There is not quite like southern barbecue, down here in Tennessee we take our barbecue seriously and guard our recipes like our very lives depend on it. We find any excuse we can to bust out the grill and when that doesn’t work we head to a restaurant that serves good barbecue. But not everyone makes good barbecue, if that is something that you suffer from we can help. If you want to make perfect southern barbecue then you need to get the fundamentals right, here’s how you do that.
Clean Your Grill
Plenty of people believe that not cleaning your grill makes your food taste better but that is not the case. Not only does a clean grill make your food taste better it also avoid food poisoning and it will keep flare ups from happening when you are cooking.
Marinate the Meat Ahead of Time
Marinating your meat adds flavor and makes it tender. If you want ribs that fall off the bone then you want to make sure you marinate it first, you can marinate it for as little as a half an hour or for as long as 24 hours before you cook it. Stab the meat with a fork first to allow the marinate the chance to get into the meat and tenderize it.
Make a Good Sauce
All good barbecue starts with the right sauce, here in the south we have family recipes that have been passed down for generations. You don’t want to put it on too early or it will burn. Most sauces have sugar in them and it doesn’t tolerate high heat very well.
Preheat the Grill
For meat to be cooked thoroughly as well as being tender and juicy you need to sear it to seal in the juices. That means initially cooking it over high heat, that will give you that grilled flavor that you love. If you are using charcoal then make sure that you after you light the coals that you leave them be until they are hot enough to cook with and have a light layer of ash all over them. For gas grills you can set the temperature manually.
Use Tongs
You’re probably using a fork to flip your meat but that is a mistake. Using a fork allows the juices to escape and makes your meat dry. Use tongs and keep your meat juicy and flavorful.
There is nothing like a gathering with some friends and family sharing in good food. If you want your next barbecue to be great then get the basics down and it will be delicious.
