4 Methods for Making Better-Tasting BBQ

Better barbecue is a learning process. The more you do it and the more things you try, the better the beef, pork, chicken, and other meats you cook will taste. Whether you’re a beginner or a longtime barbecue fan looking for tips, here are four methods for making better-tasting barbecue. Try them out at your next tailgate!

Make an Herb Brush

Plastic and rubber brushes are excellent for spreading on the sauce and other tasty elements, but you may want to try this hack for extra flavorful meats. Grab several sprigs of your favorite herbs—rosemary, sage, thyme, basil, etc.—and tie them together with string. Use this herb brush to baste the meat with butter, garlic, oil, or any combinations or additions thereof. It makes a subtle difference and is a unique way to add flavors to the dish. Afterward, you can dice it up and add it to roasted vegetables, salads, or other side dishes. It’s compostable too!

Use Wood Chips

This is old-school barbecuing, so if you’re cooking with gas or propane, move on to the next tip. Different wood chips bring flavor to bacon and other meats in smokers, and they work well in your grill. Hickory chips impart a smoky yet sweet flavor to just about every meat. Mesquite gives an even stronger but healthy smokey taste, so be careful how much you use. Apple-tree wood brings sweetness to chicken and fish, while peach wood imparts these proteins with a sweet and fruity taste. Experiment with different wood chips until you find the flavor you’re looking for.

Go Caveman

What can you do to really bring a robust and smokey flavor to your barbecue? Get rid of your grate and cook the meat on the embers. To be honest, you’ll want some slight separation between the burning wood or charcoal and the meat. Add a layer of foil below the meat, then set it directly on the heat source. Don’t do this with briquettes or chemically prepared charcoal because it’ll add a funny and unpleasant taste to your food. However, with charcoal and wood, it’ll develop an even richer and smokier flavor. Just keep your eye on the meat to keep it from burning!

Create Your Own Sauce

Here’s one more of our four methods for making better-tasting barbecue. Get experimental! If store-bought barbecue sauce isn’t doing it for you, make your own. And think outside the box. Traditional barbecue sauce employs ketchup, tomato sauce, vinegar, and a sweetener like brown sugar or molasses. Add a little extra zing with fruit. Try roasting and then pureeing pineapple, apples, peaches, or other fruits before adding them to the mixture. Raid your condiment and spice drawers to see if anything can punch it up. Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and other sauces can help the flavor!