Barbecue and grilling are one and the same, right? Surprisingly not. Both involve cooking directly over fire however; there is a major difference. While grilling means cooking over high heat for a few minutes, barbecue, on the other hand, refers to slow cooking over lower temperatures than grilling. With slow cooking, you allow the smoke to penetrate the meat and tenderize it. This will also cause the natural flavors of the meat to come out. A barbecue grill smoker is usually used for this kind of cooking.
Here are some tips to guide you as you use a barbecue grill smoker to cook your food:
Make sure that you clean your barbecue grill smoker before you use it. If you use a grill that is dirty, the smoke get can get too heavy. You do not want this, as this will give your food a bitter taste. Also, control the air vents on your grill to prevent smoke from building up.
Position your barbecue grill smoker in an area where the wind will not be much of a factor. Place it in a way that allows the path of the grill's airflow to be in the same direction as the wind. You can also use something to block the wind if it is blowing too much.
Combine the use of wood and charcoal as fuel. Why? Charcoal gives your meat the heat it needs and the distinct "smoked" taste, while wood adds to the unique barbecue flavor. To start the fire, stack the charcoal or wood tightly. When arranged like this, the pile is able to conduct more heat. You can use fruit woods such as hickory, mesquite, maple, or oak. Do not use eucalyptus, cypress, or redwood. For the charcoal, use lump charcoal as it burns longer and provides a more flavorful smoke.
Soak the wood chips an hour prior to cooking. This will maintain the level of humidity. However, there are times when you will need to add water or soaked wood chips during the cooking.
Use a chimney starter (which you can buy in hardware stores) to get the fire started. In this way, you will not be using lighter fluids that can affect your food's taste. Stuff your barbecue smoker grill with sheets of newsprint, then place charcoal on top of it. Light the newspaper, then, expect your coals to be ready in 15 to 20 minutes.
Control the temperature of your barbecue grill smoker by manipulating the air vents. Cooking temperature should be between 180 to 220 degrees F. Rarely, should it exceed 250 degrees F.
If your barbecue grill smoker doesn't have a built-in thermometer, you can purchase a barbecue thermometer and use it. The question here is how to get an accurate reading. The temperature will not be uniform or consistent inside the grill. So, the best way to do this is to get a reading near the meat, but not touching it.
Baste food often while you barbecue, this will help keep the temperature from getting too hot. Aside from adding flavor to your meat, this will also keep your meat and the barbecue grill smoker moist.
After using your barbecue grill smoker, make sure that you clean it. Do not allow the greases to accumulate, or you will have a hard time scrubbing these out. You can also make use of washing soda to clean it. Then, store your barbecue grill smoker in a covered area.Barbecue cooking is more of an art than a science, so there is no definite way to do things. You will have to learn how to manipulate your barbecue grill smoker through experience, but you can use the tips mentioned above to guide you.
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