Grill Vs Barbeque: The Essential Guide
People often get confused about this one. It is not uncommon to use the terms grilling and barbecuing interchangeably. After all, they are both outdoor activities, often using the same type of equipment. Or that is what it seems. The truth is, the two are very different techniques that will give you different results. To master both (or one) arts, you should know very well about the difference between grill vs bbq. That will ensure you’ll use the appropriate tools, heat, and time of cooking requirements.
If you don’t know anything about the debate grill vs bbq, don’t worry: you’ve landed in the right place. In this essential guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the difference between grilling and barbecue.
Heat
The Type of Food You Cook
Grilling and barbecuing are two different techniques, meaning each method is best suited to different types of food. As a rule of thumb, grilling involves cooking small and tender cuts of meat. We are talking about steaks, chops, and seafood here. But also hamburgers, hot dogs, and vegetables. On the other hand, BBQ is the best way to cook tough cuts of meat to turn them into tender masterpieces. Think pork shoulder, ribs, and brisket.
The characteristic flavor of grilled food comes from fat or oil dripping off your food and hitting the flame, which generates a small amount of smoke that gives that particular and delicious taste to whatever food you are cooking. That is especially true for meat.
The Use of Marinades and Spices
Time
We mentioned it earlier, but it is crucial to point out that another difference between these methods involves the cooking times. As you may expect, the highest temperatures in grilling mean that you can prepare food relatively quickly: usually, in less than twenty minutes. Instead, in barbecue, cooking times can be very long. In general, two hours or more. Indeed, the tougher cuts of meat, suitable to the bbq, need to cook for a while. The lengthy cooking time allows for the unwinding of the connective tissues, which dissolve and result in tender meat. Only the slow and low cooking that the barbecue gives you will do the job effectively.
Should You Use A Thermometer?
In the grill vs bbq debate, the issue of using a thermometer often comes up. But do you need one? And if yes, why?
For starters, you may need a thermometer to improve the safety and quality of your food when you are either grilling or barbecuing. On the grill, food can cook very quickly, but you must make sure the internal temperature of the meat is optimal. An instant-read thermometer can make everything simpler. The same applies to barbecuing, where you’ll have to track both the food’s temperature and the environment’s. In this case, leave-in thermometers are ideal. So, while you could do all the job without any instrument, you should consider getting a thermometer. Of course, you must remember that grilling and barbecue involve different temperatures. So, you won’t find a one-size-fits-all in this case. Still, the investment won’t be as high, and it will be worth it for reaching perfection when cooking.