Tips for Barbecue Basics

Today, more people than ever are finding that barbecuing is great fun. And with this increase in popularity comes a wide variety of new equipment to make outdoor cooking easier. But unless you understand the basics, cookouts are not fun or easy. Whether you're a first-timer or an experienced outdoor chef, you're sure to pick up some helpful pointers........

After purchasing your grill (which you can find a variety of at www.allyearcampinggear.com) limit your selection of other tools to small essentials that simplify barbecuing. Following is a list that every serious barbecuer should purchase, and also some optional gear.

Long skewers

Salt and Pepper Shakers

Carving Knife

Heavy-duty Foil

Pot Holders and Mitts

Meat Thermometer is especially useful in outdoor cooking where meat may look done on the

outside and be undercooked on the inside

Pump-spray Bottle filled with water to put out flare-ups

Long-handled Tongs (no chef does without two pairs, one for food and one for the coals)

A Basting Brush to swish on sauces

Fork to help keep a grip on the food

Multi-purpose turner

(All these items should have long handles to keep you a safe distance from the coals.)

If you are a beginner, start your barbecuing career with a small brazier or a lightweight folding unit. either style is easy to use, convenient to store and inexpensive. Experiment with using foil drip pans, placement of coals, and different types of food cooked over a variety of coal temperatures. After a season or two of barbecuing, you'll know whether you are an avid barbecue fan or only an "occasional backyard chef."

After you learn the basic techniques of barbecuing on a small brazier grill, you may want to consider buying a more elaborate model. Which type of grill you purchase depends on the amount of money you want to invest and how much barbecuing you want to do. If you barbecue infrequently or only with small groups, there's no need to invest in an expensive model. you may decide the grill you started with does everything desired. But even if you need a more elaborate unit, don't cast aside the old one. The first grill makes a handy unit for grilling appetizers, breads, or hot desserts. Even use the unit to store hot coals for supplementing long cooking on the main grill.

More on grilling later..................