Making a great batch of BBQ is not always an easy thing to do. If you want to make it perfect every single time, you’ll need a lot of practice and good spices. Plus, figuring out how to use charcoal and make the best fire that won’t burn your meat is another key ingredient for a stellar BBQ taste.

If you’re a BBQ novice that wants to learn some tricks, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ve shared some of the best tips and tricks on making your next BBQ memorable.

Let’s dive in.

Prepare Your Meat In Advance

If you wondered how to make your meat soft and tender before grilling, we’d introduce you to marinade. Ideally, you should get your meat one day in advance to prepare it and marinate for at least 24 hours. Once you buy it, cut it in slices, remove extra fat or bones, and let it sit in a nice marinade.

Marinades usually contain a mix of flavors for the meat to soak up. You should always start with olive oil, a bit of salt, pepper, basil, oregano, chives, and a spoon of vinegar and honey as a base. For a different taste, try using dairy or cumin to add a twist and allow moisture to your meat.

If you have enough time, put your meat in the marinade and let it sit in it for at least 12 hours. Then, when it time to put it on the grill, make sure you take it out of the fridge and sit at room temperature.  

Find Good Charcoal

Before you get to the meat, the first thing you should figure out is charcoal. Gas grills are okay, but good quality charcoal will give you that and much more if you like the smokey taste of beef. In this review, you can find a lot of information on finding the best smoker for your southern-style BBQ.

Arranging your coal in two layers will give you enough freedom to adjust the fire’s intensity and have more control over the cooking. Make sure that you have hot coal for ribs or big chunks of meat on one side, while on the slightly cooler side, you have enough room for some veggies, tofu, or a few burgers.

Your barbeque style should depend on the type of meat you’re preparing. An expensive cut like sirloin or fillet stakes is best if you cook them at extremely high temperatures. On the other hand, chicken and salmon need to be cooked slowly to even and tender.

Don’t Forget the Sides and Sauces

A good selection of side dishes is important, as well as the meat you’re preparing. And don’t forget that everyone likes to have some potatoes, corn or bean salad on the side.

Guacamole, ranch sauce, and bean salad are some of the basic additions to any summer BBQ but don’t forget that you can play around with it as much as you want. With a big bowl of healthy Greek salad, you can’t go wrong as well as with a Mexican coleslaw.

Leave Your Meat to Rest

Even if you nail the taste and prepare everything on time, it’s worthwhile to present it nicely. That’s why you shouldn’t serve grilled meat while it’s hot but leave it to cool before cutting. Even those 5 minutes will allow you to get nicer cuts and present everything on nice plates.

Don’t forget to take your salads out of the fridge since nobody likes to have half frozen dip with hot meat. Room temperature is ideal if you want to taste your food to its fullest.

Keep Your Grill Clean

Nothing makes grilling less fun than opening the cover to see a messy grill. So, if you find yourself in front of a greasy and dirty rack, you’ll have to clean it before you start cooking. If you want to use the grill’s full potential, make sure you always remove grease and finish family BBQ day with a clean rack.

Keeping in mind that removing the remnants of oil and fat is significantly easier when the grill is warm. With a cloth and some detergent, with a few swipes, you’ll remove everything. On the other hand, if you wait for it to get cold, you’ll have to use detergent and spend an hour on the cleaning process.

Learning how to do BBQ like a professional takes time, but if you take time to prepare everything, you’ll feel more in control, and once you’re relaxed, everything might turn out even better than expected.