Not all barbecues are created equal: some feature an array of perfectly marinated meats and sides all cooked to perfection, and others offer dry burgers and a distinct lack of condiments.
Common BBQ mistakes and how to avoid them
As the weather continues to heat up, BBQ season is in full swing. If you don’t want your food to be deemed “rubbish”, it could be worth avoiding these common mistakes…
Mistake 1: Bland food
Solution: Marinate everything
If you want your food to be packed with flavour, it’s worth marinating your meat and veg the night before.
It doesn’t have to be overly elaborate – a mix of garlic, rosemary, olive oil, salt and pepper will go a long way – but it’s also the perfect opportunity for you to really push the boat out with mouth-watering flavour combinations.
Mistake 2: Food sticking to the barbecue
Solution: Make sure you oil the grill
We’ve all been there: desperately grabbing a spatula and trying to scrape off food that’s stuck to the grill. This panic can be easily averted by oiling your barbecue – but make sure you do it before lighting up, as you don’t want to get oil on an open flame.
Mistake 3: Burnt skewers
Solution: Soak them beforehand
Kebabs are a staple of any good barbecue, but nothing is worse than wooden skewers burning before the meat and veg has had time to cook. There’s an easy fix for this: soak your skewers in water for at least 30 minutes before sliding your veggies on, so they don’t catch on fire.
If you always forget to pre-soak your skewers, it could be worth investing in metal versions instead.
Mistake 4: Food that’s burnt on the outside, raw on the inside
Solution: Watch your flame
It’s easy to fall into the trap of nurturing as big a flame as possible, but this will likely result in overly charred food you can’t guarantee is properly cooked all the way through. Instead, slow and steady wins the race – you want white hot coals and to build up the heat gradually for better control. Pro tip: stop unnecessarily opening the lid of your barbecue – oxygen feeds the flames, giving you less control. Also, investigate bbq ‘zones’ – YouTube will sort you out on this front.
Mistake 5: Making it a meat fiesta
Solution: Really consider veggies and sides
When many people think of a barbecue, their mind immediately turns to meat. While you really can’t go wrong with a good grilled burger or steak, you’re missing a trick if you forget about vegetarian options and sides.
Even if you don’t have any veggie friends coming over, meat-free options will elevate any barbecue. Corn on the cob is always a great shout, and you can kick things up a notch with jerk marinated aubergine or barbecued feta and pesto.
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Mistake 6: Not resting your meat
Solution: You guessed it – rest it
This one’s a very easy fix. Instead of serving your meat fresh off the barbecue, let it sit off the heat for a few minutes so the juices can redistribute, the heat can level out and it’s as tender and juicy as possible.
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