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!

GrillJunkie's Top 10 Grilling Tools

You don't need much to be a great griller, but there are a few things that make grilling easier and more successful. There are also a few things you need to take care of your grill. These suggestions are intended to help you put together a few of the basics that work, work well and make you a better griller. Remember that these are just suggestions. To be a great cook you need to find accessories that work best for you.

Tool 1: The Grill - What Fires You Up?

This is the age old question of outdoor grilling and the main inspiration for our tag line, "What Fires You Up?. What kind of grill do you want? Although there are grills that run on wood pellets, electricity, and gel fuel, there are two that truly come to the forefront - Charcoal and Gas Grills.

Charcoal grills will give better flavor, depending upon the type of charcoal used, and provides a more authentic grilling experience, but can be challenging to get started and can prove frustrating to maintain a proper temperature.

Gas is faster to start and much more convenient for those weekday cookouts. Whether you choose to use your gas grill to grill your meals with propane or natural gas, be sure to use the proper equipment and all safety procedures when installing and using these fuel sources.

Deciding between the two main types of grills available, Gas or Charcoal Grills, is all about deciding what kind of cooking you want to do. Be sure to find a good quality gas or charcoal grill. If used and maintained properly, a good quality grill can last a lifetime. Next, let's explore the fuel source possibilities available for the Charcoal and Gas grills.

Tool 2: Fuel Source - Propane, Natural Gas, Charcoal and more

For most gas grill, this is simple; Propane. The small, portable, and re-fillable tanks are convenient and, with an extra one on hand, can last a whole season You don't want an angry mob on your hands because you ran out of fuel during your backyard gathering. Also, some grills can be set up to run on natural gas fed from inside the house.

For the purists, the charcoal grill is the only way to go. There are many fuel choices, shapes and sizes available including coal-based charcoal briquettes, all-natural lump charcoal, hardwood charcoal, as well as pure hardwood. When burned, these fuel sources are all designed to transform into embers radiating the heat necessary to cook food.

There is contention among grilling enthusiasts on what type of charcoal is best for grilling. Users of charcoal briquettes emphasize the uniformity in size, burn rate, heat creation, and quality exemplified by briquettes. Users of all-natural lump charcoal emphasize subtle smoky aromas, high heat production, and lack of binders and fillers often present in briquettes.

There are many methods and gadgets available to help get your briquettes, lump-charcoal, or hardwood fired up besides stinky and unhealthy lighter fluid. These include rolled-up newspaper, kindling, and fat wood fire starters, but we suggest you look into purchasing a Charcoal Fire Starter.

Tool 3: Charcoal Fire Starter or Chimney Cone

An ideal and convenient way to light charcoal is without anything more combustible than a few pieces of rolled-up newspaper. This can be done with a charcoal chimney, available at most any hardware store. These cone-shaped chimneys allow you to get a lot of coals burning completely and quickly while avoiding the introduction of anything to the fire that you wouldn't want to add to your food such as lighter fluid. In addition, charcoal chimney starters allow you to get more coals going while cooking in order to add to the existing fire as needed. This is a great way to help with temperature control on a charcoal grill.

Tool 4: Spatula and/or Tongs

Get your hands on a good spatula and you will be able to tackle even the most challenging of burger recipes. And lets be clear on the meaning of the word "good". A good grilling spatula doesn't need loads of extra gadgets on it. Get a large bladed, bent and long-handled spatula. You want something that you can get under your burgers easily and large enough to flip a fish fillet without it falling apart. Don't skimp on this tool, as you really owe it to yourself to get a good quality spatula that will work well and last. A good spatula should easily slip under foods allowing you to quickly and safely lift, turn and flip. That's all it needs to do, but it needs to do it well.
A good pair of springed tongs will also help you get a solid grip on your food and can also help when you need an extra pairs of hands or need to grip something. An ideal pair of tongs should be easy to squeeze, yet bounce back quickly allowing you to get a grip on small and large items without damaging even the most delicate of foods. Find tongs that fit your hand, are lightweight but sturdy, and have enough length to reach deep into your grill without leaving your arm over the fire.

Tool 5: Grill Grate Scraper/Brush

Cleaning the metal rack or grill grate is a messy task made simple with a wire brush, (or a bristle brush for nonstick coated racks). You will need this important tool for cleaning off the grate before and after you finish grilling. It is most important that you do this after you finish grilling before the foods have had a chance to bake on.

Tool 6: Basting Brushes

It's a good idea to have a couple of food basting brushes on hand. You can buy these as pastry, basting, mops, or a silicon brushes. You decide which is cheaper or better for your particular needs. Don't spend a lot on these because they don't tend to last even if you take good care of them. You should have one brush dedicated to oiling surfaces. Dedicating a brush to put a coat of oil over your cooking grate is good idea. The brush will get the oil over the surface of the grate quickly and easily. You need to keep this brush separate from other brushes, since you don't want to use this one for basting foods. In addition to your oiling brush, you need a brush for basting your burgers when desired. If you grill a lot of different kinds of foods you might want several.

Tool 7: Fuel Gauge

Ever run out of gas because you weren't quite sure how much propane is left in your tank? You need a fuel gauge to tell you how much propane you have left. It's a good idea to get a fuel gauge that also detects gas leaks to give you a little peace of mind and increased safety. Fuel leaks are one of the most common causes of gas grill related fires. So find out how much gas you have left and don't let it leak away.

Tool 8: Meat Thermometer

The difference between the perfect meal and a trip to the emergency room can be only a couple of degrees. Having a good, working thermometer is a must have. There are a whole host of good thermometers on the market, but remember, accuracy is the most important factor, so when buying a thermometer it's better to bypass cool features in favor of reliability.

Tool 9: Fire Extinguisher

Although we provide guidance on preventing and dealing with flare-ups in the Tips section, it is always important to have a small household-type fire extinguisher close by just in case things get out of hand.

Tool 10: Oven Mitt

A fireproof mitt allows you to safely complete many grill jobs. Whether it's a pair of fireproof gloves or a kitchen mitt you should always have something close by that will let you pick up the hot stuff. You can buy fireproof grilling mitts that not only let you pick up flaming hot metal cooking equipment, but they won't catch on fire if or when flames hit them. Having a kitchen mitt catch fire while you have it on your hand is not fun.