10 BBQ tips to impress
Hot weather means long balmy nights – perfect for a BBQ! Check out these sure-fire ways to dominate the grill and impress your friends and family.
It doesn’t get much more Aussie than the Great Australian BBQ. Time in the great outdoors is always better when there’s a 'barbie' on.
At Discovery Parks we love a BBQ - that’s why we put them in our parks!
So, whether you’re a wannabe 'Tong Master,' or even a barbecue newbie, enjoy these 10 Tips for Ruling the Aussie BBQ. They even include some handy clean-up advice – perfect when you’re sharing the hotplate!
10 Aussie BBQ Tips To Impress Your Friends And Family
Table of Contents
When to Cook
If you’re going a little old school and grilling with charcoal (all of our in-park BBQs are gas-powered) you need to exercise some patience.
Grilling over a full flame is going to result in some unevenly cooked meat - disaster. To avoid this, we recommended a cold beverage while you wait for the flames to die down BEFORE you start grilling.
Because all Discovery Parks BBQs are gas-powered and free to use, you’ll avoid this problem altogether, although you might want to get the hotplate warm before you throw your food on.
Maintain the Right Temperature
You’ve heard of staying cool under pressure, in this case it’s about staying warm!
It sounds simple enough, but don’t forget that your BBQ is essentially an outside oven. To achieve optimal grilling, control the heat, just like you would indoors.
A consistent, even heat will have you well on your way to BBQ mastery, with delicious results.
Marinade
Who doesn’t love a marinade?
When preparing the hero of your dish, it’s ideal to let it marinate in whatever delicious sauce or rub you’ve created, overnight. This is especially true when it comes to grilling on a barbecue.
For aficionados, marinade your food for at least 24 hours. This will guarantee the flavours of your meat aren’t overridden by smoke.
Room Temperature
One of the most underrated BBQ tips is knowing to bring food to room temperature BEFORE grilling.
This is especially true if you’ve defrosted something and it hasn’t quite thawed out.
To avoid this, always bring your food to room temperature before grilling. This will allow the food to cook more evenly as it’s less shocked by the intense heat that the BBQ will apply.
Searing and Sealing Your Meat
This is a fantastic tip for every BBQ King and BBQ Queen out there: DO NOT turn and flip your food too early!
Best BBQ results come from searing your meat slowly to lock in moisture and flavour, and this can only be achieved by allowing it to seal effectively. The more you turn your food, the drier and more unevenly cooked it is!
In other words: put those tongs back in the sling for a while, buddy!
Don’t Poke or Squash Your Food on the BBQ
Be kind to your food!
Many people poke or squash their meat on the BBQ to ensure it’s cooked properly. Unfortunately, that is one of the worst things you can do. Leave it alone, it will cook and taste better if you don’t poke it into submission.
Soak Wooden Skewers First
When you do the little things well, the result is a well-planned classic!
BBQ skewers are about as Aussie as Vegemite, but to ensure they burn on the grill, soak the wooden skewers first.
If you choose to use metal skewers, wipe them with a paper towel dipped in vegetable oil to prevent your food from sticking to them.
Let the Meat Rest
This one sounds funny, but it’s absolutely necessary!
While this is one of the most crucial BBQ tips, a lot of people choose to ignore it. After removing your meat from the grill, you have to let it sit for a few minutes, preferably on the plate it will be eaten on.
After resting your meat, do not cut it until right before you eat it.
Clean with Baking Soda
Your fellow campers will love you for maintaining a clean operating environment around the BBQ.
Baking soda is a fantastic ingredient for dissolving all kinds of organic substances and is excellent at tackling grease and stuck-on food.
Despite its use as a powerful cleaning agent, baking soda won’t scratch your BBQ, which is important for maintaining it.
Clean with an Onion
Haven’t got baking soda but do have an onion? Mother nature can provide!
If you’ve just cooked a feast on your BBQ and there's loads of grease left over, use an onion to clean it.
Once you're done, rinse with water, and your BBQ will look as good as new, we promise.
