue before cooking on these racks again.

Stainless Steel Gas Grills

Once you decide that you are more then just your average griller, you may want to consider investing in a gas grills. Gas grills give an array of features and options that other types of grills simply do not have. If you are looking for a grill that will be beautiful, reliable, and will last for many years to come, you may want to consider looking into stainless steel gas grills.

Gas grills, unlike some of the other grills types, have the ability to come with many different types of cooking surfaces. These different cooking surfaces include a BBQ surface, a flat grill, and a ribbed grill. Some grills even offer these types of surfaces as none stick, which allow you to cook a whole array of foods that you would not be able to cook on a grill otherwise. You will be able to cook your whole meal, including side dishes if you plan correctly. Some gas grills even contain a Wok type surface for cooking pasta and rise dishes, or a full rotisserie set that allows you to cook rotisserie chicken.

A feature that comes with different cooking surfaces is the ability to cook different foods, at different temperatures, at the same time. This feature is available if your gas grill have separate burners. This allows you to cook your meals much more quickly. Some gas grills even come with a warming feature, which will keep your food warm while the rest of it finishes cooking.

Gas grills usually contain a built in thermometer, which will aide you in cooking. You will know the exact temperature you are cooking at. Charcoal and Smoker grills do not typically contain this feature, which either leaves you guessing what temperatures you are cooking at, or requires you to buy extra equipment in order to find out what temperature your food is.

Gas grills have safely concerns all of its own, but they are unmatched by other types of grills. Propane gas is extremely flammable if not used correctly. Other grills however, present higher opportunities for fire as they cook with an open flame. Gas grills are typical built much sturdier then their more simpler counterparts.

Popular Stainless Steel Gas Grills

Broilmaster- One of the most popular brands of natural gas grills is the Broilmasters. This company has been around for a long time and prides itself by creating great grills, even in its companies early years. If you are looking for a reliable name, Broilmaster would be the way to go. One of the most popular Broilmaster grills is the Super Premium Series, which puts out 40,000 BTU’s of cooking power, and has a cooking surface area of over 695 square inches.

Brinkman- These simple natural gas grills put out a lot of power, and can be purchased for much less then it’s competition. The Brinkmans, like the Broilmasters, are built of solid construction and meant to last a long time. Typical power output is around 45,000 BTU’s. Smaller units can range from 12,000 to 15,00 BTU’s.

Lynx- Lynx natural gas grills were specially designed for cooking higher end meats such as steaks and ribs. This grill have a patent design that is suppose to lock in flavor and juices. The Lynx run on the higher end of the price range, anywhere from $500 to $3000. The typical cooking power is about 50,000 BTU and has a cooking surface area of 840 square inches.

Gas Barbeque Grills

The act of Barbequing or Grilling has been around as long as humans. Cavemen quickly realized that food tasted good after it was cooked over an open fire. Barbequing has become a standard American tradition for families. The reasons as clear as to why, not only does the food that comes from barbequing have a taste that is unmatched by other cooking methods, but it also gives a family a reason to gather outdoors. Today, over 90% of families in the united states hold or attend barbeque at least once a year. About 70% of all of the barbeques are held on a gas grill.

Gas grills work by a spark igniting the gas within the grill. Gas grills typically have a knob or button in which you push, which in turn activates a small hammer. The hammer hits the top of an ignition crystal. Then the burner mixes the gas with oxygen and spreads it all over the cooking surface. This makes the gas grill one of the easiest, and fastest grills to use.

Gas grills come in all shapes and sizes, which makes then ideal for just about any type of barbequing party. Smaller gas grills give you the portability needed to plan barbeque parties away from home. Larger gas grills are handy and efficient for cooking larger amounts of food quickly, and without the mess of other types of grills.

So after deciding that you indeed are in the market for a barbeque grill, there are several factors that you must consider when you purchase your first gas grill.

Weight

Gas grills literally come in all shapes and sizes. The type of grill you get should really depend on what you plan on using the grill for. If you foresee camping trips, barbeques at the beach, or tailgate parties, you may want to consider getting a smaller gas grill. Smaller gas grills can range from anywhere from 10 to 40 pounds. Portable gas containers are also available for these types of grills.

If your plans are move focused on home cooking, then larger grills should suit you fine.

Cooking Surfaces

Gas grills, unlike some of the other grills types, have the ability to come with many different types of cooking surfaces. These different cooking surfaces include a BBQ surface, a flat grill, and a ribbed grill. Some grills even offer these types of surfaces as none stick, which allow you to cook a whole array of foods that you would not be able to cook on a grill otherwise. You will be able to cook your whole meal, including side dishes if you plan correctly.

Some gas grills even contain a Wok type surface for cooking pasta and rise dishes, or a full rotisserie set that allows you to cook rotisserie chicken.

Surface Area

Similar to weight, you should consider the amount of cooking surface area you will need, depending on the situations you will be in. If you will only be cooking for yourself or you and one other, you will want a gas grill with a smaller surface area, as it will be easier to clean. If you plan on holding parties or cooking for a larger family, then you will want to consider a gas grill with a larger surface area.

This surface area may also include different types of cooking surfaces. Look for the type that suits you best, or is interchangeable.

Cost

Gas grills are typically on the higher end of the cost scale, as they require more mechanical parts then other grills. You can expect to spend anywhere from $50 for a smaller grill up to $400+ for a large stationary grill.

You also have to remember that you must also purchase the gas for your grill. Propane can be purchased at your local grocery store, superstore, or from a dealer. Bottoms come in all sizes, including miniature versions for portable gas grills.