Grilling and BBQ Basics
Cooking Temperatures
The first thing you need to understand is cooking temperatures. There are three basic cooking temperatures when
BBQing.
- Hot - Above 400 °F
You will very rarely want to BBQ anything on hot for more than a few minutes, just long enough to sear the meat and give it
a nice grilled taste. If you do intend to sear the meat, you will want to do so when you first put the meat on the BBQ and then
lower the temperature to medium. It should noted that many people believe the process of searing the meat seals the juices inside
but that's not correct. Searing will only caramelize the meat. It will not seal the juices inside. Sealing the juices inside
a piece of meat cooked on a BBQ grill is almost impossible.
- Medium - 300 °F to 400 °F
This is temperature at which most things are BBQed on the grill, including chicken, hot dogs and burgers.
- Low - Below 300 °F
Low temperatures are used to BBQ large pieces of meat such as roasts and prime rib. BBQing at low temperatures is a must
for meats which are quite high in fat. Please note, we do not recommend cooking any meat at a temperature below 225 °F.
Tips For Cooking Meats And Seafood
Here we will review some tips when BBQing burgers, steaks, chicken and seafood. First, we will start with some
general BBQ grilling tips.
Whenever possible, marinade the meat overnight. At the very least, let it marinade for a couple of hours.
If you get the BBQ grill too hot while trying to sear a piece meat, don't be afraid to remove the meat until
the BBQ grill cools a little bit. Better this than a burnt steak.
Brush the meat often with butter or oil. Olive oil is probably best. Try not to turn the meat too often. This is especially true of beef. You should be aiming to cook the meat 40% done
on one side, flip it once and then cook it the rest of the way done. Beef is about 40% done when it has become slightly brown
about halfway up the edge of the meat. Unless you are in a big hurry or you like for your meat to be dry, do not press on it.
You will just be squeezing out all those wonderful juices.
If you are not a pro when it comes to cooking meat, always use a thermometer to test for doneness. Check out our
Meat Doneness Temperatures page to learn the exact temperatures at which different
types of meat are safe to eat.
Do not salt the meat while it is on the BBQ grill. The salt will soak up some the juices and may cause the meat to become dry.
Don't be afraid to let the food stand for five or ten minutes after it's done BBQing on the grill. The food will be too hot to enjoy straight
off the BBQ grill anyway.
Tips for BBQing Burgers
To prevent "pregnant" burgers, make an indention in the middle of the patties before you put them on the BBQ grill.
This will allow room for them to swell in the middle.
Always mix the seasonings into with the ground beef before making patties.
Don't use ground beef that it is extremely lean, 20% fat is just about perfect. The fat helps make the burgers juicy and
very tasty.
Tips for BBQing Steaks
If you buy a large piece of meat and you plan to slice it into smaller pieces, remember to cut against the grain of the
meat.
Don't take the meat directly from the cooler and put it on the BBQ grill. Let it stand out for a few minutes and warm up
a little bit. The meat will cook more evenly.
Trim away excess fat but never trim away all the fat. The fat is what gives a steak most of it's flavor. If you plan to use salt, do so just before you eat it.
Tips For BBQing Chicken
If you are going to use some type of seasoning rub them buy chicken with the skin still on it. You can rub the seasoning
under the skin and it will stay there. Otherwise, much of the seasoning may fall off when you are BBQing it.
If you are going to use a marinade then skinless chicken is perfectly fine. Trim away all the fat, it serves no useful purpose. Monitor chicken closely. It will dry out quickly if you overcook it. This is especially true of boneless, skinless breast
filets.
Injecting chicken with a marinade is a great way to add flavor and reduce dryness.
Tips For BBQing Seafood
Use fresh seafood, if you can. Don't cook frozen seafood without thawing it first.
If you are using thin filets of fish, wrap them in foil or place foil underneath them while BBQing them on the grill. If you
don't, they may fall apart.
Shrimp are difficult to BBQ on a grill without overcooking them. Try jumbo shrimp or precooked shrimp that only need
to be heated up.
Fish is done when the meat in the middle has turned opaque in color.
These tips should help make your first, or next, BBQ a big success. Bare in mind there are a few exceptions to these guidelines
and not every "expert" sees eye-to-eye on some techniques. However, keeping these things in mind will greatly increase your chances
of a having a wonderful BBQ or picnic.
If you are interested in using a smoker to cook with, you might be interested in our
Smoker BBQ Basics article or check out our article on
Gas Grills and Charcoal Grills.
If you are planning a large BBQ check out our sister site for some ideas for
Picnic Games (really the games are pretty universal, as long you are
planning an outdoor activity).
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