Houston Barbeque: 5 Tips for Better Grilling

Barbeque is a staple of Texas cuisine, but few people prepare barbeque meals in an authentic fashion. Barbeque is fairly easy to prepare, but it's also fairly easy to grill improperly. The following 5 tips will help ensure that your next barbeque endeavor is a success.

1. Keep it Hot:

Preheat your gas or propane grill to high, or build a 2 to 3 Mississippi fire in a charcoal grill (place your hand 3 inches over the grate and count "1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi..." By the time you reach 3 Mississippi, the heat should cause you to snap your hand away).

2. Keep it Clean:

Use a stiff wire brush to scrub the bars of the grate. This extra step will remove excess debris and help minimize sticking. A crumpled wad of aluminum foil can be used in place of a grill brush.

3. Keep it Lubricated:

Using a paper towel folded into a small paid and dipped in oil, rub it over the grills of the bar plate with a pair of tongs. One other option is to lift the grill plate off the grill and spray it generously with spray oil. Oiling the grill has two benefits: less sticking and restaurant style grill marks. *Note: Never spray oil directly onto a lit grill - this could cause a hair-singing flare-up.

4. Smoke Properly:

No, we don't mean out of a pipe. Smoking refers to indirect grilling, which is typically done at a low temperature (225 to 275 degrees). This is often achieved in an offset barrel smoker (separate fire box and smoke chamber) or an upright water smoker. The keys to proper smoking: low, slow, and smoky. Smoking works great on brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, tofu (the other other white meat), and salmon.

5. Know Your Grills:

Charcoal grills have a tightly fitted dome for indirect grilling. Front loading charcoal grills are ideal for smoking large amounts of food. These grills are a bit fussy, but they tend to be more versatile and offer a smokier, more authentic flavor.

Gas grills should have two heat zones so that you have the option of indirect grilling. They also come equipped with a built-in gas gauge and thermometer. Gas grills are ideal for cooking small, thinly sliced meats such as steaks, chops, chicken breast, vegetables, and bread.

If you'd rather forgo the hassle of at home grilling, Hickory Barn Bar-B-Q in Houston has been serving exquisite barbeque meals since 1952. In addition to their affordable, savory barbeque meals, they also offer a delectable selection of sides, salads, and homemade desserts.

For barbeque catering services, the restaurant's barbeque menu starts at $7.00 per/person and delivery is free for groups of 50 or more.

Additional Resources
Barbecue Restaurant: An Historic Houston Establishment

Houston Barbeque Restaurant: A Local Gem

Authentic Texas Bar-B-Que Restaurant in Houston

Houston Barbecue Restaurant Recipe