Organising a BBQ this Easter? We have all the info you need to get your barbecue game just right. With essential tips and advice as well as recipes for you to try. We even have expert tips from experienced pitmasters.
Here’s everything you need to know for the perfect BBQ this Easter.
Always Preheat
Many make the mistake of simply lighting their grill and placing the meat on the rack straight away, but you must preheat your BBQ before cooking any produce. Depending on the type of grill you are using, you should heat about 30 minutes before placing any food on the rack. This gives the BBQ chance to reach the optimum cooking temperature.
Prep Your Meat
Not only will this save time, but it will help to ensure that your meat tastes great too. If you are marinating meat, be sure to do this overnight. When seasoning, be sure to rub well into the meat before placing it on the BBQ.
Top Tip – For smoking ribs, add a layer of mustard before your rub, this will help your seasoning stick to the ribs during cooking.
Not Cooking Long Enough
Although your meat might look like it’s cooked on the outside, it may not be done on the inside. Always check to make sure meat is cooked thoroughly. A meat probe can help with this, much like MEATER’s Wireless Meat Thermometer, which can be linked to your smartphone for accurate temperature readings.
Don’t Cook For Too Long
As well as ensuring your meat is thoroughly cooked, you also need to make sure that you don’t overcook your meat. Keeping produce on the BBQ too long could cause the meat to end up dry. Once the meat is cooked and reaches the correct internal temperature, remove it from the grill and place it on the warming rack.
Invest In A Quality Grill
A disposable BBQ might seem cheap and convenient, but you’re only going to get great results if you invest in a good quality grill. Look for a barbecue that has adequate grilling space that can hold a good quantity of produce for even cooking. Also, ensure you choose a model that features a lid to help keep meat at the right temperature.
Don’t Skimp On The Pellets
It might not be at the forefront of your mind when barbecuing, but choosing good quality pellets can help add flavour to your meat whilst improving on the smoke delivery too. Hickory wood pellets are great for enhancing the flavour of your meat while providing efficient fuel for your BBQing and smoking.
Choose The Right Cuts
Any pitmaster will know that choosing the right meat is vital for a great tasting result. For the ideal beef for BBQs, we recommend a marbled brisket joint, juicy steak burgers and short ribs. When it comes to pork for BBQs, a Boston Butt is great for pulled meat and of course, baby back ribs are always a hit and are perfect for marinating. Plus no BBQ is complete without sausages. In our opinion, the best sausages for BBQs are Toscana, Chorizo and Criolla, which all offer exceptional flavours (and will certainly bring your BBQ up to the next level).
Recipes
Looking for some inspiration? Check out our BBQ Pork Ribs Recipe, or why not try these fantastic Sticky Steak & Ale BBQ Ribs in collaboration with Bar-Be-Quick? We also have a superb recipe from Traeger Grills for BBQ Beef Ribs with Rainbow Coleslaw for you to try too.
Or why not take a look at our video below from pitmaster Dave McCormack, who shows us how to get perfectly smoked St Louis Ribs using the 3-2-1 method.
Here at Tom Hixson of Smithfield, we bring you a fantastic selection of gourmet produce, including a variety of exceptional BBQ meats. Take a look at our vast range of quality beef and pork, as well as our latest collaboration with MEATER, our BBQ meat pack. Packed full of superior cuts, including brisket, short ribs and St Louis ribs. The perfect bundle for BBQing or smoking.
