Grilling Vs. Barbecuing on your Outdoor Kitchen

Did you know that grilling and barbecuing are actually two different ways to cook? Though the terms grilling and barbecuing are often used interchangeably, there are some major differences between the two. The main difference is the time which it takes to cook your food. If you’re grilling, it takes less than half an hour to get a juicy hamburger, ribeye steak, or chicken cooked and plated. Barbecuing requires a long, slow method to cook meat (brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, etc) at much lower temperatures for an extended amount of time.

Many people have their preferred method of how they like to barbecue or grill and which of these they prefer to pursue. Not every grill is designed to be barbecue food. How do you know if your Orlando outdoor grill can handle both? If it has only one burner, it’s only made for grilling, barbecuing. For some people, this isn’t a big deal. For others, it’s a deal-breaker. So it’s important to determine what kind of meats you prefer to cook before purchasing an outdoor grill in Orlando.

Once you have your outdoor grill setup, it’s time to get cookin’!

Grilling

For high heat and fast-cooked meals, grilling is the way to go. Grilling is simple enough, but you want to make sure that you’re getting the most flavor out of your grill. One of the easiest ways to do this is with a top-of-the-line gas grill.

When grilling all you have to do is:

• • Crank the heat up to burn off any leftover food.
  • Then adjust the temperature for whatever type of food you’re grilling. Pork and chicken should be cooked at medium heat, while steak and veggies can handle high heat.

If you love to infuse your food with a nice smoky or charcoal flavor, many Orlando grills can be accessorized with a wood chip and charcoal smoker box. These handy little boxes allow you to create delicious quick meals, without as much clean-up as a regular charcoal grill.

BBQ

To put it simply, barbecuing is basically grilling with indirect heat for a longer amount of time. Why would anyone want to take the time to barbecue their meat as opposed to grilling? Because barbecuing is a great method for cooking certain types of meat that were meant to be tender, full of flavor and fall apart, deliciously. Brisket lovers, unite!

Barbecuing your food requires you to turn off half of the grill, which reduces the overall temperature to around 250 degrees. Then you place whatever you’re BBQing over the indirect heat and wait a few hours. Pro Tip: place a pan of liquid in with the meat to keep your meat from going dry. Stock, beer, wine, or water are all good options.

If you do not yet own your own Orlando outdoor grill or are looking to upgrade your current grill, stop by and see our showroom in Orlando. Any of our experienced staff members can help you decide which of our premium grills is right for your outdoor kitchen.