The Top-5 Lessons I've Learned in BBQ
I started smoking meat about nine months ago............. and boy, have I learned ALOT. Here are the top-5 lessons I have learned -
HONORABLE MENTION: Experiment with anything and everything. Try a wide variety of stuff and find out what suites your cooking style, pits and time frame. Plus, it's fun to try new stuff.
5. Set your budget.
You can certainly spend yourself into oblivion with this hobby. From pits to fuel, meat to gloves, thermometers to knives and everything in between, you really have to cap the number you're willing to spend otherwise you're quickly exhaust your finances. I only buy used pits I find on Craigslist. I know that I'll step up to the big boys some day but, as I learn my craft, I can get away with taking something someone else didn't want, cleaning it up and learning on it. It's often been said that if you can learn how to turn out great 'que on a lesser pit, you'll only become better on a high end one. I believe that totally. That goes for my tools as well. I'll get the bigger, better stuff one day but, for now, learn on the cheaper stuff. As far as a meat goes, when you start out, I think it's totally "OK," to get the red tag specials from the grocery store or butcher. Dial in your rubs, sauces and technique on a cheap piece of meat before you drop some coin on some prime stuff.
4. Prep.......... prep ........... PREP!
It seems like every cook is a bit different. The weather, cut of meat, start time; it all changes!
This is where prep really comes into play. Knowing your thaw times, your trimming time and so forth has really become crucial to me. If I try to just throw something together at the last minute, it usually garners less than favorable reviews. If I have planned out what I'm going to do and followed a schedule, I have people coming back for thirds and fourths! A good prep means your meat is trimmed, seasoned and at room temp to head onto the smoker when you're ready. I also spend a considerable amount of time prepping my pit by cleaning it, oiling it and making sure I have a good, hot fire going before tossing on the meat.
Check out this video to see how we do a Pork Shoulder, paleo style!
3. Humble yourself!
I think for many guys (maybe ladies too) that we feel we should be able to produce great BBQ right out of the shoot. We think, "sure, how hard could that be? It's just meat and sauce, right?" I am amazed at how far I have come since my first few cooks. I was dumb enough to try a brisket flat my first go around (and it tasted like a rookie brisket as well! Thank god the people I cooked for ate it!) After realizing I wasn't the world's greatest pit-master, I started finding people like Malcom Reed at How to BBQ Right, a Facebook group called "BBQ & Grilling Recipes, Tips & Tricks" and more and I started to figure out what to do and when to do it. From there, my cooks helped me dial in my style and process. Without getting help from others, lord only knows how much bad BBQ my family and friends would've had to eat before I, the "expert," figured it out.
2. PATIENCE!
What's the old saying? "Rome wasn't built in a day." They could probably also use,
"Brisket was done in a set time frame." Possibly the hardest lesson I have learned is patience. It's amazing how little patience you can have at 5 p.m. on a Sunday, you and the family have been waiting all day and the brisket or pork shoulder hits a stall. You about lose your religion! Many a time, I pulled the meat before it was truly done out of hunger and we paid the price for it. Good BBQ takes time and you have to be willing to "go the distance with it." Otherwise, you shortchange yourself. Don't worry that it's taking too much time. I've had briskets finish in 8 hours and some go 12+, Some turkeys fly straight through the cook while others were stubborn. As I mentioned before, EVERY cook is different. Cook to your temps and enjoy the process.
And............... #1. Have FUN!
Why is this the number one lesson? Without it, the rest of these don't really matter. I got into smoking/BBQing as a hobby and it has quickly turned into great source of enjoyment for me...... and my family. We enjoy the challenge of mixing up our recipes in a paleo fashion and cooking them that way. Food is very important in our home (my health is a health nut) so being able to enjoy this food that way has been big for us. Plus, I get to indulge in another vice (craft beer) while tending to the 'que. It's a relaxing hobby for me plus I get to help my wife out by helping with the meals for our family. Often times, we'll have a weeks worth of lunches from our weekend efforts. It's also fun to host family and friends and see them enjoy the fruits of our labor as well.
There they are; the Top-5 Lessons I've Learned in BBQ. I'm sure we'll add more to these as the years go on. Wanted to take a moment to say "thank you," for taking the time to read this blog or watching our videos. We really do have a blast with this and your support makes it all the more special.
HONORABLE MENTION: Experiment with anything and everything. Try a wide variety of stuff and find out what suites your cooking style, pits and time frame. Plus, it's fun to try new stuff.
 |
| My CharGriller is my favorite pit and cost me under $100 out the door! |
You can certainly spend yourself into oblivion with this hobby. From pits to fuel, meat to gloves, thermometers to knives and everything in between, you really have to cap the number you're willing to spend otherwise you're quickly exhaust your finances. I only buy used pits I find on Craigslist. I know that I'll step up to the big boys some day but, as I learn my craft, I can get away with taking something someone else didn't want, cleaning it up and learning on it. It's often been said that if you can learn how to turn out great 'que on a lesser pit, you'll only become better on a high end one. I believe that totally. That goes for my tools as well. I'll get the bigger, better stuff one day but, for now, learn on the cheaper stuff. As far as a meat goes, when you start out, I think it's totally "OK," to get the red tag specials from the grocery store or butcher. Dial in your rubs, sauces and technique on a cheap piece of meat before you drop some coin on some prime stuff.
4. Prep.......... prep ........... PREP!
It seems like every cook is a bit different. The weather, cut of meat, start time; it all changes!
 |
| Paleo seasoned baby back ribs. |
Check out this video to see how we do a Pork Shoulder, paleo style!
3. Humble yourself!
I think for many guys (maybe ladies too) that we feel we should be able to produce great BBQ right out of the shoot. We think, "sure, how hard could that be? It's just meat and sauce, right?" I am amazed at how far I have come since my first few cooks. I was dumb enough to try a brisket flat my first go around (and it tasted like a rookie brisket as well! Thank god the people I cooked for ate it!) After realizing I wasn't the world's greatest pit-master, I started finding people like Malcom Reed at How to BBQ Right, a Facebook group called "BBQ & Grilling Recipes, Tips & Tricks" and more and I started to figure out what to do and when to do it. From there, my cooks helped me dial in my style and process. Without getting help from others, lord only knows how much bad BBQ my family and friends would've had to eat before I, the "expert," figured it out.
2. PATIENCE!
What's the old saying? "Rome wasn't built in a day." They could probably also use,
 |
| Look at that SMOKE RING! |
And............... #1. Have FUN!
Why is this the number one lesson? Without it, the rest of these don't really matter. I got into smoking/BBQing as a hobby and it has quickly turned into great source of enjoyment for me...... and my family. We enjoy the challenge of mixing up our recipes in a paleo fashion and cooking them that way. Food is very important in our home (my health is a health nut) so being able to enjoy this food that way has been big for us. Plus, I get to indulge in another vice (craft beer) while tending to the 'que. It's a relaxing hobby for me plus I get to help my wife out by helping with the meals for our family. Often times, we'll have a weeks worth of lunches from our weekend efforts. It's also fun to host family and friends and see them enjoy the fruits of our labor as well.
There they are; the Top-5 Lessons I've Learned in BBQ. I'm sure we'll add more to these as the years go on. Wanted to take a moment to say "thank you," for taking the time to read this blog or watching our videos. We really do have a blast with this and your support makes it all the more special.
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