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Although Barbecue is a practice as old as civilisation itself, by no means is it something that comes naturally to any of us. If you’re new to it, you need to take care of a host of things you would have never encountered during regular cooking.
Here’s a basic guide for everyone setting out for their first barbecue:
Keep It Simple
Don’t attempt to scale culinary heights with your baby steps! Keep things easy if you want to get the food right and enjoy with family. It is absolutely fine if you don’t end up with a perfect barbecue in your very first attempt.
Choose the right barbecue
Choosing the right barbeque is of utmost importance. Depending on your budget and the kind of food that you will be cooking, you can opt for either an open grill or a kettle barbecue. An open grill barbecue works great for burgers and small pieces of chicken; for heavier stuff like whole chicken or joints of meat you will need a kettle barbecue.
A simple rule: Anything that takes over 30 minutes to cook should be cooked in a kettle barbecue.
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Fuel
Whether to opt for a gas or a charcoal barbecue or alfresco grills is completely your own call. Both come with certain pros and cons. If you have just started, managing the coal barbecue might get a little tricky and the gas barbecue will serve as a convenient option. It isn’t easy to get the right temperature and keep it constant in a charcoal barbecue.
However, if you’re keen on playing with fire and getting that natural smoky flavor, go for a charcoal one.
Be patient and well prepared
Barbecuing is generally a long, time consuming process. It is advisable to keep aside an entire day if you wish to make the most of it. To make things easier in the first few attempts, marinating becomes an essential. It not only tenderizes the meat but also adds to the flavor. You might opt to do away with it eventually.
Don’t play with the meat!
It is quite natural to fret about the duration of grilling for the first few times. But that doesn’t mean you need to touch/flip the meat repeatedly! You might just end up hurting yourself. When you feel it is done, just see if you can open it with your hands and the meat looks pink inside. Once done, glaze it with barbecue sauce and enjoy it with some good bread and simple salad.
Keep It Simple
Don’t attempt to scale culinary heights with your baby steps! Keep things easy if you want to get the food right and enjoy. It is absolutely fine to not end up with a perfect barbecue in your very first attempt.
