It can be a wonderful experience and a great summer memory to barbecue, outside, on your grill. Maybe you’ve researched the best grill for some time and are now proud to have it in your garden, propane tank hooked up, all the tools ready, perhaps even a new set of garden furniture to sit and eat from.
Now, you don’t have to treat all this as fine dining, when plenty of paper plates and large pitchers of juice can be a fantastic accompaniment. Regardless, if you’re barbecuing for the first time and are hoping to make the most of it, we hope to offer you some tasty and convenient tips to get you started.
This way, you can provide a lovely experience to everyone present, and maybe have your grilling become the talk of the town, or at least your friendship group!
Prep Ahead & Make Things Easy On Yourself
A good barbecue is fun, but not if you’re juggling everything at once and trying to time it all by the second. That’s why a little prep work is worthwhile instead of starting when you’re trying to host other people at your house as well. Try to cut your vegetables, shape your patties, and season your meat before your guests even arrive. If you’re marinating, getting things done early and leaving it to rest in the fridge for a few hours can really help with flavor too. This frees you up to focus on the grill itself when the time comes, instead of having to worry about what’s still raw or not ready. After all, you’re trying to enjoy yourself just as much as everyone else even if you’re cooking, so you shouldn’t have to feel like you’ve been employed as a line cook.
Keep An Eye On Your Heat Zones
One thing new grillers don’t always think about is heat control. It’s very easy to just fire everything up to full and get that satisfying sizzle going, but not every cut of meat or skewer of veg needs high heat from start to finish. In fact, a lot of barbecuing is about patience, especially with larger cuts or anything bone-in, and remember that different sizes, for example on a kebab, will cook at different size. So look at the manual and try to use the two main zones, one hotter side for searing and getting a nice crust, and a cooler area where you can finish cooking gently without burning things. This also gives you a place to move food if flare-ups happen or if something’s cooking too fast. You can also remove the top warming shelf if you need more room for the most part.
Use Your Sauces Wisely, Not Just As A Cover-Up
It’s easy to treat barbecue sauce like the fix-all at the end of cooking, but it’s much better when you use it to improve what’s already working. If your meat is dry or unseasoned, no amount of slathered sauce will make it perfect. That’s why it’s a good idea to season things first, maybe add a dry rub, and then use sauce as a finishing touch or to glaze during the final minutes on the grill. That gives it time to caramelize slightly and stick, otherwise you might just see it dripping off or burning. If you’re using something sweet like a super-delicious honey BBQ sauce, keeping an eye on the timing is especially important, as sugary sauces can burn quicker than you’d expect.
Don’t Get Too Precious About Perfection
It’s your first barbecue, so not everything needs to be a food blog moment. It’s completely fine if some sausages come off a little darker than expected, or if you’re still figuring out how long chicken thighs take on your particular grill brand. What matters is that you’re trying, you’re learning, and you’re bringing people together to enjoy food outdoors.
The thing about barbecue is that it’s not perfect dining, and there’s a nice slightly smokey, “made with love” feel of a first-time barbecue, and no one’s going to complain if the burgers are a little off-center or you had to check the temperature three times. If you’re nervous, pick a few reliable options and focus on doing them well. The most important thing is using a heat thermometer you use to check the internal temp is safe, and cleaning it after each use. Some skewers, some burgers, maybe corn on the cob and a couple of good sides can be more than enough to fill out the meal.
With these tips, you’ll have a better sense of how to manage your first barbecue with ease and enjoy the experience while you’re at it. We hope you have a good time!
