Now You're Cooking!

Barbecue Basics for Beginners

By Shel Franco

"I'm looking for your Smokers," says a short man with a rough voice.

"That-a-way," a worker gestures, "past that display of Injectors, against the back wall."

An older couple standing at the counter talks Jerk sauces with the clerk.

By now you're probably wondering what sort of store this is, stocked with Smokers, Injectors and Jerks. Rest assured, nothing shady is going on here. Smokers, Injectors and Jerk Sauces are all part of the wonderful world of barbecue.

For most beginners, talk like this is a foreign language. "Trust me, the only thing that confuses me more than the equipment to use is the food to cook," says Brad Carlo of Milwaukee, Wis. And no matter how their mouths water for a thick steak on the grill, to some people, the task of learning to barbecue seems more than a bit daunting.

So how does dad go from just dreaming about burgers to backyard cookouts? With tips from the experts, a little common sense and lots of practice, it can be done.

Before running off to Wal-Mart, check out pool and patio stores or specialty stores, which offer the best opportunities for first time barbecuers, according to Carolyn Wells, executive vice president of the National Barbecue Association, in Kansas City, Mo. With knowledgeable staff that can discuss the benefits of each unit on hand, these stores help customers find the grill that suits their needs, skill level and finances.

One of the more blatant decisions when buying a grill is whether to cook with charcoal or gas. Gas grills are about the convenience while charcoal grills are about the taste, Wells says. If it is important to have meals cooked in 30 minutes, then the "slow and low" cooking philosophy of charcoal grills is probably not practical. Rather, the "hot and fast" approach of gas grills would work much better.

Another variable to consider when choosing a unit is the amount of space and location available for grilling. Apartment dwellers might find that smaller, portable grills lend themselves to easy use, while homeowners with large yards and patios might want to consider a larger, and even built-in, unit.

Want to see more?

• Cooking Help Discussion Board
• Recipe Share Board
• Marinades: Add Ethnic Zest to Your Next Barbecue
• Grilled Chicken Paillarde with Summer Vegetables and Herbs