Grilling meat in the open air is becoming more and more popular. We use barbecues not only in home gardens, but are also often taken outside the city to a plot, to a lake or even to the beach. There are even barbecue fans on the balconies. While grilling on the beach or on the balcony in a block of flats raises a lot of controversy (using a grill on the balcony disturbs the neighbors and causes a fire hazard), there are no contraindications forgarden grillto become a permanent element of our equipment plot and helped us prepare warm food in the open air.
Barbecue in the garden
Grilling in the gardenis a great opportunity for family gatherings or with friends. And cooking outdoors is much more fun than standing over pots in a stuffy kitchen.
Grilling has a bad reputation, and food prepared in this way is considered unhe althy. However, it all depends on what and how you will prepare it on the grill. Well, well-prepared grilled dishes can be he althier than those fried in a pan, and even baked or stewed in the traditional way. So let's find out how to grill tasty, he althy and comfortable.
Which grill to buy for the garden
Of course, you have to buy an appropriate grill or build it yourself, if you think about a permanent structure, made of stone, for example.Charcoal or briquette grills are the most popular.You can also buy a gas or electric grill for your garden. However, dishes from the latter, although they may be he althier, lack the aroma of the food from charcoal smoke. Grilling on a gas or electric device is also associated with a different way of preparing dishes and offers slightly different possibilities. I think this is a topic for a separate text. That is why today we will focus on the most popular and cost-effective solution, i.e. charcoal or briquette grills.
"The easiest way to buy isready-made tin grill , which is relatively cheap and can be easily disassembled for transport. The basic elements of such a grill are the hearth, grate with a cover and support on the legs. For the grill to be stable, it must have at least 3 legs if round or 4 legs if rectangular. Unless it is a pedestal-type structure supported on one leg, which also functions as a ventilation shaft. It is an effective solution in which air is supplied from the bottom of the furnace.The amount of air can be adjusted by closing or opening the air dispenser located in the base. This type of grill should be positioned so that the air inlet is on the wind side.
The cheapestgrills are made of enameled or galvanized sheet metal. The grate should be chrome-plated wire so that it does not react with the grilled meat. It is very useful to be able to choose the height of the grate above the hearth, e.g. 3 levels to choose from. More elaborate designs have a rotating spit. They can also be equipped with additional shelves or wheels, making it easier to carry the grill.
Some grills are additionally equipped with a cover with a flue gas discharge chimney. In a grill with a lid, it is easier to maintain an even temperature (a bit like in an oven), which allows you to cook food faster and evenly roast larger pieces of meat. However, the covers also have a disadvantage - more harmful substances contained in the smoke settle on the food.
The so-called Gypsy grillsin which the grate is hung on a simple three-legged structure and freely hangs over the hearth.
Sheet metal grills, although the cheapest, easy to disassemble and light (which makes them easy to transport) unfortunately they are also less durable. Therefore, it is not worth buying the cheapest models that are sold in supermarkets at a price of about PLN 20. Such grills corrode easily and with frequent use, they do not have a chance to serve us for more than one season (and often turn out to be disposable). More expensive models usually have a much better anti-corrosion coating and are more durable.
Much more durable arecast iron grillsSuch a grill in the garden, even if it starts to corrode, it can be cleaned and continue to use. Cast iron grills heat up slower but also keep warm longer. Unfortunately, their advantages end there. They are more expensive than metal grills and much heavier, so they cannot be transported so comfortably and must rather be stored permanently on the plot.It is also worth noting that cast iron grills are much harder (they do not bend and deform as easily as metal ones), and therefore more prone to cracking as a result of impacts. It also does not help with their transportation. However, as devices remaining on the plot permanently, they work perfectly and can serve many years.
The above-mentionedcharcoal grillshave some disadvantages. It can take a long time to light a barbecue like this, and your hands will get stained with charcoal. That is whygas grillsFiring up is a matter of a few seconds. The dishes prepared on them are much he althier than those on charcoal grills - the fat from the meats does not burn, but flows down through special troughs. "
How to build a barbecue in the garden
The real decoration of the plot can be a stone grill, built permanently. Some of these grills can be beautiful elements of small garden architecture. However, in order tobuild a barbecue in your garden yourselfyou need to have some knowledge about it.
We start by choosing the right place for such a grill. It would be best if it was a quiet place and not too close to other structures, especially wooden and flammable ones. Let's also think about the fact that the smoke from our grill does not disturb the neighbors on the plot next door.The grill stand in the gardenmust be hardened, and if the plot area is sloped, the place for the grill must also be properly leveled.
Frost-resistant materials, such as concrete blocks, must be used for construction and silicate, clinker bricks and natural stones, which we build with a cement-lime mortar. Materials resistant to high temperature must be used for the elements of the furnace that will heat up from the fire. Clinker bricks will work well here.
You also have to consider whether we will build aopen grill , orgrill with a hoodThe open grill is of course it's easier to do. Such a structure consists of a hearth, surrounded on three sides by walls.The smoke from such a furnace comes out freely and even with slight gusts of wind, we cannot control it. Therefore, it is worth the effort to build a grill with a hood. In addition to its practical significance, such a grill is also simply more interesting. If we equip it with a sufficiently high chimney, the escaping smoke will quickly lift it into the air, away from the feast.Place a table and a bench near the grill, which will facilitate the preparation and consumption of dishes.
Barbecue in the garden
Garden barbecue accessories
Unfortunately, the purchase of thegarden grilldoes not end there. You need a few more accessories and something for kindling.
Charcoal is the best material for the hearth. It gives the grilled food its distinctive flavor and aroma. When buying, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the pieces of coal are not too small. The calorific value of charcoal is also an important parameter.Unfortunately, it is rarely displayed on the packaging. Therefore, it is best to buy a small trial quantity the first time and then stick to the chosen brand.
Apart from charcoal, you can also use ground wood briquettes. Unfortunately, dishes grilled over briquettes do not acquire such an aroma as in the case of charcoal. On the other hand, briquettes catch fire more easily. That is why it is worth using them for the start. When they have a white coating, put charcoal on them.
Special kindling is used to light the grill. Under no circumstances should flammable materials such as kerosene, petrol or spirit be used! The vapors from these substances are poisonous and their use often results in an explosion. It is very easy to get injured and get burned, which we hear about on TV or read in the press from time to time. It is better not to provoke a tragedy.If you want the process of meat preparation to run smoothly, you should also prepare a set of spatulas and tongs for turning and gripping the meat, as well as aluminum foil trays.
How to prepare food on the grill in the garden
- You can grill meat, poultry, fish or not very juicy vegetables. It is worth making sure that the pieces of meat or vegetables placed on the grill are of a similar size. Fish and vegetables are best to be baked on aluminum foil or in special baskets.
- It is good to marinate the meat before baking. If time is short, 30 minutes is enough. However, we will get a fuller taste by soaking the meat in the marinade for a few hours. The marinade can be based on olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, spices and herbs. By marinating, the meat will gain flavor, it will become more tender and it will not require such a long baking.
- If you want a dish to have a crispy crust, the so-called glazing. For this purpose, a sugar coating is used, which under the influence of high temperature caramelizes and creates a crispy crust. Unfortunately - this procedure makes the dishes tastier but also less he althy.
- Put the meat on the grate when the briquettes glow and white ash appears. Do not bake food over an open fire.
- If the melting fat drips onto the hearth, substances harmful to he alth are released. That is why meat should be placed on an aluminum foil tray. Another way is to move the charcoal sideways, right next to the sides of the grill bowl.
- Do not bake meat and other products for too long. Grilling for too long makes the food dry and difficult to digest. They also lose their nutritional value. In excessively parched, sometimes even charred parts of the meat, harmful substances accumulate. To check that the meat is sufficiently well done, simply press down on the center of the piece of meat with the spoon handle. If the meat is elastic and returns to its original shape immediately, it should still be heated. If, on the other hand, it slowly folds back and the cavity remains, you can eat it.
- Immediately after grilling, the grate must be cleaned of burnt fat and food residues.Throw away the unburned coal. It should not be used for the next grilling as it accumulates harmful toxins that will be released the next time it is used. Cleaning the grill immediately after using it is easier than removing any dried-on residue before using it again.
I hope these tips will be helpful for beginner barbecue enthusiasts in the garden. Enjoy your meal!
