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Different types of grilling tools for your BBQ

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Don’t you just love it when the aroma of steaks or burgers cooking on your neighbor’s grill fills the air? It reminds you that it’s time to get your grill out and prepared for your own backyard BBQ. Where is your grill? Is it out on your deck, covered up and protected? Is it in your shed behind the lawn mower, snow shovels, snow blowers and trash cans? Or did you just leave it out there to fend for itself in the weather all winter? Wherever it is, there are some things you’ll need to do and some tools you’ll need to get.

The first thing you’ll need to do is clean the grill. If you are one of those extremely organized BBQers you probably did this before storing the grill away. Good for you! The rest of us hate you and we will be spending our day catching up to you. A good steel brush will help get any leftover, cooked on food particles. For the “Tim the Toolman Taylor” type you can even get a motorized grill brush! And for grease, a dishwashing liquid that breaks down grease and some warm water will work wonders. Next, you should check your gas connection if you use propane. Tighten it up with the appropriate wrench. Left loose, the propane could leak out causing a fire danger. Put your grill back together and you should be all set to go. [Read more…] about Different types of grilling tools for your BBQ

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Different types of grilling tools for your BBQ

BBQ Tool Fire Flames Grill Spatula. You can see more BBQ, Grilled food, flames and fire on my page.

Don’t you just love it when the aroma of steaks or burgers cooking on your neighbor’s grill fills the air? It reminds you that it’s time to get your grill out and prepared for your own backyard BBQ. Where is your grill? Is it out on your deck, covered up and protected? Is it in your shed behind the lawn mower, snow shovels, snow blowers and trash cans? Or did you just leave it out there to fend for itself in the weather all winter? Wherever it is, there are some things you’ll need to do and some tools you’ll need to get.

The first thing you’ll need to do is clean the grill. If you are one of those extremely organized BBQers you probably did this before storing the grill away. Good for you! The rest of us hate you and we will be spending our day catching up to you. A good steel brush will help get any leftover, cooked on food particles. For the “Tim the Toolman Taylor” type you can even get a motorized grill brush! And for grease, a dishwashing liquid that breaks down grease and some warm water will work wonders. Next, you should check your gas connection if you use propane. Tighten it up with the appropriate wrench. Left loose, the propane could leak out causing a fire danger. Put your grill back together and you should be all set to go.

Before you start grilling, do you have all the cooking tools you are going to need? Do you have a BBQ spatula, tongs and fork? What about a basting brush to apply BBQ sauce? These are the essentials every griller needs. Another item that comes in handy is a basket for grilling small pieces of food in. Grilled vegetables are delicious, but don’t stay on the grids too well. The basket allows vegetables and the like to be grilled easily. You also might need skewers if you are considering making kabobs. They even help you roast a mean marshmallow.

The list of grilling tools goes on and on. There are special pans for grilling fish. There are spits you attach to your grill to grill a roast or chicken. You might want an apron to wear and mitts to handle the hot pans. And believe it or not there are grill lights if you want to grill in the dark. Yes, if you need it, it’s out there. Now light up the grill and let’s get cooking!

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Music While You Grill or BBQ This Summer

Colorful music background.Summer parties are a fun way to bring the family and friends together to celebrate an occasion. While delicious food, good company, décor, and wine have its own significance in a BBQ event, it is the music that can make the party even more special. A good beat will not only bring the guests into a groovy mood, it can also initiate a dance session. If you are planning to have a backyard party this weekend, incorporate some good music to make it more exciting. Give your event a concert-like feel by placing speakers and connecting them with your laptop or iPod.

Download Music Apps
In case someone wishes to listen to a particular song during the event, download a music app in your phone for instant songs-on-request. People of Melbourne, Florida are known to have a passion for good food and upbeat music; therefore, you can even have a song dedication session in your event to encourage people to express their feelings towards one another.

Make a Playlist
Since it is a must for any party, it is best that you prepare a playlist before hand. Include different genres of music so that everyone gets to hear one of their favorite songs. Here is a list of some tunes, (compiled by one of the known DJs of the country), that would best complement the appetizing aroma of a BBQ wafting through the air.

  • 19th Nervous Breakdown by the Rolling Stones
  • Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan
  • All Summer Long by Kid Rock
  • Paradise City by Guns N’ Roses
  • Maybe Your Baby by Stevie Wonder
  • Summer of 69 – Bryan Adams
  • My Baby Loves Barbecue by Chris Cassone
  • One Love by Bob Marley
  • Pale Blue Eyes by the Velvet Underground
  • Psycho Killer by the Talking Heads
  • Reality Poem by Linton Kwesi Johnson
  • The Harder They Come by Jimmy Cliff
  • Tougher Than the Rest by Bruce Springsteen
  • Give me Everything by Pitbull
  • Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus

Honorable Mention
You might also want to add “Hungry like the Wolf” by Duran Duran. Although this one might not be everyone’s favorite, but this British Brand has surely made its place in many famous compilations. This song is sure to tickle your guest’s taste buds – they will love the food after listening to this!

Feel free to add additional songs. You need to create a fun-spirited atmosphere that gives you and your guests a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. Think of the songs that could enhance the feel of an outdoor summer BBQ. Play a song from your childhood or the one that was played on your wedding. To enjoy your event to the fullest, handover the cooking task to professionals by hiring a BBQ catering company. When you are done with this, you are good to go.

Enjoy!

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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!

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Tips for Making the Best BBQ Chicken

chicken roastingYou may have heard a number of ways to make BBQ chicken. Everyone has his or her own idea of a tasty and succulent BBQ chicken and hence, a different method of preparation as well. But what is the best way to get a juicy barbecued chicken. It involves closely monitoring the fire on the grill, keeping the flame low and meticulously checking the temperature. If it is kept on for too long, the chicken will be dry. If the grill is too hot, then the skin would burn. Here are a few tips to help you create the most tasty and moist BBQ chicken.

Preheat
Preheating is essential for any type of BBQ. A good piece of BBQ requires even temperature throughout the meat. If one does not preheat, the outer surface gets warmer way before the heat could reach inside. And this causes the outer surface to get charred and burnt.

Marination
This is one of the essential steps towards preparing a BBQ chicken. Always marinate the chicken before cooking it. Make sure its every side is properly marinated. Keep it that way for at least two hours so the meat absorbs the juices. If one does not marinate properly, then some parts of chicken would remain raw and some would be burnt.

Let the Fluid Soak in the Coal
If you are planning to barbecue chicken on a charcoal grill, then remember to let the fluid soak into the charcoal. A mistake that most people make is to light the coal prematurely after pouring the liquid. This can lead to harmful consequences. Give at least a minute or two for the fluid to settle in before lighting it. Also, remember to light the charcoal from a safe distance.

Cook with Beer
One of the best ways to get a succulent barbecued chicken is to add beer in the cavity during cooking. The beer keeps the meat moist and juicy. Additionally, smoky flavored spices rub under and over the skin giving it extra flavor. Alternatively, one can also use water or chicken broth.

Use Dark Meat
If one does not plan to barbecue the whole chicken, then one should experiment with dark meat, as it is tenderer than chicken breast. It is also easier to swallow if you end up overcooking it.

BBQ Sauce
Sometimes all you need is a good BBQ sauce. So make sure you have one with you when you are craving for an awesome barbecued chicken.

Gas or Charcoal
This is an age-old question, as to which is the better option between charcoal and gas. But the answer is not that simple as many variables are involved such as flavor, convenience, and cost. One could argue that gas burns cleaner than charcoal. Charcoal emits carbon monoxide and other harmful substances that could sometimes even cause cancer. Another could argue that chicken cooked on charcoal is smokier and richer in taste. It depends mostly on your preference of taste.

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Grilling for the Amateur Chef

beef steak on the grill with flames.

We cook all night on our on premises smoker. But if you are looking to cook up some of your own food using a grill, we have created this article.

Thinking of hosting a BBQ party for your co-workers? Afraid you’re going to ruin it with overcooked charred meat? Fear not, as we will tell you how to cook the juiciest grilled meat by going through the dos and don’ts of charcoal grilling.

Charcoal
The charcoal quality will largely define the quality of the final cooked meat, so don’t underestimate its importance. We advise users to go for lump coals instead of briquette coals as the latter has a tendency to burn the meat along with altering its flavor.

Fuel
This is the part where you need to be cautious, unless you want to engulf your backyard with flames. Do not, under any circumstances, use kerosene or gas if you are grilling for the first time. This is because these fuels have a tendency to explode. Always use lighter fluid.

The BBQ technique
Okay, before you even start with the cooking, you need to understand the difference between grilling and barbequing. Even though the terms are often interchanged, they are two completely different cooking techniques; grilling meat at a barbeque party can lead to a lot of awkward stares.

While grilling makes use of direct heat from the fire to cook the meat, barbequing requires more time as you won’t be exposing the meat directly to the fire. Similar to baking, barbequing is a slow technique which makes use of the smoke emitted from the fire in order to properly cook the meat.

Now that we have cleared that out, let us go through an effective grilling technique.

Drain the Marinade
First of all, you need to properly marinate the meat. This doesn’t mean completely soaking it in marinade. In fact, what most novice grillers do is marinade the meat excessively, resulting in a large portion of it getting charred. Remember to drain the meat of excess marinade, as this can cause premature burning.

Let the Coal Settle
Do not be hasty with the grilling; let the coal soak in the fuel for it to burn properly. Once the fuel is soaked in, ignite the coals and let them burn until they change to a bright orange color. After there is sufficient heat being emitted from the coals, place the marinated meat on top of the grill.

Cook the Meat
Let the meat cook for a good 20 minutes. Remember, the slower the cooking, the tastier the meat will be. Make sure that none of the ash or charcoal contents actually come into contact with the marinated meat. Keep on brushing it and check for charring. As soon as one side of the meat is sufficiently charred, flip it over so that the other side gets its fair share of heat.