Spending time with friends, family and loved ones is one of the most important things in life. Sure, we all have to work, study and occupy our time meaningfully, but socialising is super important for wellbeing, peace of mind and even our physical health.
And gathering around in the backyard to enjoy a BBQ feast is one of the best ways to kill some time with those that matter to you. But what if you’re a grilling newbie? Never fear, for in this helpful article we’re going to teach you how to BBQ like you know what you’re doing.
Step 1 – Buy a BBQ
You can’t grill without something to grill on, so have a look online and in-store for BBQs for sale.
Now, while you may be tempted to go all out, you need to assess your needs, budget and preferences before you pull the trigger on your purchase. Think about how much you’ll need to cook, how often and the space available in your yard, and then buy a suitable BBQ based on this assessment.
Step 2 – Practice
As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect. Before you host your first BBQ event, try cooking a few meals for the family on your new grill. You’ll soon learn by trial and error what works and what doesn’t.
You could also read up on BBQ blogs online, or watch YouTube tutorial videos. The great thing about this day and age is that if there’s something you need to learn, you can find out exactly how to do it online after a quick Google search.
Step 3 – Cleaning and Seasoning
You need to give your BBQ grill a thorough clean after every use. Check what type of surface your plates are made of though because you don’t want to use the wrong cleaning implement on the wrong surface. Steel brushes are best for steel or cast iron grills, while porcelain-coated grills need a nylon brush to prevent scratching.
After a clean, give your grill a light coating of cooking oil to season the metal. This will help infuse flavour into your meat the next time you cook.
Step 4 – Adjust Your Style
You’ll need to adjust your style depending on the type of meat you’re grilling.
- Steaks need high, direct heat and you should cook them between 9-12 minutes, turning once. This for a medium steak, and don’t give me any nonsense about well-done steak.
- Burgers require a medium-to-high, direct source of heat and give them 8-10 minutes, turning once.
- Pork is best cooked on medium heat, give it about 12 minutes for a thick chop.
- Chicken is a bit different and is best with medium heat and indirect. This means a juicy serve. Give it 20-25 minutes for chicken breast.
Here are a few more tips for the beginner BBQ chef to get restaurant quality meat served up. Don’t puncture your protein. Trust the temperature guides and time limits above. If you must, invest in a meat thermometer and research the “cooked” temperatures online.
Resist the urge to push your meat down against the grill. This will cause a flare-up, where the flames jump through the grill. This is dangerous, and can also burn your food.
If you’re grilling vegetables, coat them in oil and turn them frequently to avoid heaps of charring, unless you like them that way.
A Cooking Conclusion
First, buy a suitable BBQ. Practice your grilling until you’re certain of your skills, then invite the crew over. Clean and season afterwards, every time. And finally, follow our directions above for each type of meat for a perfect BBQ experience.
