BBQ vs. Grilling! What Fires You Up?

What Fires You Up? Grilling versus Barbecue.

We would be remiss if we did not address the age old question regarding the differences between Grilling and Barbecue. In essence, what we are attempting to explain here is the difference between grilling and BBQ, or, as many refer to as the direct versus indirect method, while attempting to avoid taking a side among the purists of the two camps. At GrillJunkie we encourage the practice and experimentation of both methods, …..again fortifying our motto, “What Fires You Up!”

People often use the term barbecue when referring to foods that are grilled, but barbecuing and grilling are two very different processes.

Barbecuing

Barbecuing refers to foods that are cooked with a long, slow process using indirect, low-heat generated by smoldering logs, wood chips that smoke-cook the food. The fuel and heat source are separated from the cooking chamber, but the cooking chamber contains enough heat to slowly but properly cook the food over a long period of time.

Along with heat, the cooking chamber fills with smoke, providing the food with its characteristically smoky flavor, which varies depending on the type of wood that is used for the fuel. The best temperature for barbecuing is between 200°F and 300°F. If the temperature rises above 300°F, it is considered grilling.

Grilling

Grilling refers to foods that are cooked more quickly and directly over high heat. The fuel and heat source are not separated from the cooking chamber thus providing for an environment that provides for high heat.
Grilling temperatures typically reach 500°F or more, but any temperature above 300°F is considered a grilling temperature.The high heat of grilling sears the surface of meat, creating a flavorful browned crust.

What Fires You Up? Whichever you choose, enjoy and cherish your time with family and friends.

Top 10 Burger Burger Grilling Tips: Grill Like a Pro

Grilling burgers, like any other kind of cooking, is a combination of technique and art. Mastering grilling techniques is fairly straightforward and is learned with a little bit of patience and practice.

The art is where the real fun and addiction comes in and mainly involves the recipes, the toppings, and the side dishes. Unlike with an oven, where you can simply place the food inside, set the temp and timer, and walk away for a while, grilling requires that you remain ever engaged, proactive, and vigilant. With that said, here are a few rules of good grilling.

Rule 1: Keep It Clean

Always keep your grill clean. This is essential for good tasting food and safety! Scrape and clean your grill before and after each outdoor grilling endeavor.

Rule 2: Keep It Safe

Always keep a close eye on what you’re grilling and doing. Be proactive, watchful and in control. There are more distractions when you are grilling outside, so stay focused on the task at hand.

Rule 3: Location, Location, Location

Always place your grill in a safe and flat location away from anything flammable such as lighter fluid, fences, your house, etc.

Rule 4: Keep 'Em From Sticking

When grilling low fat meats and other foods that stick, use cooking oil on the grill grate. Never use a cooking spray directly on the grill. You can use a basting brush, or soak a few folded paper towels shaped into a 3 inch x 3 inch square with cooking oil and while holding it with a pair of tongs, rub the oil on and into the grill grates before and after grilling your burgers.

Rule 5: We Don't Need No Stinkin' Spray Bottles

Do not use spray bottles of water to control flare‐ups. Flare‐ups are caused by too much fat and too much heat. When cooking burgers, flare‐ups usually occur when the burger is pressed with a spatula, which, although seemingly fun, is not only dangerous but also squeezes the precious juices out of the burger. If a flare up occurs, move what you are grilling to a different part of the grill.

Rule 6: Don't Get "Burned" By Your Sauces

Do not add oil‐based sauces, or sugary marinades directly to meat on the grill. This inevitably causes a blackened char on your burger. If you must, wait to add your oil‐based and sugary marinades until the very
end.

Rule 7: Prepare Ahead of Time

Always allow yourself plenty of time to prepare and cook. Prepare ahead of time for things that need not be grilled such as added toppings, condiments, etc. Don't leave your family and/or guests waiting.

Rule 8: Spice it Up Before You Grill

Spice up your food a good hour or two before you hit the grill. This time allows the flavor to sink in.

Rule 9: It's All about The Tools

Use the proper grilling tools for grilling your burgers. The basics are a solid long‐handled stainless steel spatula, long‐handled tongs, an oven glove, a meat thermometer, and a fire extinguisher. We provide a more extensive list in the GrillJunkie Burger a Day Cookbook.

Rule 10: Have Plenty of Food To Grill

Always be sure to plan for and make more than enough food for everyone including unexpected guests.

The last thing you will need is an angry mob on your hands. Enjoy your burger addiction!

Celebrate Your Addiction to Grilling!

Visit us on line for a few grilling tips, techniques, and free recipes.  Also check out our line-up of GrillJunkie t-shirts, steins and other accessories designed to help celebrate your addition to grilling and spending time with family and friends!

http://www.grilljunkie.com/

Grilled Flaming Pineapple Recipe

http://www.grilljunkie.com/Grilled Flaming Pineapple

A true Grilling Addict's delight, and a new trend these days is to grill fruit on the trusted backyard grill. You trusted us with Grilled Pizza right? Trust us on this one too! One of our favorites is Grilled Pineapple. Pineapple has the ideal texture and substance to take the heat of the grill! To add more fun to the experience, be sure let everyone gather around when you are ready to throw these pineapple slices on the grill. As always, be careful
..when the rum hits the fire it will flare-up, so keep you're your cool and your eyebrows out of range and let everyone be awed by your grilling skills.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pineapple cored and cut into ½ inch slices
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup (or 1 stick) butter or margarine
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup dark rum
Scoop of Vanilla ice cream
PREPARATION:

Combine Worcestershire sauce, honey, butter, sugar and rum in a deep medium saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil, making sure to stir constantly so as to avoid burning the mixture. Once it reaches a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until it begins to thicken. Remove from heat and allow the sauce to cool.

Preheat and oil your grill (a light olive oil works best). Brush pineapple pieces with sauce and place on grill. Cook for about 5 minutes turning occasionally. Surface of the pineapple should brown. Remove from grill, top with ice cream and the remaining sauce.

Hoot, holler, and enjoy!

Grilling Basics - Top 10 Rules

Grilling 101 - The GrillJunkie Basics and Top 10 Rules:

For more tips, recipes, and products....Visit us online at http://www.grilljunkie.com

Grilling like any other kind of cooking is a combination of technique and art. Grilling refers to foods that are cooked more quickly and directly over high heat. The fuel and heat source are not separated from the cooking chamber thus providing for an environment that provides for high heat. Grilling temperatures typically reach 500°F or more, but any temperature above 300°F is considered a grilling temperature. The high heat of grilling sears the surface of meat, creating a flavorful browned crust.

The difference between grilling and cooking on the stove or in the oven is that grilling is, in essence, is a combination of both. A grill provides direct heat from the gas burners or the charcoal and indirect heat that fills the grill when the lid is down. An average gas or charcoal grill can reach 500 degrees in a matter of minutes. Unlike with an oven, where you can simply place the food inside, set the temperature and timer, and walk away for a while, while grilling you must remain ever engaged, proactive, and vigilant.

The high heat, both direct and indirect is the foundation of grilling.

You will want to leverage this heat to cook food, quickly. And due to this fact, foods cook fast on a grill you have to turn them in order to cook them evenly, without burning. However, this is where practice, experience, and the art of grilling come in, because if you turn things too often you will slow the process of cooking and this can lead to food that is tough and dry. The secret is turning only when necessary. When cooking a steak or a hamburger, and checking it for desired doneness, be sure to get down low, by the edge of the grill, be ever-careful not to burn yourself. Gently lift up the corner of the meat. When the lines from the cooking grate start to turn black it's time to turn the food.

Knowing when to turn and when things are cooked involved practice, experience, and is in essence, the whole art of grilling. The rest of it, like indoor cooking and baking, is recipes, marinades, and trick. Everything else is recipes, marinades, and tricks. The art of grilling is also the hardest thing to teach, and must be accompanied by practice and experience. You will not be able to learn the art of grilling simply be reading, you must take what you read and practice, make mistakes, experiment, and experience! As an example, ideally, a steak will be turned only once, however, if the steak is very thick (more than about 1 1/2 inches) you might need to do it three times to get it cooked through to the center.

Like with all things that take time to learn and require practice and patience, you must, start simple when learning the art of grilling. Keep those first few steaks a little on the thin side, and once well practiced move up to a filet mignon. This will help you get the hang of grilling and allow you to properly cook food with more enjoyment, and without a lot of trouble. As you evolve as a GrillJunkie, and become more experienced with the art of grilling, you can work up to more challenging techniques and dishes.

Here are a few rules of good grilling.

Rule 1: Always keep your grill clean. This is an essential for good tasting food and safety!

Rule 2: Always keep a close eye on what you’re grilling. Be proactive, watchful, and in control.

Rule 3: Always keep your grill in a safe location away from anything flammable like lighter fluid, fences, your house, etc.

Rule 4: When grilling low fat meats and other foods that stick, use oil or cooking spray on the grill grate However, never apply cooking spray to a lit grill.

Rule 5: Do not use spray bottles of water to control flare-ups. Flare-ups are caused by too much fat and too much heat. Trim excess fat and when you turn meat on the grill move it to a different part of the grill.

Rule 6: Do not add oil-based sauces, or marinades to meat on the grill. This inevitably causes burning.

Rule 7: Always allow yourself plenty of time to prepare and cook. Don't leave your family and/or guests waiting.

Rule 8: Spice up your food a good hour or two before you hi the grill. This time allows the flavor sink in.

Rule 9: Use the proper grilling tools. Using anything else, such as a table fork, which is good for eating, are not so good or safe for grilling.

Rule 10: Always be sure to plan for and make more than enough food for everyone including unexpected guests. The last thing you will need is an angry mob on your hands.

Visit our site for more tips, recipes, and help celebrate America's love of grilling with our unique line of aprons, t-shirts, beer steins, etc.!!

http://www.grilljunkie.com