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5 Beginner Mistakes To Avoid When Barbecuing

If you are new to barbecuing cooking, you are bound to make some rookie mistakes. This should not make you give up altogether, as doing so will mean that you miss some of the tastiest dishes on the planet. Fortunately, there is a lot of information out there to give you tips and you can always get BBQ catering for those special occasions. When you decide to embark on the BBQ adventure, you should avoid some mistakes.

Barbecuing in a hurry

If you are in a hurry, look for another meal to cook. The fact is that good BBQ is all about taking your time so that you can get the best results. Being in a hurry can ruin your meat and you can end up with undercooked, awful meat! Slow cooking is the essence of great barbecue and it helps to ensure that you get the best flavor from your meat. Cooking the meat at low temperatures helps to create moist meat and this means that it will take some time. Be patient and avoid flipping the meat every few seconds.

Failing to plan your meal

It is a good idea to plan your meal so that you know the amount of time that you can set aside. Before cooking, determine how you want to season the meat and the side dishes that you want to serve. This will help you to determine how much time you need for the entire cooking process. It is a good idea to prepare the sauces and other dishes before you start the charcoal fire. Effective planning will help to ensure that you do not get distracted when you need to pay attention to the meat.

From the fridge to the grill

A common mistake many beginners make is removing the meat from the fridge and placing it directly on the grill. Doing this will add plenty of cold air to the smoker, and this can cause condensation of creosote. The creosote from the charcoal gets into the smoke and this gives the meat a very undesirable texture and flavor. Allow the meat to sit out at room temperature for twenty minutes to an hour before grilling. Note that if you are following a recipe, the instructions for the cooking time will assume that your meat is starting out at room temperature. You should, however, avoid leaving the meat out for more than one hour as the warm temperature makes it susceptible to bacteria.

Adding the sauce too early

When you add your BBQ sauce will determine the results that you get. The two main ingredients of many barbecue sauces are sugar and tomatoes. These ingredients have low heat tolerance and they tend to cook much faster than the meat. Applying the sauces too early will lead to a burnt, crackling coating long before the meat is ready. You should wait until your meat is almost done cooking before adding a tomato based sweet sauce.  A minute or two for each side, over low to moderate heat is adequate to add the texture and taste that you need.

Avoid poking holes in the meat

Avoid using a fork to move or turn the meat as you might end up with holes in the meat. To make sure that all the precious juices remain in the meat you should use tongs. Stabbing the meat will cause the meat juices to ooze out, resulting in poor texture and flavor. This is an easy way to ruin your barbecue experience.

Always remember to give your meat time to rest when you take it off the fire before slicing it. This will help to ensure that you save the juices. If you are planning a BBQ party, it is a good idea to get catering services to avoid disappointment. Fortunately, there are people who have the expertise and experience to ensure that you get the perfect barbecue meal!