Barbecue Grilling Tips

Barbecue Grilling Tips

Real barbecue involves cooking meat using smoke rather than direct heat. This can be achieved by purchasing a barbecue pit that is created to cook food in this manner. Or, you can achieve the same results with a charcoal, gas or propane grill, as long as it has a hood to keep the smoke in. Because that's the number one requirement of authentic barbecued food – it must be cooked using indirect heat (smoke) rather than having flame applied. Now, this can take an awfully long time. We're talking six to eight hours for ribs. If you just don't have that kind of time, check out our barbecue grilling tips that allow you to eat in a reasonable amount of time yet still experience great barbecue flavor.

Tip One: Choose a Good Cut of Meat

One of the most important barbecue grilling tips is to choose a good cut of meat. No matter how long you cook something or what method you use, you're not going to get good results without quality meat. When it comes to steak, choose a New York Strip or Rib Eye, both excellent when it comes to flavor and texture. If you're cooking pork, go for tenderloin all the way. Wild caught Alaskan salmon is the perfect fish for barbecue grilling, and if you want chicken, choose lean skinless breasts for a healthy poultry dish. Make sure whatever meat you choose is as fresh as possible. If you have questions, consult with your supermarket's meat department or neighborhood butcher.

Tip Two: Try a Smoke Box

If you're grilling with a propane or gas grill, you can impart a delicious smoky flavor by using a special vented smoke box filled with wet wood chips. Close the hood, turn down the heat, and let your smoke box do its thing. A packet made from aluminum foil and vented can work as well.

Tip Three: Make Your Own Sauce

You're not a real barbecue chef until you've created your own special sauce! Try this simple recipe to get you started. This flavorful blend works great on beef, pork, chicken and fish and will have your guests begging for the recipe!

1/8 cup white wine vinegar 1/4 cup molasses 3/4 cup tomato ketchup 1 ½ powdered mustard 1 tsp Liquid Smoke Assortment of spices to taste: Try garlic, sage, onion powder, red pepper and cayenne

With these three simple barbecue grilling tips, you can impart a smoky, authentic flavor to most any food in no time. Your guests will think you spent hours slaving over a barbecue pit – only you'll know better!

Barbecue Ribs Dry Rub Recipes

Barbecue Ribs Dry Rub Recipes

When it comes to cooking food outdoors, there are a variety of methods and techniques. Some people use charcoal, others use wood. Still others prefer convenient gas grilling. Regardless of what technique you use to cook your meat outdoors, you need the right seasonings. While some people prefer slow simmered sauces, others swear by dry rubs.

Originally, dry rubs were used to preserve meat. However these days, most people use dry rubs to impart flavor, seal in moisture and create a flavorful barrier. Ribs go especially well with dry rubs. Here are some great barbecue ribs dry rub recipes you can try next time you're preparing pork ribs.

Spicy BBQ Rub

1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp ground ginger 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp salt 1 tsp cayenne pepper 1 tsp paprika

Mix all ingredients together and store in a cool, dry place until ready to use.

Barbecue Ribs Dry Rub Recipe

1 tbsp cumin powder 1 tbsp thyme 1 tsp salt 2 tbsp black pepper ½ tbsp cayenne

Blend all ingredients and store in a cool, dry location until ready to use.

Tennessee Style Rib Rub

3 tbsp paprika 1 tbsp onion powder 1 tbsp garlic powder 1 tbsp basil 1 tbsp mustard powder 1 tsp red pepper 1 tsp black pepper

As always, blend all ingredients and store in a cool dry place.

Tips for Dry Rubs:

Experiment with your own dried spices to come up with a rib rub that's uniquely yours. As a general rule, heat such as that found in red pepper is well balanced by something mellow and sweet like brown sugar or ginger. Paprika is always good in barbecue rubs, as is garlic, salt and pepper. When coating the ribs before cooking, rub the spices into the meat and cover the surface thoroughly. Let the spices set on the meat for a few hours in the refrigerator before cooking. This allows the flavor to soak in. If you find you need moisture when cooking, try brushing the ribs with honey.

Once you've experimented with different barbecue ribs dry rub recipes, you'll never want to go back to barbecue sauce again!