Independence Day is coming, which means barbeque season is upon us.
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Before you pull out your grill and skewers, skim through these 10 commonly made BBQ mistakes, and how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Impulsive grill lighting
Instead of lighting the grill only to realize you have yet to put your meat onto the skewers or that you forgot the tongs in the kitchen, get into position first - make sure you have everything you'll need at arm's reach, including a knife, tongs, a plate, and all the meat.
Mistake #2: Giving your meat a charcoal starter after-taste
Hold off with the harmful chemicals found in most charcoal starters, and replace them with a paper towel and a bit of canola oil. Place the paper towel into a wick and let it absorb some oil before setting it on fire, and only then stack coal around it. This way, your meat will have a natural, chemical-free taste.
Mistake #3: Not following the correct meat grilling order
Poultry and lean meat should be the first on the grill, followed by fatty meat. Otherwise, the fat will melt onto the coals, giving the rest of the meat you cook a burnt flavor.
Mistake #4: Making too much
Israelis have a tendency of buying way too much meat, which is eventually thrown away, because, let's be honest - who wants to eat the BBQ leftovers? Eating day-old meat not only takes away from the authentic experience of the BBQ, leftovers usually count for the scraps that were the guests' last choice, and were left out for quite some time.
To avoid food waste, estimate the number of diners you will be hosting, and make an assessment accordingly, using this rule of thumb - an average adult will consume about 400 grams of meat, and an average child about 250 grams. Don't go overboard, and remember that with bread, salads, sides, and dessert, your guests are sure to leave stuffed.
Mistake #5: Using a fork
No one likes dry meat - flipping your meat with a fork will cause the juicy goodness to leak out. Make sure you have a pair of tongs available, for the juiciest and most delicious meat.
Mistake #6: Salting at the wrong time
Seasoning your meat with salt is a controversial topic no doubt. However, the consensus among experts today is that it's best to add salt to meat towards the end, right before taking it off the grill.
Mistake #7: Neglecting the griller
Standing at the grill on your own with smoke in your face while everyone is off chattering and enjoying the afternoon sun, is a dereliction of duty. Being the grill master is hard work, and the least he/she deserves is some company while working to make sure everyone's tummy is filled. Maybe even bringing a cold beer or a taste of something from the table would be a very appreciated gesture. Don't underestimate this - a happy griller equals happy bellies.
Mistake #8: Cooking the meat for too little, or too long
When hosting an event with many guests, it may be a bit unrealistic to go around the table and ask everyone how they like their steak cooked. Instead of personalizing the meat for each diner, familiarize yourself with the right way to cook each kind of meat.
Lean meats should be cooked to medium-rare or even medium levels, and fattier meats should be cooked until they are medium well or well done.
Mistake #9: A poor grill
It may sound a bit far-fetched to invest in a good grill just for a holiday BBQ, especially if the one in your shed has been loyally by your side for years. However, when you get invited to a BBQ event, you're expecting the host to serve meat that is better than subpar. And if you don't want to go over the top with a new grill or new cooking utensils, make sure you at least buy fresh and high-quality meat.
Mistake #10: Making the BBQ a chore
A BBQ is supposed to be a fun social gathering. The last thing you want is to turn it into hard labor. The right attitude, good people, nice spring weather, and some delicious food are all you need to ace your BBQ