| Actually it's both. While the majority of Americans | | | | heat and temperatures ranging between 200-275 |
| think of barbecue as the charcoal or propane grill on | | | | degrees. If you've ever been to an authentic Kansas |
| the backyard patio, the term barbecue has come to | | | | City, Memphis or Texas barbecue restaurant, this is |
| mean different things to different people. I wrote | | | | the method used. Meats cooked this way spend |
| this article to help distinguish the differences and | | | | anywhere from 2-15 hours over low heat with |
| provide some guidelines to help you make a more | | | | aromatic smoke from a variety of different wood |
| informed decision on what to buy for the job you | | | | types, including oak, hickory, pecan or cherry. When |
| are trying to do. | | | | you slice into a slow smoked piece of meat you |
| The term barbecue basically falls into two main | | | | should see a pink "smoke ring" inside, which indicates |
| categories: | | | | that the meat was prepared in a smoker and spent a |
| 1) hot & fast and | | | | considerable amount of time there! |
| 2) low & slow | | | | So the question you must ask yourself is, "what is |
| The hot and fast method is generally done over | | | | my goal here?" It depends on several factors, |
| direct heat on a grill using charcoal or propane with | | | | including the type of equipment you have, the |
| temperatures that range between 300-500 degrees. | | | | amount of time you have, the type of food you plan |
| This works great for steaks, chops, chicken, and fish, | | | | to cook and the end result you are looking for. If |
| when you want to put a nice sear on the food and | | | | you do not currently own a grill or smoker, you |
| effectively seal in the juices. While the food will cook | | | | should know that you will spend anywhere from |
| much quicker, you will have to watch it very closely | | | | $50-$1500 on a grill and $200 - $10,000 on a smoker. |
| so it doesn't burn. It also will not pick up near as | | | | While a smoker only burns wood and charcoal, a grill |
| much smoky flavor. For the most part, this is a very | | | | can be either gas or charcoal. One nice compromise |
| simple and efficient way to cook; leaving you plenty | | | | for the average person is the Weber Kettle charcoal |
| of time for enjoying yourself with family and friends, | | | | grill. This is a great product because it is relatively |
| and that is really what a barbecue is all about. | | | | inexpensive and can work well as both a grill and |
| The other method is low and slow. This is typically | | | | smoker. |
| done in a barbecue smoker which usually uses indirect | | | | |