The good weather is here, the holiday season is upon us and it’s time to get together and take advantage of the warm weather and the long days. And one of the best ways to enjoy days like these is to get together with family or friends for a barbecue. Because we are not going to deny it, we love to get together around a good meal to enjoy a nice day in the company of our friends and family.
Have you ever had a barbecue? Some people are lucky and have their own garden in which to prepare such a gathering, or they have a barbecue area in their urbanisation. But there are others who prefer to take advantage of the good temperatures and go to one of the picnic areas and barbecue areas that can be found in the mountains.
Whatever your choice, if you think the time has come to prepare a different kind of get-together this summer, we have something to tell you. Because yes, there doesn’t seem to be much science behind a meal that consists of grilling meat until it’s ready to eat. But there’s more to learning how to barbecue with charcoal than that.
Put on something comfortable because it’s time to tell you what to do at a barbecue.
What to do at a barbecue
Suppose you have decided to have a barbecue with your family or friends, what should you take into account to make it a success?
- How many people will eat in order to buy the right quantities (between 300-400 grams approximately per person).
- Lighting and controlling the embers properly. Timing is fundamental when it comes to organising any meal, but when you have to prepare the fire, you have to calculate that time well and if you can, you have to be punctual.
- Take into account the type of meat to keep track of the cooking time.
- Always have the necessary elements at hand that allow you to control the fire.
- Have enough to drink to withstand the high temperatures.
- Wear sandals that will keep you comfortable at all times.
What to prepare?
Take the meat you have bought for the barbecue out of the fridge before everyone arrives so that it reaches room temperature and prepare a bucket with plenty of ice to keep drinks cold.
Plates, glasses, cutlery, napkins… Everything has to be ready for when everyone arrives and the coals are at the perfect point to start cooking the meat. Having all this you will only need good company and some good members to enjoy a nice day outdoors.
How to barbecue
Undoubtedly the most important thing for your barbecue to be a success is the charcoal, so make sure you add enough so that halfway through the barbecue you don’t have to add more and wait for it to reach the temperature of the rest, thus delaying the cooking.
Also, the coals need to be at the perfect cooking point. Yes, that moment when the flames are extinguished and the charcoal has its characteristic reddish hue. If you have achieved this, congratulations! It’s time to start cooking.
What if the flames are fanned? They may do so because of the dripping fat, but you can add salt to extinguish them and continue cooking.
Tips for a perfect barbecue day
At this point you may think that how to have a barbecue is a bit more complex than you thought, but you don’t have to worry, because here is a brief summary of the most important things to know.
- Always be very clear about the number of people who are going to attend before buying the starters, meat, vegetables…
- A little consultation beforehand to find out if there are any vegans or vegetarians can help you choose the menu. Are you up for a vegan barbecue?
- If you decide on a classic barbecue you will have to calculate an average of 300 or 400 grams of meat per person.
- All the safety elements should be at hand: tongs to move the meat, gloves to move the grill, an iron to move the embers and water nearby to extinguish possible flames.
- If you’re going to be the one doing the cooking, you need to be comfortable, so there’s nothing better than wearing comfortable flip-flops and a good hat to avoid sunstroke.
- To ensure that the meat is juicy, it is best not to turn it until it is well cooked on one side. And when is it best to add salt? After the meat is cooked, so that it releases all its juices.
- It is not possible to have a perfect barbecue if you cook the meat as soon as you take it out of the fridge. It is best to take it out a little earlier so that it is at room temperature.
- Cook the smaller, fattier pieces first, such as chorizo or bacon, then you can move on to the rest. And while you are cooking all that, you can also cook the vegetables you have chosen to accompany them.
- When the barbecue has cooled down, clean it to prevent the grill from trapping smells and flavours for the next use.
