When I was growing up, we had a gas grill in the backyard. My parents thought it was a great convenience. We could go outside and barbecue something without actually having to bother with charcoal. We never even used a charcoal barbecue. It required a lot of set up, was a little bit difficult to light, and it took forever. I have to say that I ate some pretty good food that came off of that gas grill. My mom would make this wonderful salmon steak that she would wrap in aluminum foil and cook up when it was warm outside. Still, since I got my own charcoal bbq grill, I have learned what real grilled food tastes like. For all of its advantages and uses, natural gas just can’t compare!
A lot of people don’t like the taste of food made on a charcoal barbecue, but most of these folks have never had it done right. Many of the people who have barbecues make the same mistakes. They put on too much lighter fluid and get it on the actual surface of the charcoal grill. As a result, the food tastes like lighter fluid. Even worse, they often won’t clean off the grill enough between uses. Having all that burnt, carbonized junk seeping into the steak never makes it taste good. It tastes bitter and burnt even if it is cooked to perfection.
It seems like most of the folks I know assume that, just because you use a charcoal barbecue outside, you don’t have to put a lot of effort into it. In reality, however, barbecued food, like anything else you might cook, tastes better if you really do it right. Whether you are using a simple charcoal barbecue, or a barbecue rotisserie smoker, taking the time to learn the recipes and prepare the meat well before the barbecue is the difference between pretty good an absolutely delicious.
No matter what you do, if you are getting all your friends together for some grilled meat and beer, you probably will earn nothing but praise. Still, I have always thought that, if you are going to do something anyway, you might as well do it right. There is nothing like being the person who throws that one barbecue that you can’t miss. I guarantee that, with a bit of preparation and a good grill, you will be the talk of the town all summer long!
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