There comes a point in every man’s life where he must ask himself one of life’s most important questions: Should I learn to BBQ? If you’re Aussie, this is inapplicable because we’re pretty sure every Australian is born with an instinct for ‘barbies’. If you aren’t, however, still recommend picking up the skill cause chicks love a man who can cook, and BBQ-ing probably the manliest mode of cooking there is. To get you on the right track, we’ve consulted our resident experts here at AUGUSTMAN to give you 5 quick tips for your next cookout.
1) Get The Right Grill
This is the most important tip we have for you. There is nothing more important than getting the right burner because this will determine the quality of your BBQ. For the love of all things holy, please do not expect a decent grill from one of those disposable BBQ kits you can buy at the supermarket. We recommend going for a well-made charcoal burner because it’ll your BBQ a beautiful smoky flavour.
However, if you’re planning to do your grilling indoors, that won’t be ideal, unless you don’t mind a soot-covered ceiling. In this circumstance, we’d suggest going with the Philips Smoke-less Indoor Grill. We’ve tried it out for ourselves, in the pantry of our office, and have to say, it’s pretty astounding. The infrared technology and reflector design mean the grill produces very little smoke, but still does a very decent job at BBQ-ing your meats and vegetables. It goes for $499, and you can get yours here.
2) Choose The Correct Fuel
When it comes to charcoal, most of us just run into the nearest supermarket and grab a bag of the cheapest one we can find. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, especially since it’s literally used to light a fire. If you do however, want to get a little more out of your charcoal we suggest experimenting with different types. Charcoalgrill.com.sg has few types with different characteristics. If you’re feeling adventurous our experts suggest even adding wood chips to your flame to produce different flavour effects on your BBQ. You can get hickory, apple and oak wood chips easily online.
3) Marinade Your Meats Well
Unless you’re preparing a meal for Bear Grylls, we cannot stress the importance of marinading your meats well before grilling. When I was younger, my uncle threw a BBQ party where he grilled chicken wings that had been seasoned with only salt and pepper. Needless to say, there was a ton of leftovers. As a rule of thumb, marinade your meats for at least 24 hours before you toss them on the grill. This will allow the flavours to soak really well, so when you bite into the meat, you’ll taste the smokiness from the grill first and then the marinade will hit you. That’s when you know you’ve done it right. Don’t be afraid to baste with the excess marinade while you’re grilling.
4) Have The Right Tools Onhand
Before you start your fire, it’s best to make sure you have all the tools you need. Whether they are gloves to handle hot items, BBQ forks, a basting brush, make it easy on yourself and have these things ready for when you need them. Have a look at the menu you’re going to prepare and anticipate the tools you’re going to need. The two tools worth investing in are a decent pair of tongs and a carving knife.
5) Get The Heat Right
On numerous occasions I’ve seen friends scrambling to try and control the flame on the BBQ – Once because a roaring flame was turning a $30 cut of Black Angus Tenderloin steak into a black brick. One well known method to test the heat is holding your hand over the grill. If you can hold it there for 10 seconds, it is low heat. 5 seconds, medium heat. 2 seconds, high heat. If you can’t even hold your hand over the grill, don’t put your food on it!