Lockdown restrictions are finally lifting, with three households, or up to six people from multiple households, now permitted to meet up in private gardens. This no doubt means that we will be eating outdoors and grilling more this year, but which foods should you choose to cook for the perfect barbecue feast?
Alliance Online Ireland has put together a list of five foods that are best excluded from your barbecue menu — and some of them are quite surprising.
1. Burgers and steaks
While burgers are perhaps universally considered to be the ultimate al fresco food, the truth is that they are not the best to be barbecued. Grilling burgers over an open flame causes the fat to drain away, which means you lose all that delicious meaty flavour and moisture. Often, what you are left with is a dry, flavourless, patty. Similarly, lean cuts of meat such as fillet steaks may seem like a special treat, but when flame-grilled they will simply lose all their juiciness and are sure to disappoint. The same applies to pork chops.
To get your juicy barbecued meat fix, it is better to stick to marbled steaks such as ribeye or sirloin that will keep their flavour better than lean meats. Alternatively, you could use a griddle plate to cook your burgers and fillet mignon.
2. Pizza
Pizzas are usually cooked at high temperatures, which allows the dough to crisp up and ensures the toppings, including the cheese, are cooked through and delicious. This level of heat is difficult to achieve even on a lidded barbecue, plus the source is beneath the pizza which can lead to a burnt base and raw toppings. To cook your own pizzas outdoors, you are better off investing in a pizza oven that can reach higher temperatures, retain heat better, and cook the pizza from above rather than below. If you still want to cook your pizza on a regular outdoor grill, use a pizza stone to avoid the base from sticking to your grill — or falling through the gaps.
3. Bacon and oily fish
Oily foods are not the most enjoyable to barbecue, partly because they tend to fall apart easily but also because the delicious fatty oils drip away. That means bacon, or fish such as salmon, more often than not end up dry and flavourless when grilled. Most importantly, the high fat content of these foods may be dangerous, considerably increasing the risk of fire and causing it to spread quickly. You can sometimes avoid this by cooking your fatty foods in aluminium foil, however foil can tear easily and the fat can still leak out. The best method of cooking oily food is to prepare it beforehand on a griddle or in a frying pan.
4. Shish kebabs
Shish kebabs and skewers are another favourite for most people, but there are a few reasons why they are not brilliant to be barbecued. Most kebab recipes include threading meat or fish onto skewers with accompanying veggies, but the trouble is that all these different components cook at different temperatures. As a result, you risk serving undercooked meat, which can lead to food poisoning, or burnt and inedible vegetables. If you want to include shish kebabs in your barbecue menu, it is recommended that you grill proteins and vegetables on separate skewers so they can both be cooked to perfection.
5. Glazed, coated, and marinated foods
Many flavourful coatings can actually be dangerous over an open flame. Basting sauces containing lots of sugar, alcohol, or oily garlic will burn surprisingly fast and can even catch fire, putting you at risk of burns. Flour and other powdered flavourings are made of very fine particles, which means that even dry coated foods can burn and ignite quickly. So, be careful using homemade marinades and coatings, keep bottles and containers away from the barbecue, and always follow fire safety guidance when grilling. Remember to keep a bucket of water handy (or sand for electric grills ) and never leave a barbecue unattended.
"It's exciting to think that we'll be able to see our friends and loved ones again soon in the comfort of our own gardens, and just in time for barbecue season," said John Girvan, manager of Alliance Online Ireland. "If you're taking the opportunity to dust off your outdoor grill, it's important to note that there are a few foods that don't barbecue well, and others that can be downright dangerous. So, it's important to think carefully when choosing your menu to keep everyone safe and well-fed.
"As well as avoiding troublesome foods, make sure you always follow food preparation and fire safety guidelines, and research the best ingredients and cooking methods to use on your outdoor grill. You could also look into handy tools that can help make your barbecue food the best it can be, such as griddle pans and thermometers. With a little bit of prep, your barbecue garden party is sure to be a hit."
