Summer is here – which means it’s time to roll out your grill and plan fun barbecue nights for you and your family. This is a great way to unwind and relax after a busy week at work. Enjoying the summer breeze with a stone-cold beer and grilled meat is the recipe for a perfect weekend. As enjoyable as grilling may be, it requires a lot of planning and preparation. From a well-equipped and shaded patio to a quality selection of fresh meats, make sure you have all the needed essentials before you begin.
Food Prep Essentials
The most important grilling utensils you will need are a long-handled spatula and thongs. These will allow you to safely navigate around the hot grill without the risk of getting burnt. Of course, you will also need forks, knives, a marinade brush, a couple of chopping boards and an apron.
The next grilling essentials are the BBQ rubs and sauces. Barbecue meat rubs come in two forms – dry and wet. Dry rubs are a combination of carefully selected ground spices and herbs. These are applied to the meat before grilling and give it that special kick of flavour. Rubbing spices on the meat before grilling also helps to seal the juices inside the cut. They give it a crispy outside and a delectable inside. Most dry rubs have a base of salt, sugar and paprika. This mixture is enriched with various different spices and aromas.
What’s more, barbecue meat rubs are versatile – they come in a variety of flavours suitable for any type of meat, from poultry to beef and pork. Depending on your preferences, you can choose one of the standard flavours or you can go for the more eccentric ones. You can find flavours like jalapeno, lime, pecan and even espresso flavoured rubs.
Wet BBQ rubs are also called marinades. Similar to the dry rubs, they add flavour to the meat and help tenderize it before cooking. The meat is required to sit in the mixture for several hours so that it absorbs all the flavours. Marinades are recommended for limited rather than longer cooking times.
BBQ sauces are here to give some additional flavour to your grilled meat. They’re available in various flavours to compliment your choice of BBQ rub. Make a change from the ordinary supermarket spices and condiments and surprise your taste buds with one of the gourmet BBQ sauces and BBQ rubs for sale.
How to Choose the Right Grill?
When we’re talking about hosting a barbecue party, we have to mention the different types of grills. The grill that you should purchase is determined by several factors such as the space you have available, your style of cooking, the flavours you want to impart on the food and more.
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want a freestanding or a built-in barbecue. Both of these are amazing pieces of technology; however, they offer unique advantages in certain situations. While both types are flexible, stand-alone grills offer more flexibility as they can be easily moved around your patio. On the other hand, if you’re searching for a more long-lasting and elegant-looking grill, you should opt for a built-in one.
Having the most seamless appearance out of all types of barbecues built in grills are a favourite among grilling enthusiasts. They can be easily installed into your alfresco kitchen and will last you for years. A built-in barbecue takes up less space, which is convenient if you have a smaller outdoor space. This also makes them easier to clean than other types of barbecues. You can save up on space even further by using the seamless cover as a countertop for preparing your food. Being the most convenient and luxurious barbecues built in grills will make your grilling experience much easier and enjoyable.
Depending on the fuel that they use, there are four main types of grills – gas, charcoal, pellet and electric grills. Out of these, gas grills are the most popular. Unlike the charcoal and pellet types, gas grills ignite at the push of a button and allow the cook more control over the heat setting thanks to temperature control knobs. Gas grills are a good option for frequent and easy grilling. They’re also easier to clean than the other grill types. Charcoal grills, on the other hand, are popular for the distinct smoky aroma that they impart on the meat; however, they’re much harder to clean and allow less temperature control.
Outdoor Lighting
Due to summer’s unforgiving temperatures, we should all limit the time we spend outdoors during the day. That being said, the best time to host a barbecue party would be later in the afternoon. Grilling can be a potentially dangerous activity, so in circumstances like these, you need to make sure that you have the proper task lighting for it. The area around your grill should have enough direct lighting so that you can avoid unwanted accidents and burns. Additionally, this helps you prepare the food more quickly and efficiently for grilling. For this reason, it’s good to have a pendant light fixture in close proximity to your grill.
On the other hand, quality ambient lighting for your patio will help you set the mood for a fun barbecue party. The string lights are a popular choice for outdoor ambient lighting. You can use them to customize your patio in a variety of ways – you can attach them to the shade cover, wrap them around the wooden pillars or anchor them from trees. If you combine them with a few candles, you can create a stunning magical getaway out of your patio.
Safety Tips
On the topic of safe grilling – here are several tips to help you steer clear of accidents:
- Your grill should be situated at least 3 metres from your house. Additionally, you should avoid placing wooden overhangs right above it;
- Grease tends to cause many flare-ups. To avoid this, try to clean your grill as frequently as you can;
- Have a fire extinguisher close to your grill at all times, but most importantly – educate yourself on how to use it;
- Make sure there are no gas leaks;
- Never leave your grill unattended.
