Summer is the time for outdoor living and barbecues. Here are 20 tips that will help you get the most out of your outdoor cooking :
1. You have to chose will it be gas or charcoal that you're going to cook with? Chose charcoal if you like the smokey flavor; chose gas if like cleanliness, control and convenience. But do, do remember if its charcoal always light the fire naturally, never with fuel as it taints the flavor regardless of the time that you wait to start cooking!
2. Consider carefully whether your outdoor cooking equipment purchase is going to be an investment Don't go cheap! Go for quality, it pays every time in both the short and long term.
3. Go for the size of burner, measured in its BTU output, that meets your cooking needs; don't go too small; large stockpots require powerful burners;
4. Buy the right kit for the job in hand. e.g. portable pick up & go grills are great for tailgating but they'll disappoint on the patio when friends come around. Think about what you'll be cooking; often its better to buy an all in kit rather than buying the individual items separately; e.g. a turkey fryer kit;
5. Think about 'where' you're going to be cooking outdoors and buy your kit accordingly. Ask yourself, will we be cooking on the patio, or taking it outback, or wherever; this makes a big difference to your choice; indeed usually folk decide that they need quite separate cooking equipment for different situations.
6. Your choice of outdoor cooking kit should be guided by what style of cooking best suits you and your family. If Jambalaya is your passion then get a Jambalaya pot; if your going to be frying turkeys get a turkey fryer kit; don't try and mix and match, go for what suits best.
6. Think about what type of cooking you and the family prefer when deciding on your outdoor cooking equipment; don't try and mix and match, you need kit that meets your needs. If Jambalaya is for you then get a Jambalaya pot; if your passion is turkey frying then it has to be a turkey fryer kit.
8. Don't forget basic safety & hygiene advice when cooking outdoors. Keep fresh meat and your cooking utensils away from plates you'll be eating off; don't use large stockpots on a stove with extended legs; keep large stock pots on burners near to the ground or table top; and, plan things in advance; its when you're rushing that accidents happen;
9. Share recipes & cooking tips and you'll benefit in return from others. Avoid piercing food on the BBQ as the juices will escape and the food will dry out; ceramic grills are a good choice as their cooking process retains moisture & flavor; never cook meat that is not fully defrosted; generally speaking, try to cook slower rather than faster when cooking outdoors, except with steaks of course; avoid cooking meat too long on the grill as it easily dries out try to let meat rest once its cooked, without cutting it up, this allows juices to settle and the flavor to come out and marinating is great for meats & fish, especially when barbecuing, ideally overnight if you can for meats and just one hour for fish.
10. When using a grill with a lid, keep it closed as much as possible so as to retain heat and sustain a consistent cooking ambiance.
10. Don't open the lid of your grill when grilling too often; as this spoils the almost ideal cooking conditions within.
1. You have to chose will it be gas or charcoal that you're going to cook with? Chose charcoal if you like the smokey flavor; chose gas if like cleanliness, control and convenience. But do, do remember if its charcoal always light the fire naturally, never with fuel as it taints the flavor regardless of the time that you wait to start cooking!
2. Consider carefully whether your outdoor cooking equipment purchase is going to be an investment Don't go cheap! Go for quality, it pays every time in both the short and long term.
3. Go for the size of burner, measured in its BTU output, that meets your cooking needs; don't go too small; large stockpots require powerful burners;
4. Buy the right kit for the job in hand. e.g. portable pick up & go grills are great for tailgating but they'll disappoint on the patio when friends come around. Think about what you'll be cooking; often its better to buy an all in kit rather than buying the individual items separately; e.g. a turkey fryer kit;
5. Think about 'where' you're going to be cooking outdoors and buy your kit accordingly. Ask yourself, will we be cooking on the patio, or taking it outback, or wherever; this makes a big difference to your choice; indeed usually folk decide that they need quite separate cooking equipment for different situations.
6. Your choice of outdoor cooking kit should be guided by what style of cooking best suits you and your family. If Jambalaya is your passion then get a Jambalaya pot; if your going to be frying turkeys get a turkey fryer kit; don't try and mix and match, go for what suits best.
6. Think about what type of cooking you and the family prefer when deciding on your outdoor cooking equipment; don't try and mix and match, you need kit that meets your needs. If Jambalaya is for you then get a Jambalaya pot; if your passion is turkey frying then it has to be a turkey fryer kit.
8. Don't forget basic safety & hygiene advice when cooking outdoors. Keep fresh meat and your cooking utensils away from plates you'll be eating off; don't use large stockpots on a stove with extended legs; keep large stock pots on burners near to the ground or table top; and, plan things in advance; its when you're rushing that accidents happen;
9. Share recipes & cooking tips and you'll benefit in return from others. Avoid piercing food on the BBQ as the juices will escape and the food will dry out; ceramic grills are a good choice as their cooking process retains moisture & flavor; never cook meat that is not fully defrosted; generally speaking, try to cook slower rather than faster when cooking outdoors, except with steaks of course; avoid cooking meat too long on the grill as it easily dries out try to let meat rest once its cooked, without cutting it up, this allows juices to settle and the flavor to come out and marinating is great for meats & fish, especially when barbecuing, ideally overnight if you can for meats and just one hour for fish.
10. When using a grill with a lid, keep it closed as much as possible so as to retain heat and sustain a consistent cooking ambiance.
10. Don't open the lid of your grill when grilling too often; as this spoils the almost ideal cooking conditions within.
About the Author:
Stephen Kember is a acknowledged expert in outdoor living & outdoor cooking. He now runs The Outdoor Cooking Equipment Store where you can view a wide selection of Outdoor Cooking Equipment. Take a look at some of the great value kits, such as the turkey fryer kits, where for a very limited period prices have been significantly reduced
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