It's So Easy A Caveman Could Do It, Cooking With Charcoal

There's nothing like the smell of food cooking on a barbeque grill. It fills the air, making your mouth water and your neighbors envious. Many people are now opting to use gas grills, because they are not as messy as the charcoal ones, but nothing can replace the taste of charcoal broiled food. Unlike the days of your parents, where there was pretty much just one style of charcoal barbeques to choose from, now there is a wide variety available that allow you to cook in your backyard, or even at the beach.

The charcoal barbeque grill is still popular for several reasons. They are less expensive than their costly gas powered cousins, and there's one to fit every price range. They also now come in many styles, so whether you're just grilling up some burgers and hotdogs, or preparing a gourmet feast, you can find one that will suit whatever your culinary abilities are. Despite the different styles that they come in, they all share the same basic characteristics. Each comes with the grill, the charcoal bin and the stand that it sets on.

You can still purchase the older versions that have a round grill and body, but before you do, consider the other options available. You can buy portable ones that have a bowl shaped container and a tripod type stand with wheels or you can buy ones that are shaped like a bread box, due to its attached closeable hood. The more sophisticated ones have built in smokers to make your food even tastier. There are grills that have knobs to control the temperature and others that have side shelves to hold your spices or pans of food and then fold down when you you're done with them. If you're going on a trip and want to take your barbeque with you, there are also very inexpensive, small charcoal grills available. They're only approximately 15", which means that they can go wherever you do.

A common complaint about charcoal grills is that they are messy to clean. You may need a heavy wire brush to cleanse them effectively. Another complaint is that it takes time to get the charcoals hot enough to cook. They can pose a danger when adding lighter fluid and are subject to flare ups. The good news is that you can now buy charcoal that has the fluid on them already, and that heat up quickly.

If you're not planning to barbecue that much and don't want to invest in a metal grill, you can now get disposable charcoal grills. Many stores carry them and they're small enough to fit on a tabletop. They are made of foil and use a wire mesh for the grilling surface. Once you're finished using it, you just put out the fire, wait for it to cool and then toss it away.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as Barbeque Grills at http://www.allbarbecuegrills.com.

When to Use High Heat on Your Barbeque

While some people really seem to have a knack for barbequing – always grilling up a perfect meal – for the rest of us, it is something that must be learned, not something that just comes naturally. Believe it or not, there is technique involved. It’s not just a matter of following your cooking instincts.

One of the main secrets of knowing exactly how to make a beautiful, tasty meal every time is knowing how and when to use high heat or very hot coals.

Though you may have heard the term "seal in the juices" when it came to barbequing, you may even have tried some techniques every now and then, but unless you’re doing it properly, you won’t be getting it right. For the best results, many barbeque chefs cook vegetables and medium-rare steaks by first using a high heat in order to sear the outside of the food and seal both the juices and the flavors inside.

Though this technique is good for foods that you don’t want to cook thoroughly, it shouldn’t be overused. If you’re cooking a meat such as hamburgers or pork ribs, they must be cooked all the way through in order to avoid bacterial contamination. Therefore, searing them to seal in the juices doesn’t do anything but give you dry, or charred food.

This can be explained by understanding the way that meat cooks on a barbeque. As it is heated, the cells and the fibers of the meat will tighten, squeezing out much of the juices. Therefore, if you’re only cooking a meat partially, searing it will help to seal in the juices by quickly cooking the outer layers of the food. However, if you should leave the food on this high heat, the inner layers will cook too quickly, vaporizing all of your precious and tasty juices. Try the technique a few times until you get it right. Pay attention to what you’re doing, so that when you do accomplish the right technique, you know how to repeat it.

When you are using high heat, the rule of thumb is to cook on each side for a maximum of five minutes (a total of ten minutes). After ten minutes, anything that you’re cooking should be moved aside to a medium heat so that it can finish cooking at that lower temperature.

There are many ways to recognize how hot your fire really is, to make sure that it’s always perfect for any kind of food that you’re cooking on your barbeque. One of the most common tests is simply to hold your hand a couple of inches away from the grill. If you’re only able to keep it there for about a second, your grill is at a high heat (that is, over 600ºF). If you’re able to hold your hand there fore a few seconds, it’s at a medium heat (around 400ºF). At a lower heat, you’ll be able to hold your hand there for over five seconds.

Remember, when it comes to high heat, practice makes perfect, and the perfect is well worth the practice!

Richard Cussons is a prolific and diverse writer. You can find out more about the origins of barbecues at Barbeque Grills Expert

Barbeque Secret...Don't Use Gas To Start The Fire!

I've rarely been accused of over thinking a situation. My "code of the west" mentality has been good to me through the years, rescuing me many times from the temptation of unnecessary thinking! Unnecessary thinking can ruin a perfectly good plan, but no thinking at all can be hazardous to your health! A good case in point is a situation I witnessed last year.

One brilliantly blue afternoon in late spring my neighbor Joe was preparing for one of his famous cookouts. He was about to put his brand new brick and mortar barbeque grill through its paces for the first time. A beautiful charcoal grill, he had personally, to the chagrin of the brick masons, supervised every detail of the project. It was a gorgeous fireplace style grill with the chimney almost head high built of the same brick that adorned his house.

The barbeque pit featured a curved flat black steel hood for enclosed cooking; with a warming tray built into the side of the pit to keep foods from getting cold while others cooked longer. There was even a compartment built on the opposite side to house charcoal and lighter. He was understandably proud of the best barbeque grill in the neighborhood!

Festivities began early with the neighbors arriving around 2:00 pm. By late afternoon many in the crowd were already feeling the effects of the adult beverages supplied by the host, who was especially enjoying himself. Everyone by now had grown tired of listening to an endless monolog by the host about the virtues of his new grill.

The time had come to fire up the grill! There was only one small problem. With all the preparations he had made for the cookout, Joe had forgotten charcoal lighter! Not to be detoured by such a small detail, he went into the tool shed at the back of his yard and brought back a large can of gasoline. After dumping a huge amount of charcoal into the bottom of the grill, he arranged it into a perfect pyramid. The fire was supposed to burn more consistently this way Joe informed the crowd.

By now the neighbors had begun realized what Joe was about to do and started yelling at him not to use the gasoline to start the fire. Offers were made to run next door to get charcoal lighter to no avail. Joe was determined to inaugurate his grill the proper way; with a large fire! He also assured everyone that he knew what he was doing!

Joy was enjoying himself, being the star of the show as it were. He upended the can of fuel over the charcoal and kept pouring even after the briquettes had been thoroughly soaked. Now came the moment of truth! He lit a match and with a dramatic flare, tossed it onto the charcoal! Whoooomp!

Mortar is very porous and does not always adhere perfectly to a surface without leaving a small crack in the mortar joint between bricks. When a liquid such as water, or in this case gasoline fills that crack, it will flow into the base of the structure, such as a barbeque grill. The vapors from the gasoline that had flowed into the grill did what gasoline vapors do when they come in contact with a flame. The grill exploded!

Bricks and mortar blown into pieces, rained from the sky onto all of us who had witnessed the explosion! No one was hurt because most of the crowd and moved safely away from Joe when they saw what he was about to do. Joe was slightly injured by a fragment of the grill grazing his forehead. Nothing serious!

His grill was a mess! A few seconds before, it was a beautiful example of workmanship; something to be proud of and enjoy for years to come. Now it was just a mile of rocks! Joe had apparently never heard that in some cases, alcohol and gasoline don't mix! Warning! Drinking and starting fires with gasoline can kill you! Whether you're drinking adult beverages or not, do not use gasoline for a charcoal starter!

My neighbor Joe has recovered from the disaster of last year. He is now making plans to build and even bigger charcoal cooker than the last one. From the size of the storage area in the barbeque pit, I doubt that he will ever run out of charcoal lighter again!

Remember, friends don't let friends' barbeque drunk!

Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, holiday eating and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at: http://www.bluemarlinbob.com http://www.pompanobob.com

Where Can I Buy a Gas Grill Online?

If you are ready to make the next step in your grilling experience and upgrade from that old charcoal grill to a gas grill then one question you may be asking yourself is, “where can I buy a gas grill online?” After all, browsing through all the gas grill choices online from the comfort of your home is much easier then visiting all the home improvement stores in your area trying to find the grill that’s just right for you.

But before you go and put down your hard earned money buying a gas grill online there are some buying tips you need to think about. First of all gas grills come in all shapes, sizes, and prices ranges. You will need to decide what you want to use your grill for and how often. If you regularly have large backyard barbeques then the bigger the better. Of course this will set you back more initially, but getting the right size barbeque grill is important. If, on the other hand, you seldom grill and it’s usually only for you or your immediate family then a smaller lower cost model will probably do the trick.

The next thing to think about is what kind of accessories I want with my gas grill. This can run from things as simple as spatulas, tongs, and other barbeque tools to do I spend some extra cash and get that rotisserie attachment? Nearly all gas grills these days come with the burner off to the side where you can throw a pot of baked beans to simmer.

Now that you’re getting an itchy mouse finger, can’t you just smell that steak cooking, and are ready to buy that gas grill online there is one other thing to consider. What type of fuel do you want your gas grill to burn? “But it’s a gas grill?” you say. There are two types of gas grills you can buy, propane and natural gas. If your house is heated with natural gas then you have the option of hooking into the gas pipe that supplies your house. The nice thing about this is you never have to worry about running out of propane half-way through your barbeque and running to the store to get a new bottle. Having a licensed plumber run a pipe stub out to your grill will cost some extra but you will probably make that back in savings on propane and trips to the store to get new bottles.

So now back to the original question you asked, “Where can I buy a gas grill online?” Well the internet is chock full of websites that offer deals on all brands, sizes and types of gas grills. Doing a search on any of the major search engines will get you all sorts of listings for gas grills, but before you buy keep in mind some of the tips from above.

Andrew Bicknell is a barbeque aficionado with a website about barbequing. For more information about where can I buy a gas grill online visit his web site Backyard Barbeque.

What You Need for a Good, Fun Barbeque

What else can you do during the hot and sweaty summer time besides getting a lot of sunbathing? Don't you think you need something even more sizzling hot?

Yes, I am talking about barbecue! Writing about it, I can already visualize the tasty color of the food. The more I talk about it, the more I feel hungry and drool. However, I know I must finish this article to give you some tips on having an excellent barbecue!

For all of you out there who are throwing a barbeque for the first time, here are some great tips.

First of all, assuming you have a decently sized back yard, you need plan a budget. You need a good grill, supplies for the grill, utensils, paper plates, paper cups, napkins, paper towel, meat, salad, drinks and snacks. The most expensive thing would be the grill, including charcoal and fuel. The next most expensive thing is your meat. Try to shop around for sales, if your budget is tight. The other things are relatively inexpensive, so long as your barbeque isn't going to be a few hundred guests.

It's very important to check the weather. You should always plan some indoor activities in case it gets too hot or begins to rain. Hopefully you will have a nice comfortable temperature on a sunny day. Once you have decided which day to have it, and how much money you will spend, you can plan the invitation list and begin looking for the necessary items. You need to consider how much people will eat and drink, so that you can make sure there is enough for everyone. You can invite friends, family, and neighbors.

You should cook on the grill a few days before to make sure it is working properly. It is a good idea to purchase the meat the night before, but most other items can be purchased earlier and stored. (paper goods, soda, chips, etc.) Start calling your friends and family to make sure they will be coming over. Otherwise, what are you going to do with all of that food?

Some good barbeque recipes can be found online. Try websites like http://www.allrecipes.com or http://www.recipesource.com. Try at least one of these recipes during the trial run of the grill. Not only can you find barbeque recipes, but also some recipes for lettuce, potato or macaroni salad. Dessert is also available. If you don't have time to make all of these things yourself, many supermarkets will have these things prepared already near the deli and bakery sections.

So what will you do besides eat? If you are inviting family that you haven't seen for a while, there will be a lot of talking to catch up going on. It's always nice to have background music, board games, and some home videos to share. If you have a big back yard, the kids can play with a ball, but be sure that they are a safe distance from the grill. Be creative, there is nothing like keeping company with family, friends and good food.

I love barbecue food, and I hope you do too. It is time for you to have a blast!

Jonny Hanson is a barbecue lover! He thoroughly adores barbecue food. Not only in the summer he would throw an excellent barbecue party, but he does it as well in the winter. Jonny learnt his recipe from his granddad who unfortunately had passed away. This is not the same old recipe that you get from everyone else. He promised his granddad that he would pass on this secret recipe to others. Jonny runs a personal website on barbecue food. Visit his website today at http://www.barbecuesite.info/ to find tips on making your barbecue sizzling hot and tasty!

How To Barbeque - Easy Steps For Success

Even if you own the latest and greatest barbecue grill you may need some pointers on how to barbeque food. There are some things you should be aware of when you use your grill or smoker.

One good thing to do before you even begin is to rub a non stick solvent like oil on the grill to prevent the food from sticking. This will make cleanup much quicker and less stressful. Also put the meat out on the counter to bring it to room temperature before cooking it. Don't leave it out for more than an hour though as this may cause it to spoil.

Make sure you bring the grill to the optimum cooking temperature before placing the meat on the grill. This will give you the best chance at getting a nice even cooking throughout the food. For gas grills turn them on 5 minutes before beginning, and for charcoal it is recommended to heat the coals for up to 30 minutes. Also, move the meat around periodically as those pieces closer to the center will likely cook faster. Use tongs or a spatula, and always where a protective glove to keep you from burning your skin.

For even more flavor, baste the meat for an extended period before cooking it to let the flavor completely saturate it. There are many barbeque flavors to try including sweet sauce, traditional bbq sauce, and many more. One thing to consider is that if the marinade contains alot of sugar you should wait until the food is atleast half cooked before basting to avoid a drying effect on the meat.

If you are barbequing kabobs you should leave a small amount of space between meat pieces to ensure ample heat penetrates all sides and cooks it evenly. You can even alternate meat and vegetable pieces to allow flavors to pass between them, giving a better all around taste. And if you are using chicken pieces, cut them with a knife to make sure they are completely cooked all the way through before removing them from the grill.

Right after removing the meat, you can scrape the grills with a scraper to clean them. It's best to do this when they are still very hot as the excess food and other material will easily slide off. Just be careful not to burn yourself.

Experiment with different recipes to find what works and what doesn't. Over time you will find many different things that bring the best taste out in various meats. And then you will feel like a seasoned backyard barbeque expert.

James McDonald writes for homebarbequegrilling.com where you can find discount grills from a variety of manufacturers. Additionally, you can read some informative articles to help you plan your next backyard gathering.

Bourbon BBQ Sauce

If you are seeking a very unique flavored bbq sauce for your next barbeque then you must try bourbon bbq sauce. This is a very unique sauce that only you will know the secret ingredient.

The most popular bourbon bbq sauce needs the following items to prepare, ½ to ¾ cup of your favorite bourbon, ½ cup of chopped onions, 4 minced garlic gloves, 2 cups of ketchup, 1/3 cup of white vinegar, 3 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, ½ cup of brown sugar, ¾ cup of molasses, ¼ cup of tomato paste, a small amount of liquid smoke, salt and pepper to taste. You can also add a tad of Tabasco sauce if you prefer a hotter sauce. You place the onion, garlic and bourbon in large saucepan and sauté until the onions are transparent. This will usually take about 10 minutes. Then you just add all the rest of the ingredients and bring to boil. Lower heat and simmer until the mixture has thickened about 20 minutes.

The recipe above can be changed by adding or substituting spices that you prefer to use. You can add a small can of tomatoes, green peppers, or other peppers, soy sauce instead of Worcestershire sauce, and you can delete the liquid smoke.

Try some of your other favorite bbq sauce recipes and replace the called for liquid with bourbon. This will give even the dullest recipe a new and tangy flavor. Or just to create your own recipe. You already know the basics and what spices you like to use. Just sauté the onions in bourbon and then add the tomato sauce and the rest of your favorite items and flavorings to create a brand new bourbon bbq sauce.

You can even find a few bourbon barbeque sauce recipes online on a variety of websites that offer recipes from famous chefs and others that are willing to share their secrets.

You are free to publish the above article in your ezine or website, provided credit in the form of an (HTML clickable) hyperlink is given to the author. Hans is author of http://www.steaks-guide.com/ and the barbeque and grill section of http://www.patio-furniture-ideas.com/