Everyone loves a barbecue when the sun is shining, so here’s our top 10 tips to make sure you don’t fall into those pitfalls which can ruin the fun.
Whether it’s a black sausage, a burnt finger or a dose of food poisoning, we’ve got simple changes that will change the way you cook outdoors and could make your grill the talk of friends and family.
So whether you can crack open the beers, pour a glass of Prosecco or enjoy a jug of Pimms with friends, follow our guide to getting your barbecue right and let’s hope we aren’t all huddled under a huge golfing umbrella at the bottom of the garden.
Here is our rundown of the top 10 rookie BBQ mistakes to avoid…
1. Don’t grill your food over the flames
Aim to start once the flames have died down and your coals have turned grey.
2. Never squirt lighter fluid on to hot coals
However tempting it can be to get the flames going again, there are much safer ways to get the meat to cook through.
3. Avoid moving your barbecue once it has been lit
Pick the best place for your grill before you light it, check around to make sure nothing could catch alight nearby.
It is difficult and dangerous to move a BBQ once it is burning.
4. Use the correct BBQ utensils
Either stock up before you go or if it’s too late to nip out, try improvising with one of these handy items from your own kitchen with this unexpected BBQ kit.
5. Try not to over-complicate things
The best advice for grilling outside is to keep it simple. These are some delicious and best of all, easy to follow, recipes.
6. Don’t let your hygiene standards slip
Just because you are cooking outside don’t forget to use separate utensils, boards and plates for raw and cooked meats.
Cross-contamination – and meat not cooked all the way through – are main reasons people suffer from food poisoning at barbecues.
7. Don’t re-use marinades
If you already marinated raw meat, poultry or fish, reusing it could give your guests serious tummy trouble.
Have a look at this video for a quick, mess-free marinade
8. Avoid using foil
Lining the bottom of the grilling tray or grate with foil obstructs air flow, and the circulation of all those lovely smoky flavours.
If you’re looking for an alternative to foil when you cook fish, try placing them skin-side down on slices of lemon.
9. Lifting the lid
If you have a lidded barbecue, taking a peek at food when it’s cooking causes a drop in temperature and lessen the delicious smoky flavour.
If you can’t resist, and you’ve got a kettle barbecue, like this lovely retro number, you can open the air vent to check your food’s progress without ruining it.
10. Make sure food is cooked through
Although cooking your meat initially over a high heat is great for creating a nice charred effect, move it to a slightly cooler area to make sure it is throughly cooked all the way through.
