Stress Free BBQ Tips

Barbecues are great fun - but do need some thought and planning if they are going to be stress free for the host! Here are some handy hints and tips for June to ensure great results!

Clean Up

Clean your charcoal barbecue after each use, once the grill has cooled down - a wire brush and warm soapy water is all that is needed - little and often is secret. Your gas barbecue can be cleaned by simply burning off the grill for 10 minutes.

Handy Tools

Keep all your barbecuing tools handy - tongs, chopping boards, insulated gloves, bating brushes etc. and always make sure that they are thoroughly cleaned and dried before putting away.

Warm Meat Before Cooking

Remove meat and poultry from the fridge an hour before cooking and leave covered in a cool kitchen or garage until required. This will help bring the food back to an ambient temperature, and will result in a more succulent cooked result rather than a charred, dried offering!

Cover Meat

Always store raw foods in a covered container out of the bright sunshine and inside the house if it is a hot day. Invest in a cool box for convenience.

Don't Mix Raw Foods

Never mix together different raw foods (i.e. fish and chicken) in the same marinade. Always keep in separate containers.

Use Long Handleds Tools

Always use long handled tools, such as tongs, for handling the food. Do not use the same tools for handling raw and then cooked foods.

Separate Chopping Boards

Always use separate chopping boards and utensils for handling raw and cooked foods to prevent cross-contamination

Cook Thoroughly

Pork, sausages, burgers and chicken in particular, must always be cooked through to the centre. It might look cooked on the outside but can still be raw in the middle. Check by piercing the thickest part with the point of a sharp knife. If the juices run clear then the meat is ready. Any sign if pink juices will require further cooking.

Marinating All Over

When marinating meats, use large plastic bags. It will coat the meat more easily.

Be Prepared with Salads and Marinade

Prepare dressings for salads and marinades for the barbecue in advance to be one step ahead of yourself – and the changeable weather! Meat and poultry will benefit from marinating overnight in the refrigerator rather than for an hour just prior to barbecuing, so do as much preparation ahead of time as possible.