BBQ tips thread

[Help-Ma-Boab]

So, just built my BBQ from Penge Homebase. Lit the fecker etc. All food burnt or fell through the grill. Where am I going wrong. Lot of effort for little reward? Reeking of smoke now as well. ALL FOR ONE BURNT BIT O HALLOUMI.

[Loz]

Don't buy "instant light" charcoal. It burns too hot and too fast, before turning to ash. You don't get the nice bit where it just glows (which is when you do the actual cooking).

Personally, my next BBQ will be gas with lava rocks, even though it is tantamount to heresy amongst "serious" BBQers.

[DulwichFox]

You need to wait until the flames die down

And the charcoal is a powdery grey colour

I.E the temp has cooled

[Townleygreen]

Don't use a liquid accelerant to help the charcoal burn. Get one of these chimney things - cost under ?14, get your coals going every time. Best BBQ purchase I've ever made.

http://www.oaktreegardencentre.com/weber-portable-starter?utm_source=google_shopping&gclid=COKCk_6s6sUCFafJtAodcGUAwA

[Ruffler]

I'm a big fan of solid griddle plans like these https://www.google.co.uk/#q=grill+pan+bbq&imgrc=qGjVJtb5bzrFjM%253A%3Bundefined%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fcdn01.ovonni.com%252Fuploads%252F2014%252F201411%252F20141107%252Febay-source-img%252F1415324320223-P-751900.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.ebay.co.uk%252Fbhp%252Fbbq-cast-iron-griddle%3B1024%3B1024 for halloumi/griddled veg. Maybe something like this or similar would work on the BBQ.

[Seabag]

A few good strategies to adopt

1. Have a hot and a cool/safe zone on your grill. Either burn the coals up in the middle, then push to one side. Or have coal on two sides, with a zone in the middle. That way you cah have radiant or direct heat. If you've bought a Webber then there's baffles provided for this method

2. Buy a Webber chimney starter & some non-petro chemical fire lighters. Even better, buy English charcoals and start these with paper in the grill. If you adopt this method, then light the coals from the top, as charcoal burns better across and down. When white/grey ash is across the coals, you're good to go

3. Buy a few cheap grill racks from those ? shop places. Then lay up the stuff you want on these, then place them onto the grill. That way you can manage the stuff on there better. It's also a good way to strategise the cooking of batches of food

4. A metal tray in the grill pan with water in can help too, if you've a lid. This provides a bit of moisture into the cooking environment

5. Generally I reckon it's best to but the largest BBQ you can fit into your allocated space. More space to play with the heat is good

6. Be Co2 aware, read about this on-line re BBQs

Lastly, learn to fekkin cook

😃

Ps. I don't have a Webber, but it's a decedent bit of home BBQ kit

[Help-Ma-Boab]

Thanks all. I will be better prepared for my next attempt. I did have the charcoal in a bag that you light. Will try just charcoal and firefighters next.

Seems I need to be more organised...who knew.

[Horsebox]

HMB, Seabags recommendation of the chimney starter is a good one.

For fuel you could do worse than start off with Weber briquettes - they're clean, slow burning and last for ages.

http://www.wowbbq.co.uk/products/weber-premium-briquettes-3kg--16015.html

[Seabag]

Horsebox Wrote:

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> HMB, Seabags recommendation of the chimney starter

> is a good one.

>

> For fuel you could do worse than start off with

> Weber briquettes - they're clean, slow burning and

> last for ages.

>

> http://www.wowbbq.co.uk/products/weber-premium-bri

> quettes-3kg--16015.html

And made from mineral carbon (coal)

But if you are wed to the briquettes thing, then try ones made from 100% coconut husk

[Help-Ma-Boab]

Tempting...

[SLad]

Get a big green egg...mmmmm.

[????]

Help-Ma-Boab Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Thanks all. I will be better prepared for my next

> attempt. I did have the charcoal in a bag that you

> light. Will try just charcoal and firefighters

> next.

>

> Seems I need to be more organised...who knew.

Fook me HMB you must be a nervous BBQer if you need firefighters present

[steveo]

We have firefighters at all my BBQs

[david_carnell]

I found this website very helpful indeed:

http://amazingribs.com/

Great recipes, sensible advice, practical set-up guides, etc, etc

[phobic3000]

Just looked at YouTube video for one of those chimney starters and they look amazing, I'm getting one. Why have I never heard of this before?

[ken78]

the idea of b b q is 1,get messy and covered in black charcoal 2,get your hands and eyebrows singed 3,under cook the meat or cremate it. 4,watch everyone eat while you cook. all this on a charcoal b b q. try a gas b b q it's got to be a lot better, and if you get more lava rocks it has the smell and the taste of a charcoal b b q with out all the mess and waiting to cook on,

[OD]

I use briquettes and firelighters. I don't use a chimney, just pile them up in a pyramid and 20-30mins later I'm ready to start cooking!!

Definitely need to leave a cool area.

Saw a tip recently, if you're cooking fish (not in a basket or cedar plank) you can lay on sliced lemon!! :)

[Guest]

Is there any places local that sells wood chips for smoking?

[ken78]

go to Peckham rye make sure no dogs have p---ed on them. good luck

[Loz]

TD Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Is there any places local that sells wood chips for smoking?

If you can't find any locally, Amazon has loads.

[DulwichFox]

TD Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Is there any places local that sells wood chips

> for smoking?

Homebase

http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/weber-hickory-chips---3lb-949695

Foxy

[pablogrande]

don't use crappy charcoal or firelighters/lighting fuel as it will make the food taste bad

for wood, charcoal and wood chips i buy from http://londonlogco.com the guy is based in Crystal palace and delivered to the area once a week.

Also the butchery opposite sainsburys in forest hill also sells good stuff

For most meat make sure the grill is hot and before you flip it over the first time make sure it's started to brown properly the meat will form a crust and it won't stick. after this flip often as it's the best way to get it to cook through without burning.

I cook a lot of ribs, buy or make a dry rub and put on the ribs the night before, cook in the oven for a few hours on very low heat 100c you can then finish off on the bbq basting with something wet as you cook, i used apple juice and cider vinegar. it's a great way to cook for a lot of people with minimum effort