Cooking Tips Information

The Right Grill for Your Barbecue


Barbecue is a mix of talents. There is the choice of meat (or in some cases vegetables), the creation and choice of sauce, and of course the flame. Once the components are gathered together, then the real talent starts with the maintenance of the flame, smoke, turnings and sauce applications.

We are going to focus on the flame, and the types of flame sources for our barbecue. There are basically three main sources in use today: Wood, Charcoal, and Natural gas or propane.

Natural gas and propane

Gas grills are easy to light. The heat is easy to control (via knob-controlled gas valves on the burners), so the outcome is very predictable. They result in a very consistent and tasty result, although some charcoal purists argue it lacks the flavors available only from cooking with charcoal. Advocates of gas grills claim that gas cooking lets you "taste the meat, not the heat" because it is claimed that charcoal grills may deposit traces of coal tar on the food. Many grills are equipped with thermometers, further simplifying the barbecuing experience. However propane and natural gas produce a "wet" heat that can change the texture of foods cooked over such fuels.

Gas grills are significantly more expensive due to their added complexity, and higher heat. They are also considered much cleaner as they do not result in ashes (which must be disposed of) and also in terms of air pollution. Proper maintenance may further help reduce pollution.

Charcoal

This generally begins with purchasing a bag of processed charcoal briquettes. A charcoal chimney starter is a traditional (but generally underused) method for getting a consistent heat from your coals. Alternatively, they can be lit in a pyramid directly inside the charcoal grill after presoaking with lighter fluid.

After all coals are ashed-over (generally 15-25 minutes), they are spread around the perimeter of the grill, and the meat is placed in the center for indirect cooking. For additional flavor and attractive appearance, thicker cuts of meat may optionally be seared over direct heat (outer perimeter of grill) prior to indirect cooking in the center. Water-soaked wood chips (such as mesquite, hickory, or fruit trees) are often added atop the coals for an extra smoky flavor. The temperature of the grill is controlled by the amount and distribution of coal within the grill and through careful venting.

An alternative to charcoal briquettes is lump charcoal. Lump charcoal is wood that has been turned into charcoal but unlike briquettes it has not been ground and shaped. Lump charcoal is a pure form of charcoal and is preferred by many purists who fear that artificial binders may be used to hold briquettes in their shape.

Wood

The choice and combination of woods burned result in different flavors imparted to the meat. Different types of wood burn at different temperatures. The heat also varies by the amount of wood and controlling the rate of burn through careful venting.

The type of wood chosen is really what sets this method apart from the others. This is where the gourmet can really experiment. Let's go through some of the woods available to get a feel for the differences we can expect.

Golden Birch is very delicate & slightly sweet, typically used with fish, pork, lamb, goat, poultry, and light-meat game birds. As a smoke source Golden birch would be used to smoke Salmon.

Wild Apple is slightly sweet with a fruity smoke flavor. Used mainly for beef, poultry, game birds, and pork (particularly hams).

Sugar Maple has a mild smoky, sweet flavor. Good with lamb, goat, pork, poultry, cheese, vegetables and small game birds.

White Cedar has a fine light smoke, and doesn't add much in the way of other flavors. Ideal for cooking fish, beef, and pork.

Wild Black Cherry, is hard to get a hold of but offers a distinctively sweet and fruity smoke. Great with beef, poultry & game birds.

Jerry Powell is the Owner of a Popular site Know asGourmet911.com. As you can see from our name, we are here to help you learn more about different kinds ofGourmet food and Wines, Coffees from all around the world. http://www.gourmet911.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Examiner.com

How to start a cooking club
Examiner.com - 5 hours ago
This is also a nice time to socialize, share cooking tips and other recipes, and plan for the next round of the swap. If this sounds complicated, ...


Healthy Eating with Chef Joey Morelli
ABC7Chicago.com,  USA - 1 hour ago
The owner of Joey's Brickhouse restaurant and Enter the Chef in Chicago, Chef Joey will share healthy cooking tips and demonstrate some flavorful dishes on ...


Beef shunts turkey aside: information centre updates cooking tips
Moose Jaw Times-Herald, Canada - Dec 27, 2008
Where’s the Beef? is the rallying cry from celebrants who aren’t interested in any more meals of Christmas turkey and its derivatives. ...


Cross-culture cooking
Pioneer Press Online, IL - 8 hours ago
The "master chef" cooking tips sprinkled throughout the show were learned in those days, Lin said. Lin cautions against seeing a simple lesson in his play, ...


Cooking tips for healthy holiday
Trail Rossland News, Canada - Dec 23, 2008
Whether you are preparing your first turkey dinner or your favourite Christmas dish there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your holiday meals ...


12 Holiday Cooking Tips from SI Food Professionals
Staten Island Advance - SILive.com, NY - Dec 14, 2008
by Pamela Silvestri Looking for ideas on a holiday main course or tips on handling some of your seven fishes? For the next 12 days, the Staten Island ...


CharlotteObserver.com

Morrison YMCA opens its new addition today
CharlotteObserver.com, NC - 7 hours ago
... the Morrison Y will host a Fitness Challenge for moms, including exercises for the home, healthy cooking tips and health assessments. ...


Pittsburgh Post Gazette

Fresh Find: McKee Elementary School Recipe Collection
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, PA - 13 hours ago
... of North Fayette -- spiral-binds together more than 500 family recipes, cooking tips and color photos, by Ericka Zerbini of Oakdale, of students. ...


Food & Wine Events
Memphis Magazine, TN - 12 hours ago
Cooking Class - Healthy cooking tips sponsored by the Church Health Center. Thursdays, 2 pm 259-4673. Hope & Healing Center, 1115 Union, info, 761-1278. ...


Triple-0 cooking tips a recipe for disaster
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia - Dec 29, 2008
Queensland's emergency response triple-0 phone number has received calls asking how long it takes to roast a chicken; to order a taxi; and complaining that ...

Cooking-Tips - Google News

home | site map
© 2006