Summer is a great time for cookouts with family and friends. And what would a cookout be without tasty BBQ meat? Follow these tips from professional chefs on how to make the tastiest BBQ meat possible if you want to make sure your BBQ game is on point this year.
1. Get High-Quality Ingredient
Start with good ingredients if you want to make great BBQ meat. This means picking the freshest and best-quality meats. For the best flavor, choose organic and hormone-free chicken when you grill it. If you like beef, go for USDA-certified grass-fed beef. Not only will these meats taste better, but they will also be better for you. Use fresh herbs and spices instead of mixes that are already made for seasoning and marinating. So, you can control the taste and make sure it tastes just the way you like it.
2. Even The Cut Of The Meat Matters
The next tip has to do with picking the right cut of meat. Thighs are the best part of a chicken because they are juicy and have more flavor. Choose a chuck roast or brisket if you want beef. Most of the time, these cuts are cheaper, but when cooked right, they taste the best. If you get the right cut of meat, you’ll be able to cook it to perfection and make BBQ that everyone loves. Keep in mind that you want to avoid lean cuts of meat as much as possible because they dry out quickly when cooked.
3. Trim The Fat
The taste of meat comes from the fat on it. But you don’t want too much fat because it will make your food greasy and unhealthy. By trimming the fat before cooking, you can make sure you get meat that is juicy, tasty, and has just the right amount of fat. If you want to cut down on the fat in chicken, you can take off the skin. Trimming the fat off of beef before cooking it will also keep it from getting too tough. Just be careful not to cut off too much fat, because that will also make the meat dry.
4. Marinate The Meat Properly
Make sure your meat is marinated well as another tip. A good marinade can add flavor to your meat and make it easier to chew. In this case, you can use either an acidic ingredient like vinegar or lemon juice, or a fatty ingredient like olive oil, in a dry rub or marinade. A dry rub is a mixture of spices that you rub on the meat before you cook it. This is a great way to add flavor to your meat without making it too soggy. On the other hand, marinades usually have both acidic and fatty ingredients, which help to both soften and flavor the meat. Just don’t marinate the meat for too long, because that can make it tough, but you should let it sit for at least four hours or overnight. If you don’t have much time, you can also use a vacuum sealer to quickly marinate your meat. This will help speed up the process, but you’ll still end up with tasty BBQ.
5. Use The Right Cooking Techniques
To get BBQ meat that is cooked just right, it is important to use the right ways to cook. Chicken should be cooked slowly over heat that doesn’t touch it. This will keep it from drying out and make the skin crisp and juicy. Use the reverse sear method to cook beef. This means that the meat needs to be seared over high heat first, and then finished off over low heat. This will help keep the flavor and juices in, so the meat will be perfectly cooked and full of flavor.
6. Rest The Meat Before Cutting Into It
Lastly, one last tip is to let your meat rest before you cut into it. This lets the juices move around so that when you cut into the meat, they don’t all come out at once. Wrap your meat in foil and let it sit for at least ten minutes after it’s done cooking. This will help make sure your BBQ is cooked to perfection and is juicy and full of flavor. Letting the meat rest will also soften it and make it easier to chew. So, if you want the best BBQ, you shouldn’t skip this step.
Now that you know these tips from professional chefs, you’ll be able to make the best BBQ meat that everyone will love. If you use these tips at your next cookout, you’ll be sure to impress your friends and family. So get the grill going and start cooking!