Learn fire
Techniques
The fire cooking methods that underpin good BBQ — understood properly.
Difficulty
Heat source
Beginner
Acid balancing (fixing flat food)
Acid balancing is a simple yet powerful technique to brighten and sharpen flavours in your cooking. When food tastes dull or flat, adding acid can lift the overall taste without relying on salt or spice. It is essential for achieving clean, fresh flavours in everyday BBQ and fire-cooked dishes.
Beginner
Adding smoke on a gas grill
Gas grills do not naturally produce smoke flavour, but you can introduce it by using wood chips or chunks placed in a smoker box or foil packet. This method allows you to enjoy the taste of smoked food without the complexity of charcoal or wood fire. It is a straightforward way to elevate your everyday grilling with subtle, clean smoke notes.
Beginner
Basting and mopping
Basting and mopping are techniques used to add moisture, fat, and flavour to food during cooking. They help maintain a supple surface and enhance the development of a rich, well-balanced bark. When done correctly, these methods elevate the final texture and taste without compromising the seasoning.
Beginner
Bbq sauce basics (quick)
Quick BBQ sauce is a straightforward blend of sweet, acid, salt, and spice that enhances smoky flavours without overpowering them. Mastering this balance is essential to complement your BBQ rather than mask it. It is a versatile addition that can be used as a glaze or a dipping sauce.
Beginner
Beer can cooking
Beer can cooking involves placing a half-full beer can inside a whole chicken to roast it vertically over indirect heat. This method steams the cavity gently while crisping the skin outside, resulting in moist meat and even cooking. It is a straightforward technique that elevates everyday BBQ with minimal fuss.
Beginner
Blanching and shocking greens
Blanching and shocking are quick cooking techniques that preserve the vibrant colour and texture of greens. Blanching softens vegetables just enough while shocking immediately halts the cooking process, locking in freshness and preventing overcooking. This method is essential for prepping bright, tender greens that can be served immediately or finished later.
Beginner
Blending and pureeing (smooth sauces)
Blending and pureeing are essential prep techniques for creating smooth, stable sauces and marinades quickly. Mastering texture control and temperature management ensures emulsions hold and flavours balance perfectly. This method unlocks vibrant, clean flavours in everyday BBQ cooking.
Beginner
Broiler/grill finishing (uk oven grill)
Broiler or grill finishing uses the intense direct heat from your oven’s grill element to quickly brown and crisp the surface of food. It is an excellent technique for adding texture and setting glazes when outdoor grilling is not an option. This method brings a professional finish to dishes with minimal fuss and time.
Beginner
Building a vinaigrette
Building a vinaigrette is the quickest way to elevate vegetables and salads with bright, balanced flavours. Mastering the ratio of acid to oil, along with seasoning, transforms simple ingredients into a versatile dressing. It is an essential skill for clean, whole-food cooking over fire or any kitchen setup.
Intermediate
Butter basting
Butter basting is a technique that intensifies flavour and promotes even browning by spooning melted butter and aromatics over your protein. It transforms simple cuts into something special with a rich, glossy finish. This finishing step elevates everyday cooking without adding fuss.
Intermediate
Carryover cooking
Carryover cooking is the process where food continues to cook after it is removed from the heat source. Understanding this phenomenon is essential to avoid overcooking, especially with thick cuts like roasts and steaks. Mastering carryover ensures perfectly cooked, juicy results every time.
Beginner
Char management and banking coals
Char management and banking coals is the foundation of effective heat control on a BBQ. By arranging your fuel to create distinct hot and cool zones, you gain precision and consistency in cooking. This technique simplifies managing flare-ups and ensures every cook is repeatable and reliable.
Beginner
Charring greens (tenderstem, spring greens)
Charring greens like Tenderstem and spring greens over high heat adds a smoky depth and caramelised sweetness while preserving their natural crunch. This quick technique transforms simple vegetables into a vibrant, flavour-packed side. A finishing splash of acid lifts the dish, balancing the char and making it a versatile addition to any meal.
Intermediate
Clean smoke vs dirty smoke
Smoke quality is crucial for flavour in BBQ cooking. Clean smoke delivers a sweet, subtle taste that enhances your food, while dirty smoke creates bitterness and an unpleasant ashy flavour. Understanding how to produce clean smoke elevates your cooking and avoids ruining your dishes.
Beginner
Compound butter
Compound butter is a simple yet powerful way to add concentrated flavour and richness to dishes. It elevates everyday meals by delivering a clean, satisfying finish without overpowering the main ingredients. Used thoughtfully, it balances richness with brightness for a well-rounded taste.
Intermediate
Cooking in embers
Cooking in embers is a traditional fire-cooking method that uses the residual heat of glowing coals to gently cook food. This technique allows for even, consistent heat without direct flame, enhancing flavour and texture. It is essential for achieving that authentic smoky taste while maintaining control over cooking intensity.
Beginner
Cooking on cast iron (bbq + kitchen)
Cooking on cast iron delivers superior contact browning that BBQ grates cannot achieve. It offers precise heat control and excellent heat retention, making it ideal for searing and caramelising a variety of foods. This technique elevates everyday BBQ and kitchen cooking by creating rich flavours and textures.
Intermediate
Deglazing and pan sauces
Deglazing is the process of lifting the caramelised bits, known as fond, from the base of a hot pan by adding liquid. This technique transforms those concentrated flavours into a rich, fast sauce that elevates any dish. It is essential for turning simple seared meats or vegetables into restaurant-quality meals with minimal effort.
Beginner
Direct heat grilling
Direct heat grilling involves cooking food straight over the fire, delivering speed, vibrant colour, and crisp edges. It is the most straightforward BBQ method, ideal for quick meals, but requires vigilance due to intense heat and flare-ups. Mastering this technique ensures perfectly cooked food with a satisfying char.
Beginner
Dry brining (salt ahead)
Dry brining is the simple process of salting meat ahead of cooking to enhance flavour and texture. It helps the salt penetrate deeply, improving seasoning, moisture retention, and surface drying for superior browning. This technique is straightforward but transforms everyday BBQ into something far more satisfying.
Intermediate
Ember roasting
Ember roasting is a traditional fire-cooking technique that involves cooking food directly on glowing embers rather than open flames. This method imparts a deep, smoky flavour and a unique texture, making it a prized skill for any BBQ enthusiast. Mastering ember roasting allows you to cook with minimal equipment while achieving exceptional results.
Intermediate
Emulsifying dressings
Emulsifying dressings is the process of combining oil and water-based ingredients into a smooth, stable mixture. This technique creates glossy, clingy dressings that coat salads and vegetables evenly, enhancing flavour and texture. Mastering emulsification elevates simple dressings beyond separated puddles of oil and vinegar.
Beginner
Finish in oven (hybrid method)
Finish in Oven is a hybrid BBQ technique that combines the flavour and colour from the grill with the precision and reliability of the oven. It allows you to develop authentic BBQ taste while ensuring your food is cooked perfectly through. This method is ideal for busy cooks who want great results without the stress of constant monitoring.
Beginner
Food processor prep (chop/shred)
The food processor is an essential tool for speeding up prep work by efficiently chopping, shredding, and blending ingredients. It excels at producing consistent textures for slaws, salsas, and dressings, making side dishes quicker and easier to assemble. Mastering this technique saves time without sacrificing quality.