Barbecue (barbecue, barbeque, or BBQ in English) is a polysemantic word whose meanings are related to one another. The term is used to describe a social gathering accompanied by an outdoor cooking. 'Barbecue' also means specially prepared grilled food (meat that is smoked and slow-roasted, with added flavor). The term is also used to refer to the appliance that has prepared this meat. The subject of this article will be BBQ.
What is the difference between barbecue and grill?
Barbecuing and grilling are two different things that need to be distinguished. The difference between the two lies in the level of heat and the intensity of its emission. When grilling, the products are cooked over direct heat, usually a hot fire, for a short time. The preparation of the barbecue is done with the help of indirect heat or at low level direct heat at low temperatures and requires more time.
Barbecue Appliance Components
Many of the components of each barbecue can be disassembled and replaced with new ones after they are worn or destroyed to allow the appliance to be used for a longer period of time. Unlike coal barbecues, gas one is more sophisticated and has more components - burners, valves and heat plates.
The burner of the barbeque is the main source of heat required for cooking. Typically, gas barbecue burners are made up of: stainless steel, aluminized steel, iron cast (usually with porcelain coating). A burner is a device used to form a mixture of gaseous, solid or liquid fuel with air or oxygen, and to supply the mixture to the combustion site. The most common type of grill burners are those resembling the capital letter "H" facing one side - called burners "H". Another popular form is the oval. There are type 8 burners, a bow tie and a bar burner. Some types of barbecue have a separate burner - a "pipe" type, which is straight elongated and serves to heat one part of the grill.
The grilles on which the food is placed are located on the surface of the barbecue and are also an important part of it. They are usually made of:
- stainless steel (the most expensive but also the most durable material that can claim a lifetime warranty)
- cast iron porcelain coated (the next quality option for material, which is usually larger in thickness, ensuring good meat roasting)
- porcelain coated steel (durable as much as cast iron porcelain but not of the best materials to guarantee good product firing)
- cast iron (most often used for charcoal barbecue, which must be greased all the time in order to protect it from rusting)
- chromium steel (the cheapest and most durable material)
The grilles for stones are located directly above the burner. Volcanic stones (lava stones) or ceramic briquettes are placed on them. They have a dual function - to protect the burner from molten droplets that can damage it, and to distribute heat from the burner evenly to the grate on which the food is placed.
Heat plates have the same functions as stone grilles - they distribute heat evenly and protect the burner from melted droplets. They are common in more modern barbecue models. They are lighter than the stone grilles, are easily replaceable and contain less bacteria.
Valves are also part of the barbecue that can be worn, rusted, or simply aged and difficult to work with and then easily replaced. Unlike burners, when replaced with a valve, the replaced one must match the original completely to fit. If the valve seems to be moving properly but the throttle is not reaching the burner, the most likely cause is vent blockage. This problem can be eliminated by using a long flexible tool.
The lid of each barbecue is made of textile material and its dimensions are specially designed according to the size of the grill to protect it from external elements - sun, wind, rain and snow, as well as environmental pollution. Covers often have a heat-resistant inner layer, an outer vinyl (PVC) sheath, and adjustable straps for fastening in windy weather. The outer surface may also have a polyester coating, often reinforced with polyurethane.
Types of barbecue
Gas barbecue
This is the most common type of barbecue. It can use both bottled propane and natural gas as a fuel source. Most types of gas barbecues are designed for propane but can also be easily used for natural gas. It is believed that it is better to use propane or methane, but in fact the difference between them and natural gas is very small. Therefore, it is recommended that if a person has access to natural gas, use it for their barbecue as it is cheaper and more convenient than filling gas cylinders with propane.
Gas barbecues are available in sizes ranging from small (single) to large (family) or even larger, designed for restaurants and capable of preparing enough meat to feed over one hundred people.
Most gas barbecues have the following design: the grill itself is connected to a movable frame (on wheels) that holds both it and the fuel tank. The movable frame could also hold side tables or other accessories. A relatively new trend in the production of gas barbecues is the addition of an infrared burner to the back of the grill. It provides even heat and is designed for horizontally positioned grills. The meat is placed on a metal skewer, which is rotated by an electric motor. Smaller cuts of meat can be baked this way with the help of a circular metal bin that slides onto the metal skewer.
A major drawback of any gas barbecue is usually that it does not reproduce the typical smoky barbecue taste that charcoal barbecue offers. Meat does not really smoke well without charcoal, but for that, gas barbecues are fitted with small metal smokers, with sawdust. These special boxes help add extra smoky flavor to the food being baked. In addition, when using a gas barbecue, care must be taken to maintain the temperature as it is difficult to keep it low, especially for a long time.
The gas barbecue is best for the eager cook who wants to light the grill faster and prepare the food without having to worry about preparing and cleaning the coals.
These grills use either briquettes or charcoal, which are ignited before cooking products are stored. As to which option is better, some clarifications are needed. Charcoal is easier to ignite than briquettes, it also creates more heat, leaves less ash and gives the meat a finely smoky flavor. Briquettes are made from biomass, with the plus being that they are cheaper and burn longer. However, they contain more chips, which could affect the taste of the meat.
Various designs of coal barbecues are produced. Some are square, circular, or rectangular in shape, some have lids and some do not.
How to lit a coal barbecue?
The easiest way to light a fire that will roast the meat without leaving any trace on the environment is to use a cylindrical metal tool that is open at both ends. A crumpled newspaper is placed at the bottom of this device, filled with coal at the top, and then ignited. This is the safest and most economical method. However, before placing the meat, the conditions to be baked must be checked - the condition of the coal and the temperature are particularly important. A thin layer of ash must be formed on the coal, which sometimes takes between 15 and 40 minutes. And about temperature, the following method can be used: if a person can hold his hand 3 cm above the grill for no more than 2 seconds, the fire is too hot. When held for 4 seconds it is medium hot, at 6 seconds it is moderate. In order to reach the desired moderate temperature, it is important to stir the coals - to reduce the temperature they are diluted and to increase the temperature they are collected in a pile.
Electric BBQ
The electric barbecue is powered by electricity and the meat is roasted on special heating plates without the need for a fire. There are two main types of electric barbecue - indoor and outdoor. It is suitable for people living in cities where gas barbecues and coal are prohibited by fire regulations. Therefore, before purchasing a barbecue, it is advisable for a person to be familiar with the laws and regulations of the city in which they live or in which they will use the appliance.
The disadvantage of electric barbecue is the taste to the meat. It is not a substitute for traditional barbecue. When using electricity, the smoky taste so important to any barbecue is lost.
This type of barbecue is suitable for camping, picnic or outdoor activities that can be reached by car, as it is easily portable and much more compact than ordinary barbecues. All types of portable barbecue are available - portable gas, coal and electric barbecue. However, size can be both an advantage (such as camping equipment) and a disadvantage. Portable compact barbecue cannot prepare dozens of burgers, as with one standard gas barbecue. To prepare bigger quantities you have to spend the whole day, but for family camping is more than comfortable.
The portable coal barbecue is very compact and has features that make it easy to transport camping equipment. Most often it comes in a rectangular shape with folding legs that fit into the main part and this kind of barbecue can easily fit in the trunk of the car. For ease, some models do not come with lids. Others have lids as well as ventilation, legs and more amenities. Some types of portable barbecue completely duplicate the functions of larger standard barbecues.
Barbecue hybrid
Hybrid barbecue is used for outdoor cooking with charcoal and natural gas or liquid propane. It is cooked in the same way as a traditional gas barbecue. Manufacturers, however, argue that the barbecue hybrid combines the convenience of gas barbecue with the taste and cooking techniques provided by charcoal barbecue. Gas burners provide an instant cooking fire, and in hybrid barbecues they help to ignite charcoal quickly and extend the duration of a cooking session. The BBQ hybrid has a propane burner that can be removed and coal or firewood used as a fuel source. Many models have characteristics similar to portable charcoal barbecue - they can be folded for easier transfer from one place to another.
BBQ accessories
For all gas barbecue owners, extra gas cylinders are a must-have accessory. Separately propane-butane containers of various capacities are available, which are suitable for all gas stoves, as well as for some types of hob screws. A safety valve is usually added to each gas cylinder for safe use. They are lightweight and compact.
Another convenient accessory are the special BBQ kits containing several utensils - knife, spatula, fork and baking skewers. Most often they are made of stainless steel and are an excellent helper in the preparation of delicious barbecue. When purchased as a kit, they usually come with a textile bag that allows for more compact carrying and storage.
In addition to utensils, the market also offers a variety of cookware suitable for outdoor activities, camping or just for barbecue in the yard. Aluminum is a true helper in making comfortable and light cooking vessels - there are special pots and pans made of anodized aluminum that are ideal for camping and barbecue. They are robust and durable, and most importantly, they do not require specific maintenance. Other easy-to-carry containers are also available - bowls of various sizes, made from lightweight materials, collapsible cups, foldable silicone containers, collapsible water container, as well as entire outdoor cooking kits.
A barbecue brush is a must for every appliance owner. These types of brushes contain brass needles for precision cleaning, a metal scraper knife and an abrasive nylon sponge. With such a 3 in 1 product, the barbecues’ hygiene is easily maintained.
