Charlie & Jake's BBQ

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Smoking Meat from a Historical Point of View

delicious bbq ribs melbourne florida eau gallieIf you go back many thousands of years ago and postulate how our ancient ancestors may have cooked meat, you can instantly picture a fire-pit and a stick with meat on it. In many ways, conventional grill cooking is still very much like that. The exposure of raw meat to flame sears in the juiciness and cooks the meat, killing any life threatening bacteria that may be on it.

It probably wasn’t much later that humans started experimenting with slow cooking food. When they began to conquer their environment,  removing themselves from the food-chain, they could turn their attention on how change the flavor or texture of the food they had been eating for millenia.

Smoking meat serves several functions. It cooks the meat to where it is safe to eat. It creates a soft, melt in your mouth type texture. And it adds smoky flavor.

The earliest meat smokers would smoke meat until it was totally dried out. This allowed it to be eaten over time and not spoil. The early humans were mostly nomadic. So, being able to take the food with you was an important element.

Modern meat smoking is still used for cooking as well as preserving. Here at Charlie and Jakes, we slow cook meats in our large smoker that seals in the juice and tenderizes the meat. If you have not tried our smokes ribs or chicken, you have been missing out.

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Thinking About Grilling Buffalo Meat? Here’s How

Buffalo-meatOne of the best ways to kick off the summer is to have a BBQ party with your loved ones. It is necessary to break the shackles of the stressful city life every once in a while. While clubbing and water sports are too mainstream for citizens of Melbourne, Florida, they need to indulge in activities that are fun, yet not physically exerting. Several kinds of meat can be barbequed, such as chicken, beef, seafood, turkey, pork, and lamb. However, the healthiest option available is Bison or Buffalo meat.

The meat that was once declared endangered species has made a steady comeback, and now through specialty ranches, it is readily available across Melbourne, Florida. If it were not for the preservation efforts by the international organizations, it would have been extinct by now.

Healthier Alternative of Beef, Chicken, and Pork
The reason why Buffalo meat can be a great choice for your next cookout is the fact that it gives maximum amount of taste along with minimal amounts of calories and cholesterol. Since buffalos are less prone to diseases as compared to cattle, they are not fed on hormones and antibiotics. In addition to that, Bison are usually raised in a natural environment due to which their meat is free of hormones and steroids used to make an animal grow quicker. It also makes the meat hypoallergenic, which means that people who are allergic to red meat can easily have it. Although its texture may seem almost like beef, but its flavor is slightly sweeter and richer.

If you talk about the vital nutrients, you will be surprised to know that Bison has relatively higher amounts of iron and Vitamin B12, which is essential for a healthy nervous system, strong digestive system, and reproduction of skin cells for a glowing skin and healthy hair.

Preparing Bison Patties for a BBQ: Safe Cooking
If you have been consistently working with beef on a grill, you might notice that Bison is a lot leaner than cow’s meat. Due to this, it dries out faster when cooking. Now pay attention here, this is important! Many people like to keep the marinated meat in freezer or refrigerator; however, they take it out only an hour before cooking. This is perhaps the biggest grilling mistake ever! Regardless of the kind of meat you are working with, always defrost it or bring it to room temperature before barbequing. Otherwise, it will be overcooked from the outside, while still pink and watery from the inside. In order to keep the meat moist and soft, always marinate Bison it in an oil-based marinade. Avoid acids like vinegar and lime juice; it will accelerate the drying process.

Cooking
Food experts suggest that Bison tastes the best when grilled. BBQ is a fast cooking method that adds a unique aroma and flavor to the food. From basic burgers to rotisserie roasts, your options with cooking are endless.

Seek Professional Help
It is fine if you are cooking to feed only four or five people, but when arranging a party for 100 or more people, it is advised that you hire a BBQ catering company to handle the cooking for you. BBQ parties can be a great get-together for friends for they can listen to their favorite music while sipping from a glass of refreshing cocktail.

So fire up the grill, and let the cooking begin!