Backyard Essentials for Barbecue Lovers
Sometimes all you need is a friendly gathering with the closest people to you and a great barbeque party.
29/11/2019
Sometimes all you need is a friendly gathering with the closest people to you and a great barbeque party. It’s not that difficult to host a BBQ party, be it in your backyard or patio or even in the balcony of your own apartment. If you don’t have any of those locations, there’s always a beach or park setting. Any BBQ party is going to be festive and fun once you get all your essentials ready.
There’s no secret to holding the best BBQ party in the neighborhood. It’s like holding any other party or gathering that needs proper planning. You’ll need to make sure you have what you need, and get as much ready as you can before your guests actually arrive.
This brief read will help you along the way.
Grill
A charcoal grill is a genuine classic that suits people with a low budget and those who love the charcoal taste, and are grilling for a smaller group of people. A charcoal grill typically takes more time to heat up than an electric one. It also gets a lot hotter and is considered messier to use than electric or gas grills. Electric grills work nicely in areas where you might not be allowed to use charcoal or gas grills. Or you might prefer a gas grill if you need more space.
Smokers
If it’s the flavor of the food that is your prime priority, nothing beats using a smoker. You can consider smokers as the slower version of grills, because they take more time to cook on, since they use lower temperatures, but they’re well worth that bit of extra wait. There are many smokers, from custom-made ones, to ceramic outdoor ovens, to small smokers which are great for camping trips. When you’re in the market for smokers, you’ll find many impartial reviews on the top electric smokers that you will definitely benefit from. Their main benefit is that they’re easy to use, less messy and only need about 2 to 4 ounces of wood to get that great smoky taste. They’re a good choice, if you live in an apartment or condo where gas and charcoal are usually not allowed.
Utensils
Whether it’s a smoker or grill, you need to pick out grilling utensils that can withstand a lot of heat or flame. Utensils should be easy to hold and maneuverable. For grilling, you should pick utensils that have a long handle to keep your hand away from flames. Typical utensils would be spatulas, tongs, and a marinade brush. And don’t forget a grill brush cleaner, if you don’t want food sticking to your grill. A piece of advice would be to preheat the rack with all burners on high for 10 to 15 minutes to incinerate any remaining residue from the last cookout, making it easy to clean off with a grill brush.
Grill basket
These baskets are great for preventing smaller food items, like vegetables from falling into the grill rack and they’re good for delicate food like fish. There are different ones for different foods, but you can just get an all-purpose one.
Meat thermometer
Sure, people go to BBQs for the company, but they mainly go for the food! You want the meat to be cooked to perfection, so a meat thermometer is going to come in very handy. The way to use them is by sticking it in the thickest part of the meat and away from any bones. A mini and quick guideline would be to cook beef to at least 145º; pork at least 160º; lamb at least 145º; and poultry at least 165º. As mentioned, there will be different cooking speeds between different grills and smokers. Check the temperature near the end of the recommended cooking times, so you wouldn’t overcook or undercook. Also, for juicier meat, let it rest for a couple of minutes after grilling and before you sink your teeth into it!
Grill mitts
Your typical oven gloves will not work for heavy duty grilling. The right kind of grill mitts actually should come up to your elbow. Mitts now come in an array of choices in the material they’re made of, such as silicon, fire-retardant material, heavy-duty cotton, and even leather. You can find lots of choices to protect you from heat and flames.
So those are your BBQ essentials! The right tools are what you need to become a pro in hosting a BBQ. These essentials are the same whether you’re hosting for a small group or the entire block. Once you get them, all you need is a scrumptious menu, some music, and the company of all your friends and relatives.