| When was the last time you had a good barbecue? | | | | Ideally, you should use a chimney starter because |
| Here are some things to remember to help you | | | | this ensures a consistent heat level for the coal. Or, |
| come up with the perfect barbecue. | | | | you could also use an electric iron to heat the coals. |
| The choice of wood that you use can have some | | | | Others simply soak the charcoal in lighter fluid and |
| bearing on how your barbecue comes out as these | | | | light them, a technique which is quick and easy, |
| impart different flavours to the meat. (Yes, | | | | although this can impart unnatural chemical flavours to |
| unfortunately, your neighbors' complaint that their | | | | the meat. Better to use denatured alcohol to avoid |
| food has a taste of wood in it actually does have | | | | the aftertaste problem. |
| some basis.) In addition, some types of wood burn | | | | After 15-25 minutes, the coals are covered in ash. For |
| faster than others. Many suggest that the best way | | | | indirect cooking, spread the coals around the grill's |
| to barbecue is to use a combination of wood and | | | | perimeter and place the meat in the grill's center. For |
| charcoal to optimize smoke flavour and consistent | | | | direct cooking, pile the coals together in the center |
| burning. (Let's see what your neighbors can say | | | | right underneath the meat. |
| about that one.) | | | | Gas grills are ideal because they are easy to light and |
| As far as charcoal is concerned, buying a commercial | | | | the heat they generate is easy to control, using |
| bag of processed charcoal briquettes is fine, although | | | | those gas valves on the burners (the one with the |
| lump charcoal may be better. The main difference | | | | knobs). However, purists still prefer cooking with |
| between lump charcoal and brisquette charcoal is that | | | | charcoal because they claim gas grills lack the flavour |
| the first has not been ground and shaped. Lump | | | | that comes from cooking with wood and charcoal. |
| charcoal is considered a purer form of charcoal and is | | | | Gas grills are also more expensive, but they are also |
| obviously preferred by purists over processed | | | | cleaner since they do not produce ashes or air |
| charcoal. | | | | pollution. |