bbqpros, Author at Ashton BBQ and Grill Pros

Protect Your Grill with a Proper Grill Care Routine

February 28, 2023 by bbqpros

Do you love a good barbecue? Is grilling one of your favorite ways to enjoy a hot meal? If so, you want to keep your grill in good shape. Nothing is worse than preparing an entire meal for the grill only to find your grill won’t start. Fortunately, it’s easy to prevent a dinner disaster by maintaining a proper grill care routine. What exactly is a grill care routine? Let’s see what’s involved.

Clean After Cooking

The #1 thing you should do to protect your grill is to clean it after cooking on it. So many people leave their grill dirty after using it, it’s shocking. However, leaving your grill dirty is the first step in a cycle of neglect. If you want to keep a proper grill care routine and keep your grill in good shape, show it some love by cleaning it.

Cleaning your grill is easy once you get used to it. Simply buy a metal brush, let any food on the rack cook off, then get to scrubbing at it. After removing the charred food from the rack, empty all of the ashes and burnt droppings from the base. Cleaning your grill keeps small critters from trying to get inside to get to the foods they smell. Plus, it keeps your food tasting great because each meal is cooked on fresh bars.

Oil Your Rack

Speaking of fresh bars, when you’re done cleaning your grill rack, you need to oil it. Simply get out a brush like you would use to paint on some barbecue sauce, and brush on some cooking oil. This oil keeps the pours in the rack metal moistened and sealed. This prevents rust and also ensures food cooked on your grill doesn’t taste like metal.

Cover Your Grill

Next up, protecting your grill from the elements. If you don’t have a grill cover, or something that can work as one, you should buy one. Covering your grill keeps out moisture, preventing rust. It keeps out wind, preventing erosion. Furthermore, it discourages bugs and small animals from getting inside your grill to hide.

While storing your grill in your garage or shed may do a fair job at protecting it from weather and animals, a cover still helps. If you’re keeping your grill on a deck or patio, a cover is 100% necessary. Otherwise, your grill will break down much faster than you want it to. It’s a very expensive kind of neglect.

Always Store Properly in Winter

Likewise, when winter comes, you should always move your grill inside somewhere and disconnect any gas. The cold weather of winter is really bad for the more technical components of the grill. Leaving your grill outside years after year can have it wearing down way faster than it should. Instead, store your grill in your garage or shed. Better yet, bring it inside and put it in the basement if possible. The more temperate the conditions, the better for it. Additionally, you should always disconnect any gas from your grill when storing it, for safety.

Professional Grill Repair

If your grill is looking a bit worse for wear, professional grill cleaning or repair may be the answer. Fixing the wear and tear yourself may be an undesirable pain. However, having someone else get the job done can give you a fresh start, allowing you to begin a grill care routine to prevent future damage. Give us a call at Ashton BBQ Pros if you have any questions about our services.

How to Make Grilling a Romantic Valentine’s Experience

January 31, 2023 by bbqpros

If you’re looking to celebrate your Valentine’s Day in a way that’s intimate and personal, skip the date night out and stay in. Many people believe they need to go out to a fancy restaurant for Valentine’s Day. Others think they need to spend hundreds on a fancy hotel room. However, nothing beats putting in the effort to make home a special venue. Cleaning up around the house, decorating appropriately, and cooking something homemade really can’t be beat. In fact, grilling can even be romantic. Want to know how to make grilling a romantic Valentine’s Day experience? BBQ Pros have you covered.

Cook Something Light

One of the reasons barbecuing doesn’t sound very romantic is that most barbecued foods are pretty heavy. They’re messy, greasy, and don’t exactly make us feel our best. However, cooking on a grill and even using barbecue sauce aren’t inherently at fault here.

If you want to make grilling romantic for Valentine’s Day, you can absolutely do so without ruining the mood. Simply cook something light and easy to eat. White meat chicken is a great way to keep the meal easier on the stomach. Therefore, it’s less likely to create any unsavory interruptions during any… later activities.

Avoid Messy Foods

If getting your hands sticky and covered in barbecue sauce isn’t your idea of romance, avoid messy foods. Ensure whatever you cook can be eaten with utensils. A good ol’ steak is one way to go. Or, if you want to do something a bit more original, try grilling some chicken and veggie skewers. Then, when they’re cooked, remove everything from the skewer and put it neatly onto a plate. From there, it can be eaten with a fork and you can avoid a messy face.

If you’re looking for some great sides to go with something grilled, a steak is paired nicely will grilled corn, which can also be sliced off the cob and eaten with a spoon. If you’ve already got veggies covered via skewers or something similar, making a pot of rice is an easy addition. Make a bed of rice on each plate to pile the grilled goods onto.

Don’t Break a Sweat (Unless You’re into That)

If you and your partner find romance in cleaning up and looking your best, avoid overworking while grilling. Getting sweaty over a dirty grill isn’t a black-tie move. There are two ways to avoid dirtying up while cooking:

Ensure everything is pre-prepped. Trim and dice chicken ahead of time. Cut veggies ahead of time. Even put them all on the skewers ahead of time. In the time after you’ve showered and dressed for your night in, all you should have left is pulling something out of the fridge, putting it on the grill, and sitting down to wait for it.
Alternatively, cook everything ahead of time and put it somewhere to keep it warm while you clean up for dinner. This works well for many dishes, just make sure not to plate it all and set it out to get cold. Keep the plates in a warm oven, cover them with plate covers, or refrain from plating until you’re ready to eat. Just don’t leave meat on a hot grill or it will dry out and overcook, even if you’ve turned it off. That extra cool down time is enough to overcook everything.

Don’t Forget Dessert

Lastly, don’t forget a romantic dessert for your Valentine’s date. Even if you aren’t a dessert chef, you can still buy something quality to surprise your partner with. Some of the best romantic desserts we can recommend:

Chocolate mousse
A warm, chocolate brownie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Apple pie or crumble with vanilla ice cream
Chocolate fondue or dipped strawberries (or other kinds of fruit)
Homemade chocolate chip cookies, still warm from the oven

Why Is My Grill Peeling Inside?

December 8, 2022 by bbqpros

Owning a grill means a lot of happy evenings gathered with friends and family. However, upkeeping a grill can come with some real head-scratchers. For example, you might find the inside of your grill is peeling. What does it mean? Is your grill getting damaged? Let’s find out why your grill is peeling inside and how to fix it.

Is a Grill Peeling Inside Cause for Concern?

If you see the inside of your grill peeling, you might be quite alarmed! Is your grill sustaining damage from the heat of the flames? Is this a vital lamination peeling off? Worry not. The peeling isn’t from the grill; it’s from the food! That is, your grill doesn’t have any paint or lamination on the inside. The stuff you see peeling – that looks remarkably similar to paint or sealant – is actually carbonized grease. It’s pretty harmless.

What Causes a Grill Peeling Inside?

So, carbonized grease: what causes it? Well, while you’re grilling, a lot of smoke and fumes collect in the lid of your grill. In the smoke from your cooking food, there’s aerosolized grease and carbon. Over time – and many great cookouts – your grill forms a layer of this grease and carbon, and the two harden together. As they harden and repeatedly cook, the grease carbonizes. The layer can begin to bubble or peel.

While this layer of bubbling, peeling, carbonized grease may look and feel like flaking paint, it’s not nearly as dangerous. It’s actually completely harmless, even if it gets in your food. Though, your food may not taste as nice with charred grease flakes added to it for seasoning!

Removing Carbonized Grease

If you’re not a fan of that crispy, flaky layer on your grill lid, you’re in luck. Carbonized grease can be removed fairly easily with a little elbow grease.

Using a steel-bristled brush, scrub any loose bits of carbonized grease from the inside of your grill lid. You should be able to remove most of it with this brush alone.
If the brush isn’t cutting it, get yourself a scraping tool and get a bit more aggressive. There may be some particularly tricky spots that you have to fight 1-on-1.
Finally, to finish the task, use some grill grate cleaning fluid and give your grill lid a final scrub. This will loosen any remainders and collect any of the carbon dust left on the lid.

Full Service Grill Maintenance

If you’re not finding that bubbly, flaky mess to be particularly appetizing, but don’t find the work to be either, get some assistance from the pros. Ashton BBQ Pros do full service grill maintenance and can come right to your home to get it done. Your grill will be in perfect working order – sans grease flakes – in no time. Just give us a call and we’ll work out a good time to pay you a visit.

How to Successfully Grill Vegetables

November 24, 2022 by bbqpros

Grilling is a really fun way to cook your dinner, and it tastes amazing! But, there’s more to grilling than burger patties and hotdogs. In fact, you can use your grill to improve almost any kind of dinner food imaginable. In fact, you can even grill vegetables to go with your main course. The problem is, grilling vegetables isn’t that easy for people inexperienced with them. How do you successfully grill vegetables? Let BBQ Pros impart some advice.

Know Your Vegetable

The first step is knowing your vegetable. Each vegetable cooks differently. You can’t forget that when moving them to the grill.

Firstly, you’ll need to consider that not every vegetable can be tossed onto a grill so easily. Some will require different preparation to grill.

Likewise, you’ll also need to ensure you keep cook times in mind if cooking different kinds of vegetables for the same meal. For example, carrots take a lot longer to grill than tomatoes (which we’ll call a vegetable for the purposes of this article.)

Don’t Grill Too Hot

One of the leading rules to successfully grill vegetables is not to grill too hot. The key to grilling most vegetables is to grill slow and steady. If you keep your temperature too high while grilling vegetables, you’re liable to char the outside and leave the inside crunchy and uncooked. This is especially true for things like carrots or potatoes. Keeping the temperature on medium or low will give the inside of the vegetables time to cook without burning the outside in the process.

Slice Your Veggies

If you want to grill something like carrots or potatoes, you’ll have better success by slicing them. Any kind of hard, root vegetable will take a long time to cook through if left whole. Cut the cook time in half by cutting the veggie in half.

Use Skewers Where Necessary

To successfully grill juicier vegetables, like bell peppers or tomato, you might want to use a skewer. This is great for combining different flavors. Plus, then you can throw some pieces of chicken on there to go with your veggies.

To create some successful skewers, slice up your bell peppers, then bend them into a loop and stick the skewer through the ends. If you want to infuse your chicken with flavor, you can even stick one end of a slice of bell pepper, then a piece of chicken, then wrap the other end of the bell pepper around the chicken to skewer it.

Skewers make small pieces of food easier to cook. Then, you don’t have to chomp down on a quarter of a bell pepper, but you also won’t lose small slices to the fire.

Get Your Barbecue Repaired

If you’re a huge fan of eating barbecue, but your grill isn’t up to it, have it repaired by your neighborhood grill professionals. Ashton BBQ and Grill Pros are here to help in your time of need. Just give us a call and we’ll make sure you’re eating barbecue in no time!

The Best Foods to Grill for a Winter Barbecue

October 31, 2022 by bbqpros

Looking for an excuse to have friends over this winter break? Holidays aren’t the only way to lure people over – everyone loves a good barbecue! In winter? Sure! Winter may not seem like the season for grilling but, with the right consideration for tastes, it can be just as good as summer. So, pull out your grill, give it a good scrub, and get to work on these fantastic foods for a winter barbecue!

Chestnuts

You’ve heard the one about roasting chestnuts on an open fire, right? Well, if you’ve got a charcoal grill but no fireplace, there’s no better place to roast them. Break out the chestnuts, pour them onto the grate above your open charcoal fire, and get yourself a-roasting. Roasted chestnuts are great for snacking on or for crushing and putting into baked goods or salads.

Winter Salad

Speaking of salads, if you want a filling winter salad, here are some grilled goods you can use to bulk it up.

Crushed, roasted chestnuts. These protein-packed nuts will provide you with energy to last the evening.
Grilled veggies. Give your salad some extra smoky flavor by grilling some tomatoes, asparagus, artichoke, bell peppers, or acorn squash to go on it. Just be sure not to overdo it – you don’t want your veggies mushy!
Sliced pork chop or chicken. Grilled meat is a great way to bulk up your salad. Slice it ahead of time and cook it quickly. Or, wrap it, whole, in foil and then slice it after. You can even do classic barbecue chicken if you want a bit of that classic barbecue flavor on your salad.

Foil Packs

Looking for something special to make for one of those chilly winter dinners? Gather your family and friends into your kitchen to make custom foil packs. Start by making a buffet of uncooked foods to choose from. Stuffing, pieces of seasoned meat, and chopped vegetables are fantastic choices. Lay out a couple layers of foil for each participant and have them pick out exactly the foods they want. Once each pack is filled, it can be closed up tight and taken out to the grill.

Instead of grilling your foil packs on the rack, spread out your charcoal coals and nestle those packs right down in them. Be sure to turn them partway through cooking and use a meat thermometer to ensure all meat is cooked safely. Then, break open those packs and enjoy.

Pork, Apples, and Cranberries

Did you know pork goes fabulously with apples or cranberries? The tang of the fruit pairs with the meat perfectly. If you’re partial to pork, you can’t get better than grilling it with one of these delicious fruits. In fact, if you want to grill them to perfection, take a page out of the foil pack book.

By wrapping a piece of pork chop with some apple slices or cranberries in a piece of foil, you hold in the juices. The juices from the fruit will soak into the meat, filling it with a sweetness that it doesn’t have otherwise. Plus, if you throw in a couple slices of lemon, the acid from the citrus will make the meat more tender.

Want a side to go with this delicious entree? Plate it on a bed of stuffing and you’ll have one memorable meal.

Repair an Old Grill Instead of Replacing It

September 30, 2022 by bbqpros

When a grill gets old, it can begin to rust, break down, and stop working. The instinctual response to this kind of deterioration might be to just buy a new grill. However, a grill is a simple piece of equipment. Most of it is just a big hunk of metal. Therefore, save yourself a lot of money and invest in repair. Here’s why you should repair an old grill instead of replacing it.

Grill Costs Are Inflated

One of the main reasons why it’s more economical to repair a grill than to replace it is that grill prices are much higher than the cost of the materials they’re made from. So, once you have one, you’ve already paid your dues getting the bones of your grill. It’s much cheaper to do maintenance on it by replacing broken parts and sprucing up the appearance than shelling out for an all new one.

Grills Are Simple to Repair

When it comes down to it, a grill is mostly the metal frame that holds a few key pieces of equipment. If your grill is looking worse for wear, 90% of changing that is giving the metal frame a tune-up. Removing rust, recoating the metal, and ensuring the parts housed in that metal body are still working properly.

Make Your Grill Beautiful Again

If your grill is looking pretty unsightly, it’s time to call Ashton BBQ Pros. We can do a complete refurbishment of your grill and bring it back to looking like new. Our full-service refurbishment cleaning means bringing your grill back to life entirely. We remove 85%-95% of dirt, grease, and carbon buildup from your grill. This is a large part of what hurts the appearance of an old grill.

Additionally, we paint your grill. All of those parts of your grill’s exterior that used to be shiny and beautiful can look that way again. Chipping paint, grime, and rust can really ruin the grill exterior’s appearance. Giving it a new coating of paint can do a lot to revitalize it.

Furthermore, we polish your grill. Polishing your grill will bring out the shine in all of the metal parts, making it look like new again, even on the inside.

Repair an Old Grill in Toronto

While the appearance of a grill is an important part of feeling like it’s doing alright, the actual guts of the grill are even more important. Our full-service refurbishment includes an inspection. If there are parts that aren’t working properly, we’ll repair or replace them. Because servicing grills is our whole job here at Ashton BBQ Pros, we have parts for most major grill types and brands. Therefore, our repair services are quick and efficient.

Give us a call today if you have questions about our grill repair and cleaning services. We look forward to working with you and getting your grill back in shape.

Why You Should Clean Your Grill Before Storage

August 31, 2022 by bbqpros

As summer comes to a close, so does grilling season. While some of us will grill into the fall, winter will eventually arrive and force us all to put our grill away for a while. However, some people aren’t in the habit of storing their grill, or cleaning it before doing so. BBQ Pros are here to offer you some unsolicited, but very valuable, advice. Here’s why you should clean your grill before storing it.

Prevent Bacteria Growth

The same way you wouldn’t eat meat that had been sitting out for months, you shouldn’t consume old grease or other remains from the meat you’ve cooked. The reason being, bacteria really love meat and all things pertaining to meat. If you grill up some burgers and leave your grill covered in hamburger fat, that fat will harbor tons of bacteria and allow it to thrive. Leaving it to grow and thrive for months while your grill is in storage is a no-go. Clean your grill so that it’s ready to use when you pull it out again.

Stop Grime From Hardening

While bacteria growth is unpleasant to think about, it’s not likely to kill you if you’re heating your grill to hundreds of degrees fahrenheit anyway. What you will die from is regret when you take your grill out months later and find the grime on it has hardened like cement. Good luck getting it off now!

If you want to prevent your grill from being permanently coated in charred-on food, get the remains of your grill session off before putting the grill away. This is true of every night you grill, even if you aren’t putting the grill away for the winter. Just like the food on your dinner dishes, it’s much easier to get off before it’s had time to set.

Prevent Rusting

The winter is a great time for your grill to rust. It’s left alone, everything is damp, and you’ve got your back turned for the holidays. If you don’t properly clean your grill, there’s even more opportunity for it to rust, as it’s not been properly prepared.

Before storing your grill each month, you should do a deep clean, then brush the metal grate with oil to protect it from the cold and moisture. This is good practice between uses as well, as it prevents rusting. Furthermore, it will keep the grate seasoned and keep food from sticking during use.

Keep From Attracting Pests

If you think bacteria enjoy bacon grease, you can imagine how bugs and mice feel about it! Always empty the contents of your drip tray before storing your grill. The charred remains on your grate along with the grease and bits of food in the drip tray are mighty alluring to a pest. Free food in winter? Yes, please! Prevent pests from getting into your grill by removing all food particles from it.

Professional Grill Cleaning Services

If you’re ready to hang up your apron as well as your grill brush, we can do the dirty job for you! BBQ Pros offers grill cleaning services to all of Toronto. Let us know when you’re ready to turn your grill in for the winter and we’ll get it ready to store. Just give us a call and we can discuss the details.

How to Prevent Dry Barbecue When Grilling

August 1, 2022 by bbqpros

Grilling is fun for the whole family, the whole friend group, and the whole party. No matter when you decide to break out the grill, everyone is bound to have a good time. At least, they will if the barbecue turns out delicious. If you have a tendency to dry out your barbecue when grilling, BBQ Pros are here to help! Here are the keys to prevent dry barbecue when grilling this summer.

Don’t Grill Too Hot

The first thing to know to prevent dry barbecue is not to grill too hot. This may seem obvious but, if your grill is too hot, you’re more likely to dry out your barbecue while grilling. Granted, in this case, it’s the outside you’re likely to dry out, rather than the whole piece of meat. In other words, if your temp is too high, you’re going to burn your meat.

Turn that grill down, crack open a beer, and get comfortable. Grilling isn’t a race, it’s an art.

Close the Grill

If you learned how to grill by watching your dad cook burgers on an open grill, you’re going to have sorry results if you try the same technique with barbecue chicken. Because burger patties are typically pretty thin, they cook through pretty quickly. A whole chicken breast won’t cook as fast. Therefore, if you try cooking it with the grill open, the outside will cook much faster than the inside, giving you chicken thats both burnt and raw.

If you try to compensate for this by lowering the temperature significantly, you may be able to cook the chicken through, but the outer layers will end up dry and it’s still likely to burn. Instead, put the temperature on lower medium, close the grill, and let the inside fill up with heat. The consistent, surrounding heat will allow your barbecue chicken to cook through faster. Therefore, the outside won’t be overdone and the inside won’t be raw.

Run Some Tests

Doing all of this already and still ending up with dry barbecue? In that case, it all comes down to timing. Before you invite all your friends over, run some tests by cooking yourself some barbecue on an off-day.

Put a few pieces of barbecue chicken in the grill
Close the grill
Start a stopwatch (there’s one in a smartphone’s clock app)
Use your nose to guess when you think they’re getting done, then pause your timer, open the grill, and check their internal temp
If they’re not done, close the grill again and resume your stopwatch
Repeat this until they’re done
If you only had to resume their cooking a few times, knock a minute off the total cook-time since, each time you opened the grill, it had to fill with heat again
Start a second batch and test out your new presumed cook time

Improve Results

Got the hang of barbecuing juicy, tender meat now? Improve your results even further by having your grill professionally cleaned. BBQ Pros are here to help. We offer in-home service all over Toronto and we can stop by your place next. Give us a call and let us know what help you need and we can schedule a service time.

Beginner Grilling Mistakes That Are Easy to Avoid

June 30, 2022 by bbqpros

If you’re new to grilling, you’ve no doubt found yourself making a few mistakes that made your results less than you’d hoped. The good news is, there are a lot of beginner mistakes one can make when grilling. Why is this good news? Because, those beginner mistakes are actually easy to avoid. Here are some beginner grilling mistakes that are easy to avoid the next time you take dinner out to the patio.

Meat Turning Out Dry

This is one of the most common grilling mistakes and comes, most often, from the temperature being too low. As you probably know, grilling is a lot of cooking by sight. Not sure why your meat is turning out dry when it looks perfect? It’s actually one of the easiest beginner grilling mistakes to fix. Simply get your coals a bit hotter.

When your temperature is too low, you have to leave the meat on the grill longer in order to get that nice golden brown on the outside. By the time the outside looks nice and flavorful, it’s been sitting on the grill so long that the entire piece of meat has had time to dry out. All of your delicious juices have dripped right into the coals.

If you’re searching for solutions right after making this mistake, we also have some good news: your meat isn’t wasted. If you’ve grilled up some meat that’s tasty but too dry, shred it and mix it with some barbecue sauce (or something that matches what you’ve already put on it) and use it on sandwiches.

Meat That’s Raw in the Middle

This is the second most common of the beginner grilling mistakes. In fact, this one might actually be the most common. If your meat looks amazing on the outside, but you cut into it to find it raw, it’s a sign your temperature is too high. Temperature is so important when cooking.

Many people are under the mistaken impression that if the temperature is higher, you just cook it for a shorter amount of time. Likewise, they may think if the temperature is lower, you just cook it longer. This is not how cooking temperature works. You have to get the right temperature so that the inside has enough time to cook without the outside ending up charred.

Therefore, if your meat looks great on the outside but is raw in the middle, it means the temperature was too high and it didn’t have enough time to cook. Next time, use a lower temperature. You’ll have to wait longer, but by the time your meat is looking golden on the outside, the inside will have had time to cook through.

Charcoal Won’t Light

If you’re new to charcoal grilling, you might not know exactly what you’re doing. Trying to light briquettes in the bottom of your grill isn’t necessarily the way to go. While some people may be able to hack it, it’s easier to buy yourself a charcoal tower. This is a metal cylinder with a screen in it. You fill the top with briquettes and put some paper or kindling under it. After lighting the kindling, the flame rises into the briquettes and burns long enough for them to ignite. Then they can sit there and gain heat. When they’re hot and smoldering, you dump the hot charcoal into the grill and get cookin’!

2 Grilled Chicken Recipes That Will Change Your Life

June 1, 2022 by bbqpros

Chicken is one of those foods that can really go with anything. It’s a very basic meat with a recognizable flavor which is easily added to with seasonings or accents. The problem with such an easily altered food is that the possibilities are endless. That means we have to keep searching, constantly, for the best ways to cook it. There are always new and untested recipes to try! To set your mind at ease about the generations-long search for the best chicken recipe, we’ve put together 2 of our favorites. Even better? These 2 chicken recipes are best grilled. So, break out your grill this summer and get a bit carried away the next time your local grocery store puts chicken on sale!

Grilled Lemon Chicken and Asparagus

If you’ve never had grilled lemon chicken, you’re truly missing out. Cooking any meat with lemon is a fabulous idea. The citrus from the lemon breaks down meat, leaving it melt-in-your-mouth tender – and tangy to boot!

Preparing lemon chicken means creating a marinade. This isn’t as complicated as it sounds and actually makes cooking dinner easier. In the same way crockpot cooking is appealing, marinating meat also allows you to do all the hard work early in the day. You spend a little time making the marinade, then leave the chicken to soak in it and absorb all of those delicious flavors overnight.

Cooking it later is quick: just take it out of the fridge, move the chicken from the marinade onto a plate, and carry it to a grill. Crack open a cold drink with some friends or family and let the grill work its magic.

Here’s a great recipe for grilled lemon chicken. Feel free to mess with the seasonings as you prefer them. We do recommend you stick with using thighs though. Many lemon chicken recipes use breasts, but these don’t turn out nearly as juicy or flavorful.

To grill your asparagus, just toss them on the grill, brush them with some oil, and sprinkle them with any desired salt or seasonings.

Spinach and Feta-Stuffed Chicken with Peppers

This recipe is much more a recipe of the heart. You can do it in any way you like, but here are the general instructions:

Get yourself some chicken breasts. We recommend 2 per adult.
Put one breast into a gallon storage bag, zip it shut, and use a meat mallet to flatten it. The bag will keep it from splattering chicken juice all over the kitchen, so please use it.
When flattened to about ¼ inch thick, brush the chicken with oil.
Sprinkle on desired seasonings. Oregano and salt works great.
Place a small handful of fresh spinach leaves on the surface, along with a bit of feta cheese, diced bell peppers, and chopped onion.
Roll the chicken up from one end to the other, then skewer it closed with a toothpick.
Grill chicken on medium heat until it reaches a safe internal temperature.
Optionally, grill some slices of bell pepper to serve it with as well.

The Best Side Dishes for Your Summer Barbecue

April 30, 2022 by bbqpros

Planning a barbecue for this summer? While most barbecues focus on meat as the centerpiece, we can’t forget the importance of side dishes. With the right choice of side dish, your barbecue party won’t just showcase your burger grilling skills. Instead, it will show off an exquisite knowledge of the relationship between main course and side. There’s more to it than just grabbing some potato salad from your local grocery store! Therefore, clean off your grill and check out these fantastic side dishes for your summer barbecue.

Citrus Skewers

The most important thing for a side dish isn’t for it to be dense and filling; that’s the job of the entree. Instead, a side dish is meant to compliment the entree and bring out its flavors.

If you’re planning to grill burgers for your party attendees, consider a side dish of citrus skewers. Citrus goes incredibly with burgers. The acid brings out the seasonings in the beef and helps us break down and digest fatty foods.

On your skewer, layer cherry tomatoes, chunks of pineapple, and even slices of orange. Set these skewers over a medium flame on the grill and let them get nice and tender.

If you want to add an alternative meat to the mix, you can also make some that include chunks of chicken. Chicken and citrus are iconic together. Just be sure to let the skewers cook long enough that the chicken is all the way done in the middle. Cooking the pieces of chicken halfway before skewering them can help with this and prevent the citrus from getting burned.

Grilled Shrimp

Shrimp are an all-time party favorite. However, grilling them on the barbecue is a whole different experience. The majority of people have only experienced shrimp as a convenience food. Show everyone attending your party that shrimp is more than that. With the smoky flavor of the grill cooked into it, shrimp is not just a favorite, it’s life-changing.

Making a homemade cocktail sauce to go with your shrimp is going the extra mile. Try squeezing some fresh orange and lemon juice into the sauce to add an extra fresh and citrusy kick.

Homemade Guacamole

It’s no secret that the world has gone crazy for guacamole in the past 20 years. However, that guacamole you can get from Chipotle or from the fridge in the grocery store is nothing on homemade guac. Break out the seasonings and the fresh avocados and get experimenting with homemade guacamole. Nothing will wow your guests like eating this fresh dip and experiencing guacamole like they’ve never tasted it before.

Strawberry Vinaigrette Salad

Most people don’t associate strawberries with salad. However, don’t knock it til you try it. If you can appreciate a nice vinaigrette, slice some fresh strawberries over your salad and douse it in dressing. The sweet tang of the strawberries mixed with the sour kick of the vinegar create a flavor profile like never before.

Plus, you know how we love oranges; peel some up and cut the slices into bites, adding another layer of fruity excitement to your leafy greens.

Repair Your BBQ Grill in Time for Summer Cookouts

April 1, 2022 by bbqpros

Do you have a BBQ grill that’s been benched for the past few years because it broke and you haven’t remembered to get it repaired? This is your sign to get it repaired! COVID-19 has kept most of us from grilling with friends for the past few years, but this summer can be different. Here’s why you should repair your BBQ before summer.

Grilling with Friends Is Safe

Even if you still prefer to wear a mask, we’ve learned through trial and error that meeting with people outdoors is the safest way to socialize. So long as your gathering is small and you all stay outside, there’s virtually zero risk of spreading COVID-19. So, even the most COVID-conscious of your friends and family have little to worry about from sitting on your deck for a few hours and eating some burgers.

Having a Cookout Is a Great Pick-Me-Up

We’ve been battling COVID-19 and avoiding socializing for over 2 years now. The summer warmth making the outdoors a viable meeting place means we should take advantage of it while it’s here. Use the opportunity to socialize outdoors to lift your spirits and the spirits of those around you. You would be surprised how long a single cookout can sustain you when you’ve barely seen any of your friends in months.

Prevent Worse Damage

If your BBQ is broken or something is keeping it from working, leaving it unrepaired can lead to further damage. Using your grill fairly regularly allows you to regularly assess the state it’s in. If you keep the grill in a garage or shed and never look at it because it’s not currently usable, there’s a good chance you won’t notice if something else goes wrong.

To keep your grill from getting worse, repair your BBQ grill sooner rather than later. This can save you money in the long run when you don’t have to completely replace it.

Get Help from BBQ Pros

BBQ Pros are Toronto’s leading BBQ and grill experts. We can have your grill back in working order in no time. Plus, if it’s been a while since you last used it and you packed it up in a hurry when it broke, it might not have gotten cleaned properly. Our team at BBQ Pros can do a full clean of your BBQ while repairing it. If your BBQ has seen significantly better days, we can also do a full detail clean. This involves removing rust and painting over chipped parts of a glossy grill to restore it to like-new condition.

Give us a call if you want to repair your BBQ before summer arrives. We look forward to spreading some cheer in the form of a good old fashioned cookout.

Prevent Long-Term Damage When Using Your Grill

February 28, 2022 by bbqpros

Maintaining a grill is something many people don’t realize they should be doing. However, it’s necessary to do maintenance on your grill to keep it in good shape. If you use a grill without upkeep for years, it will quickly fall into disrepair. Most people spend a pretty penny on buying their grill. Don’t waste your investment by letting your grill accrue damage from lack of upkeep. Here’s how you can prevent long-term damage when using your grill.

Clean Your Grill

First and foremost, you need to be cleaning your grill after every use. This is a vital part of keeping it in good shape. If you leave charred-on food and residue on your grate, it will become impossible to clean and may even damage the metal it’s made of. Likewise, after each use, be sure to empty your drip pan (the place where all of your oil and food drippings collect).

Cleaning your grill can involve a lot more than just cleaning up immediately after use. Plus, if you’ve been leaving it uncleaned for a while, trying to get it back to like-new condition is going to be rough. Rely on BBQ Pros to get it cleaned up for you in no time. Our professional grill cleaning services are for everyone – including you.

Oil Your Grate

One thing most people don’t realize they should be doing is oiling the grate of the grill. Before and after each use, coat your grate in vegetable oil. You can do this by pouring some vegetable oil on a paper towel and using tongs to apply it to the bars of the grate.

When applied before use, this oil minimizes food sticking, making it easier to clean later and requiring less force. Less force to clean means your grate lasts longer. When applied after use, this oil protects the metal of your grate from weathering and such.

Protect Your Grill from the Weather

Speaking of weather, your grill isn’t made to withstand it. Grills may be made for use outdoors, but that doesn’t mean they’re good friends with the rain or wind. Metal and water aren’t exactly made for each other.

When you’re done using your grill, let it cool down and then put a waterproof cover over it. This will protect it from rusting as well as prevent outdoor debris from getting caught in it.

Store Your Grill Properly in Winter

What many people don’t know is that the grill can’t sit out all winter. This is a great way for the it to sustain damage. When the temperature drops toward freezing, remove the propane tank and store it somewhere at room temperature. Cover the end of the connecting hose with masking tape or something else easily removed. This will prevent bugs or small animals from trying to get into it.

When the propane has been disconnected, the grill should be moved somewhere more sheltered from the elements, like the garage or a shed.

Winter Grill Maintenence Tips

January 31, 2022 by bbqpros

During the winter, your grill isn’t likely to see a lot of action. While you might be the exception to the rule, grill maintenance changes slightly during the winter season. To address these changes, check out the below list of winter grill maintenance tips.

Clean Your Grill

Knowing how to clean your grill is vital if you want to keep it around long term. For the winter, you want to make sure that your grill is clean, saving you a lot of potential winter headaches.

The easiest way to do this is to clean your grill is through high heat. Keeping the grill at a higher temperature will enable you to loosen the caked-on grease or food residue.

After heating the grill, you can take a large wire brush for cleaning. Soapy water using anti-grease dish soap is usually your best bet for removing residue.

If you have a charcoal grill, you will need to sacrifice a few briquettes to get to that high temperature. If the grill needs some additional love, you might need to call professional cleaners.

Prep Your Grill for Storage

Prepping your outdoor grill for winter storage changes depending on your grill’s fuel source. However, all grills benefit from having a coat of cooking spray on the grates to prevent rust and a grill cover for further protection.

If you have an electric grill, there is likely a connected battery. You might want to store your batteries in such a way that they are disconnected from the central unit.

Those with a gas line or burners will want to wrap them in plastic. Insects tend to use these natural sources of warmth and oil as a means to survive through the winter, leading to unfortunate discoveries when spring returns.

Check your grill’s warranty if you want to use anti-corrosion or polish material. Many grill warranties prohibit the use of this sort of cleaning material. You can use these specialized cleaners to discourage rust if they don’t.

Always be sure to remove all potential moisture before storing your grill over the winter. The dampness will lead to greater chances of rust and corrosion.

Make Any Necessary Grill Repairs

Before you store your grill over the winter, now is the best time to check it for necessary repairs. After all, it is off-season, making it the best time to manage any problems.

Pay special attention to your grill’s hoses (assuming you have a gas grill). You can expect the burners for the same thing.

If your grill is still under warranty, you might be able to get the repair done free of charge. Just remember that guarantees and insurance are different, meaning you are only covered in specific situations.

Conclusion – Storing Your Grill Over The Winter

After ensuring your grill is clean and in working order, you can confidently store it over the winter. Make sure you leave it in a cool, dry location with the grill cover firmly attached. By following these steps, you can increase your grill’s longevity.

Best New Year’s Grilling Recipes

December 31, 2021 by bbqpros

With 2021 coming to a close, we can all breathe a small sigh of relief. Despite the upcoming New Years’ resolutions, we can all use a great way to bring in the new year. The best way is to sit down with your family for a barbecue meal.

Below, we will review a few meal ideas you can steal for your New Year’s barbecue.

#1: Pulled Pork

Thanksgiving has Turkey, the holidays have ham, but there isn’t much to eat on New Year’s Day. Change this up by introducing the idea of pulled pork.

Grilled pulled pork is incredibly tender and flavorful. Compared to other types of meat, it’s also straightforward to manage.

Much like turkey, you can easily use leftovers to make sandwiches. So try to smoke some pulled pork with hickory wood chips for a post-new-years celebration.

#2: Rotisserie Duck

Duck is an alternative bird to chicken. Much like rotisserie chicken, you can cook it using a rod, 350 degrees, and about an hour and a half.

The inside of the duck should read about 130 degrees. With a good meat thermometer, you can easily keep track without fancy skills.

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by a bird you haven’t cooked before. Thankfully, duck and chicken are pretty close when it comes to almost all aspects of cooking.

#3: Salmon

Grilling is a much healthier alternative cooking method to frying. One of the best items to grill is salmon.

Salmon is an excellent meal because it is incredibly healthy. While you would have to eat metric tons of it to get the Omega-3s, it is still a low-fat and healthy alternative to most meats you would grill.

To start on the right foot, try out some salmon tacos. The cooking temperature is about 275, while the cooking time is about 50 minutes.

Salmon tacos are an entirely different experience from ground beef. If you want to start the new year on a healthy diet, this is an excellent and flavorful dish for new beginnings.

#4: Prime Rib Roast

A prime rib roast is an excellent choice when it comes to enjoying a warm meal during the holiday season. Low and slow cooking is perfect when the outdoors isn’t a fun place to live.

Often, position their grills a bit closer to the front door and have to clear off their patio for this to work. For your health and safety, don’t bring your grill indoors. It’s a bad plan for a few reasons.

A tasty dry rub involves taking advantage of hotter spices. Otherwise, you can take the time to use brown sugar and cinnamon.

Regardless of what you use, prime rib is an excellent addition to whatever gathering you want. Anything can be an excuse to cook it.

Conclusion

Regardless of what you want to grill during the new year, this is a time for reflection. Take the time to relax, enjoy your family, and think about how fantastic the future will be.

We hope you and yours have a happy New Year this season. Thanks for reading.

Is Christmas Barbecue A Thing?

December 1, 2021 by bbqpros

Barbecues have classically been associated with the summer months. But as you reach the cold seasons, one has to wonder about breaking the tradition of cooking the ham. So, is Christmas barbecue a thing?

Yes, electric smokers and grills exist to bring the barbecue indoors. For those particularly ambitious, you can schedule cookouts around more temperate days.

Below, we will go through some fabulous meats worth grilling and smoking around the holidays. To get your grilled food inspiration during the less common months, keep reading.

Smoked Ham for Christmas

One of the most popular holiday dishes you can make is honey-glazed ham. Classically, this dish is baked over low and slow temperatures, leading to delicious aftermath.

However, if we know about one suitable device at the low and slow treatment, we learn about smokers. Whether you have indoor electric smokers or classic outdoor smokers, either will do.

The idea is to use potent spices like cayenne and paprika in a meat rub. The meat rub goes well with the pre-existing honey, making it a sweet and spicy combination.

Smoked Turkey for the Holidays

Despite us being a bit beyond Turkey Day, smoked turkey isn’t beyond the realm of possibility. Another way to deviate from tradition is to switch out the meat you use: trading a ham for a turkey.

It will still feel like an excellent holiday meal when using applewood chips and an apple cider mixture. Applewood is a great flavor that easily reminds you of the holidays.

If your grill has indirect heat settings, you can also slow cook your turkey through these means. Low and slow will let the meat you use fall right off the bone.

Beer Can Chicken

Beer can chicken is more of a summer meal but is still suitable for relaxing during the holidays. You don’t automatically have to use beer, as you can use any juice or water that comes to mind.

Brown sugar and garlic are great for creating a delicious outside. All you need to do to make this type of chicken is to insert the liquid inside its body cavity.

Beer can chicken typically is done through baking, but you can also grill it using more direct heat. Expect this meal to get done than most smoked or baked meals.

Smoked Sausage

Smoked sausage is an excellent part of any meal regardless of holiday involvement. Given that not every food item on this list will be covered in tinsel and wrapped means grilled Christmas is just a unique take.

Cheddar and Jalapeno sausage is a personal favorite among grilled wieners, but you can pick anything you want. Given that you are dealing with large crowds that will likely include kids try and ask around.

Wrap Up

Regardless of what you choose, you must keep your grill maintained. If you need to dust off the grill after a long period of hibernation, contact our team of professionals today. We will ensure that if you need your grill ready for the holidays, you can get that done.

The Best Meals to Barbecue in the Fall

November 1, 2021 by bbqpros

Outdoor cooking during fall is great. The autumn months offer a great opportunity for hearty, filling meals. Just be ready to wear a jacket when going outdoors. But what are the best meals to barbecue during fall?

Brisket, pork chops, and ribs are all great meats to grill. It is also an excellent time to grill with hickory chips and applewood.

Fall is a great time to relax and reflect. So eating foods that make you feel like it is nap time is natural. Below are some seasonings and tips you can take home for your fall barbecue.

Tip #1: Barbecue Chili is a Great Side

Barbecue chili is a great combination of brown sugar, cinnamon, and barbecue sauce. It makes for an excellent side to your barbecue ribs or brisket.

Chili is a warm meal that is great at filling the soul. It’s also packed with protein while also being suitable for many dietary needs.

Tip #2: Do Not Forget The Veggies

When grilling during the fall, don’t forget about the veggies. Leeks, asparagus, and corn are all excellent fall vegetable options.

You can also grill up some peppers to include on grilled kebabs. Kebabs are simple and enjoyable, making them a great addition to your fall cookout.

Tip #3: Don’t Forget About Apples

The power of your grill is often underestimated, being left to more traditional items. However, grilled apples is an excellent way to stretch your grilling abilities by grilling fruits (besides the pineapple on your kebabs).

Grilled apple salad is one such example of healthy grilling items. It involves a combo of pecans, baby spinach, spring greens, and cheddar. You can also bake it if your grill is otherwise preoccupied.

Tip #4: Don’t Forget The Classics

Despite wanting to try new things this fall season, the classics are always good. So grill up some wings or brisket and invite your friends over to watch something on the television.

Fall is a great opportunity to connect with people you haven’t seen for a while. Doing so around a grill gives your friends and family extra incentive to enjoy a classic steak or chicken on your grill.

Tip #5: Grill A Pumpkin

Fall is also a great excuse to try new things. Instead of getting a pumpkin spice latte at your local coffee shop, skip the line and grill a pumpkin at your home.

You can used the grilled pumpkin innards for pumpkin pie. You can also combine these cooked pumpkin bits with cinnamon, sugar, or ice cream to make for a unique grilled dessert.

Wrap Up (And Bonus Tip)

During the fall season, you shouldn’t allow the slightly colder weather to scare you from grilling. Instead, use it as an excuse to grill more often.

If you need to upgrade your grill for the fall months, our team of specialists can help you will grill assembly. Contact us today to be sure that all of your fall grilling times are great.

How to Barbecue Brisket on Your Charcoal or Gas Grill

September 30, 2021 by bbqpros

When it comes to cooking brisket, you have one of two choices: smoker or grill. This article is going to go through option number two: the grill. But what is the secret to a good and tender brisket?

The secret starts with indirect heat. Indirect heat enables you to slow cook the brisket so you do not singe the outside.

Below, we will give you some extra tips you can steal the next time you cook a brisket on any grill.

Charcoal vs Gas – Which is Better for Brisket?

Both grill types are great, but a good charcoal grill will give your food a unique wood flavor. You can also place unique wood chips that will be absorbed by the brisket.

Gas is usually easier to manage, as these are more likely to have specific temperature settings. But electric grills are the worst. If you demand electric, go buy a smoker.

Cooking Low and Slow Using Your Grill

A good temperature for the inside of your grill should be about 275 degrees Fahrenheit. To reach this temperature on a charcoal grill, you’ll want to control your charcoal and vents careful.

Wide open vents will enable the heat to escape, reducing the temperature inside of your grill. When you do this, you’ll want to check your briquettes every hour, loading more when running low.

You’ll want to keep the number of briquettes at about 50, likely loading 20 at a time. You’ll also want to flip the brisket after some time has elapsed, usually around three to five hours.

To avoid allowing your brisket to dry out, be sure to use a water tray. With evaporating water constantly running through the grill, you prevent an overly crispy surface.

Finding the Right Seasoning Combo

Items like paprika, brown sugar, and sugar are great for creating a sweet and spicy combination. You will also want to stick with cooking staples like onion salt, garlic powder, and pepper.

If you have a go-to seasoning combo for steak, you can increase that and pop it on the brisket. You can also have barbecue sauce sitting on the side, but make sure it has enough flavor.

Things To Do When Pulling Out The Brisket

First, it’s always best to let your meat rest for about ten minutes. When you pull it out, it is still cooking. Letting meat rests prevents your guests from burning their faces off and creates a better flavor.

You’ll also want to be sure that the internal temperature of your brisket is 165. Some recommend 190, but you’ll want to use this suggestion as the bottom-out baseline.

If you wrap your brisket, the temperature will still be increasing until you remove the foil. So that’s why a meat thermometer should be placed in any small, easily-exposed areas on top.

The last step after everyone is served and taken care of is cleaning your grill. So if you want to call the professionals to get it done right, our team would be happy to help.

Do Patio Heaters Work?

September 6, 2021 by bbqpros

People who love the outdoors are willing to put up with a lot to stay out there. However, staying warm outdoors can be challenging as the colder months arrive. One such solution is the patio heater, but do patio heaters work?

The short answer is yes, but you need to be aware of the effective distance. Each patio heater has a different power source and level, making these heaters effective at different distances. Ideally, you will want one that measures the reach of your patio space.

Below, we will provide you a few methods you can use to determine the reach of your patio heater.

Different Methods To Determine How Effective Your Patio Heater Is

Method #1: Distance Claims

The first method you can use to determine the effectiveness of patio heaters is from their claims. Each patio heater will make some distance claim based on several factors.

You’ll want to pay attention to those claims and apply them to the space of your patio. Pay attention to those advertisements, as false advertising can entitle you to a refund or replacement if the patio heater is ineffective.

Method #2: BTUs

The British Thermal Units (BTUs) are a great way to determine the power source of your heater. This technique applies to heaters, gas grills, and anything that burns fuel for heat.

Bear in mind that more significant numbers are part of more attractive advertising. The BTUs are a good measure of effectiveness, but they won’t always be efficient.

Most of the time, you’ll find that no patio heaters can cover an entire space. Typically, you’ll want to pick a specific patio space you plan on using.

If you plan to have guests over, it would be best to rent multiple patio heaters. More extensive patios require more than 200 thousand BTUs to heat complete spaces. Given that the cost of this energy use can add up quickly, you won’t want to overdo it.

Method #3: Good Brands & Customer Reviews

Another way to determine the effectiveness of patio heaters is through experience. This experience comes in one of three forms:

Ask someone you trust
Check out online reviews
Go with a brand that has a good reputation

If you know someone who owns a patio heater, come by for a visit. Anything can be an excuse to chat, and you can ask to test out your friend’s patio heater in the process.

If you don’t know anyone who owns a heater like this, your best bet is to check out online reviews. These can come in the form of customer reviews on the website or professional reviews by other bloggers.

You don’t necessarily have to buy them online; you can check out your local store and do research elsewhere. Before purchasing anything you want to rely on to stay warm, it’s good to do your research.

Wrap Up

If you want to purchase a solid patio heater, research is your friend. But if you need help servicing it, we offer a 10% discount on that service if you also need a BBQ cleaning.

How To Grill Asparagus (The Right Way)

July 31, 2021 by bbqpros

When it comes to a good barbeque, a good steak, chicken, or another piece of meat is excellent. But people underestimate the power of vegetables on the grill. One of those, asparagus, is perfect when cooked the right way. But do you know how to grill asparagus?

To address this question, we’ll provide the detailed steps you need to know to cook asparagus. By the end of this article, you’ll learn how to make asparagus a delicious part of your next cookout.

Step One: Cook Fresh Asparagus

Before any of this, you need to be sure you pick out the best asparagus. Ideally, you want to shoot for going in the early morning. If you can, save this grilling session for a farmer’s market.

Why? Because the longer asparagus is stored, the more stringy and woody it becomes. Stringy asparagus doesn’t have that firm “crunch” you are looking for.

Step Two: Wash and Trim the Asparagus

Before you cook, you want to make sure any nastiness is out. To do this, you need to wash the asparagus with cold water until all dirt is off the surface. You don’t want to know about the taste of grilled earth.

After washing the asparagus, you’ll want to trim the bottoms off. The bases are always made of woody material, making them unpleasant to cook.

Step Three: Season Properly Using Olive Oil

Before coating your asparagus in your chosen seasoning, you’ll olive oil. This oil binds any herb to the asparagus, preventing it from being knocked off.

You can choose any seasoning you want, but a combination of garlic and parmesan is almost always a winner. At this stage, you can experiment using herbs you know go well together.

Step Four: Cook at a High Heat

You’ll want to place the asparagus flat along with the grill. Please make sure they all have the opportunity to be exposed to the heat, as the char marks on these vegetables are delicious.

You’ll not the asparagus is done when you see the char marks, and they are tender enough to poke your fork through. If the asparagus isn’t soft enough for that fork poke, give it a couple more minutes.

Do You Cut the Tops From Asparagus?

No. The top-most point of the spear is the wrong end to cut. It would be best if you cut the end that contains the flat base of the asparagus.

If you’ve ever seen others cook it, think about the appearance of their asparagus (assuming it was any good).

Can You Overcook Asparagus?

Yes. You can prevent overcooking of the asparagus through two methods:

Pulling it out slightly early
Shocking it with an ice bath

The ice bath strategy is great if you are storing asparagus, but that ruins the enjoyable heat of your vegetables.

Why Do I Want To Know How To Grill Asparagus?

Asparagus is great for you, as it helps you eat well and maintain digestive health. It’s also potent with various vitamins, making it a great addition to your food list.

To make sure your BBQ is ready to cook asparagus, let us help you with cleaning, assembly, and service.

Five Barbeque Secrets You Can Steal

June 30, 2021 by bbqpros

When it comes to making delicious food, you know that the details are essential. However, some of the details aren’t always obvious. That’s why we are going to go through five barbeque secrets you can steal for your cooking.

Secret Number One: Get a BBQ With A Water Pan

The most common mistake that chefs make involve letting their meat get too dry. When it comes to a bbq, there’s no apparent method for keeping your meat moist. However, grills that come with water pans can solve this problem.

A water pan is a more common feature with smokers, but many modern BBQs include it. The water pan allows moisture to evaporate and constantly travel through the grill. This prevents the meat from drying out.

Be sure to remove the pan near the end if you want the edge to be crispy.

Secret Number Two: Start Your Grill Early

Whether you have charcoal, wood, or propane, it’s essential to make sure your grill is consistently heated. It’s vital to have patience and wait for your grill to be heated. Please give yourself plenty of time to wait for it to heat.

If you use wood or charcoal, your “early” might be about half an hour. With other fuel types like propane grills, you can start it about ten or twenty minutes early.

Secret Number Three: Toast Your Buns

Whenever you cook burgers, it’s essential to take care of the meat. However, many people undervalue the experience of a well-toasted bun.

The crispy exterior of a bun creates an excellent and consistent experience. When everything comes out warm, it makes an incredible difference.

Secret Number Four: Cook With Foil

A foil covering provides you two different benefits:

First, it seals in the flavor of the meat. That means a well-seasoned steak chicken doesn’t release a lot of the taste.

Second, having meat covered in foil increases the rate of the cooking process. Less of the heat escapes, but it is still set to a lower temperature to avoid singing.

You can also place unique liquids inside the foil. Water is excellent at maintaining moisture, but apple juices and fruit juices can add amazon flavors to your meat.

Tinfoil is an excellent replacement for a water pan in a pinch.

Secret Number Five: Let The Meat Rest

Resting meat isn’t exactly foreign, but it is essential. Resting meat allows the inner juices to settle, making the flavor settle.

This is exceptionally important with large cuts of meat. Removing the meat just before you think it’s done means that it is still cooking for a bit. A slice of meat isn’t done cooking until several minutes outside on the counter.

Final Thoughts

We hope that these “secrets” give you some ideas of what to do with your next cooking project. These reminders should help you cook some pretty impressive pieces. Just remember to season your meat!

It all starts with a clean grill. So if you want to get a clean grill, contact the BBQ Pros to help you out.

How to Grill Steak on a Gas Grill?

May 31, 2021 by bbqpros

If you are like me, you probably have a good appreciation for some superb steak. However, cooking the steak can be tricky, so you want to be sure that you handle this. If you are a beginner, you are most likely looking for some tips.

So, how do you cook steak on a gas grill?

Your first step is to determine the amount of time it needs to cook based on thickness. Gas grills typically operate best at 450 degrees. For medium-well steaks, expect to cook it about three minutes per ½” of steak.

The time and temperature of how you cook steaks is a great start, but it doesn’t tell you everything you need to know when making something tasty. Below, we will detail how to turn well-cooked steaks into tasty ones.

Step One: Prep Your Steaks

If you are buying fresh steak from your local butcher, kudos to you; you are likely about to have some excellent steak. If you have frozen steak, you can place them inside cool water for about one to two hours.

If your steak is in the fridge, you can remove it and set it on your prep table.

Step Two: Prep Your Grill

The first step of any pure grilling experience is to set up the prep. Part of this prep is cleaning, so make sure you remove all of the old gunk from the grill. If you need help cleaning, contact us to help you out.

Once the grill is clean, preheat it to 450 degrees to be ready for the steaks.

Step Three: Season Your Steak

How you season your steak will dictate the boldness of your chosen flavor. If you are looking for that good classic steak taste, you can stick with sea salt and pepper.

If you want to get something more complicated, you can purchase a steak rub from your local supermarket. Browse the aisles to see what flavor profiles appeal to you. Follow the instructions closely if regarding these steak rubs, especially if you are a beginner.

Step Four: Cook Your Steak

While you might want to eat raw steak at this point, most doctors would advise against that. Instead, determine how done you like your steak. There are four potential categories:

Rare (a lot of pink) – 50 C
Medium rare ( a bit of pink) – 56 C
Medium (no pink) – 61 C
Well Done (a bit more charred) – 71 C

The thicker your steak, the more you will need to cook it before it meets these levels. It would be best if you considered investing in a meat thermometer to determine an acceptable temperature.

You can also use your eyes, but beginners should cook their steak to a rare level for safe consumption.

Final Thoughts

Steak is one of the most delicious food items you could ever eat. Most of the job of cooking it by yourself is knowing about internal temperatures. It’s also essential to ensure that you pick the right seasonings.

Nobody is going to want to eat any steak from your grill if it is nasty. So be sure to use Ashton BBQ and Grill Pros for all your servicing needs.

What Type of Grill Do I Need to Buy?

April 30, 2021 by bbqpros

When it comes to picking the right kind of grill, there are many features to consider. Do you want a gas, charcoal, or wood pellet grill? How big do you need it to be, and do you need any extra features? All of these questions are important to ask, and we plan on reviewing them in this article.

What is the Best Fuel Type for a Grill?

Typically, your grill will have three different fuel types:

Charcoal
Gas
Wood (Pellet grills)

Here’s what makes each of them awesome:

Why Choose Charcoal Grills?

When tasting grilled food, the flavor with smokiness you expect typically comes from charcoal. The fuel type is a combination of charcoal briquettes with a dash of lighter fluid. By the time the heat gets to where you want it to be, the liquid has burnt out.

Charcoal is a bit more difficult to control given that it relies on ventilation to retain or release heat. However, these are the most inexpensive grills with that classic appearance.

Why Choose Gas Grills?

Gas grills have an attachable propane tank that heats your food with a continuous flame. The liquid propane tanks have a finite source of heat that lasts for several hours.

As a result, it’s an extra layer of management that will require refills between use. However, as a clean-burning fuel source, you typically spend less time cleaning it. That means fewer calls out to Aston BQ and Grill Pros.

Why Choose Wood Burning Grills?

Wood burning grills function similarly to charcoal grills. Otherwise known as pellet grills, you have a separate loader which you can use to fill the container with pellets. The indirect heat allows you to add unique flavors to meat from wood.

These come in a variety of styles and often have smoking capabilities. The result is a more expensive grill with advanced features.

Other Features You Might Want in Your Grill

The three primary forms involve burning some form of fuel source. For other features to be aware of, that depends on preference, Here are some areas of concern:

Size

Grills vary from sizes ranging from 200 square feet to 1200. Your choice will depend on how you use it. For most families, sticking around 350 to 500 sq ft will do well. More extensive square footage is excellent if you have cookouts.

Side Burners

Side burners are great for cooking sides (vegetables) or heating sauces. This option is great if you like to have actual BBQ sauce with your ribs or other forms of warm sauce.

Smart Systems

Grills with built-in smart systems typically come with heat thermometers. Those systems can track timing and internal temperature, allowing you to focus elsewhere. You would be surprised how helpful WiFi can be when grilling.

Final Thoughts

The right grill for you depends on your priorities. For convenience, you might want a gas-burning grill with WiFi. For that classic feeling, you can stick with charcoal grills with simple systems. You can also get those pellet grills if you are willing to pay the extra cost.

Regardless of what you get, we have assembly services that can help you build your grill. Thanks for reading!

Five Accessories You Need For Your BBQ Setup

March 26, 2021 by bbqpros

As we begin to approach warmer weather, the title of grillmaster is up for grabs. If you are one of those who want to retain your title (or are an up-and-coming challenger), there are some accessories you need to succeed. In this month’s post for your grill, we will give you five accessories you can’t live without to help with your BBQ setup.

Five Accessories You Need for a Decent BBQ Setup

If you are looking to up your grill game, consider these accessories:

Spatula, tongs, fork
Meat injector
Grill basket
Meat thermometer
A grill brush

Below, we will dig into why you need them

The Basics for your BBQ Setup: Spatula, Tongs, & Fork

You can’t call yourself a grillmaster if you don’t have the essential tools. These necessary tools begin with your spatula, tongs, and fork. The combination of the three will allow you to relocate and test your meat for juiciness.

If you plan on cooking shredded pork butt, you will need a couple of forks to begin shredding. These are essential tools to get started.

Getting Fancy: A Meat Injector

Many people think that they will be alright with a simple basting brush. While we cannot understate how handy it is to coat the surface, many people forget about the inside.

A meat injector allows you to take flavourful marinade and put it right into the muscle. Ensure that your meat injector is metal, as the plastic ones take a bit more force to shove in.

For Easy Cooking: A Grill Basket

A grill basket may seem a bit unusual. Still, the best ones will allow you to flip whatever is inside without issue. These baskets are typically limited to vegetable use, as your essential tools from the beginning are for the meat.

For vegetarians who still love the grill, this also provides an excellent way for you to isolate their preferences. With this tool, consider yourself a grillmaster who accommodates the needs of your people.

A Meat Thermometer

Working with a good bbq setup is a combination of art and science. The art comes from the beautiful smoky flavors you get when experimenting. The science comes in when your internal temperature is just right.

While some people will tell you that they can “feel with their steak is done,” others stick with proven methods. To ensure you cook the best meats, get a thermometer to tell you about the right time to pull it off.

A Grill Brush

You can taste the difference when you have an unclean grill. Actual signs of this come through when you start to taste fish in your steak (or vice versa). To address this issue, make sure you have an available grill degreaser and brush.

The degreaser takes behind unwanted juices left behind, and the brush takes off burnt chunks.

Final Thoughts

To ensure you gain that grillmaster title, you need to have all of the right accessories. The basics, in combination with grill baskets and meat thermometers, can push you over the edge. Arguably, the most critical part of being a grillmaster is a clean grill. If you are looking for a deep clean for your grill to start this season off right, contact us today.

What is the Best Kind of Fish on a Grill?

February 28, 2021 by bbqpros

When you think of BBQ, fish usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Why have a fish on a grill when you could have a good brisket? While that sentiment comes from many, fish lovers can find new and unique BBQ and fish flavors. There’s also a lot of fish, making selection difficult. We answer: what is the best kind of fish for BBQ?

Our suggestions for barbequed fish include the following:

Salmon
Snapper
Swordfish
Bass
Tuna

Below, we will explain why we selected these fish as the best.

#1: Salmon

If you know anything about salmon, they are a bundle of firm muscles. You would need to be when you swim upstream as often as they do. With firmness comes lean meat, which can withstand grill heat.

For additional flavor, you can grill salmon on planks of cedar. Salmon absorbs the wood’s taste, which is better than you might think!

#2: Snapper

Red snapper is one of the few fish that can be on the grill as a whole. The thick skin of the snapper provides for a natural heat-resistant coat. As a result, it isn’t easy to burn this fish. If you don’t like the idea of putting a whole fish in the grill, you can still cut it into fillets.

#3: Swordfish

As a rare sea treat, you don’t get too many opportunities to grill swordfish. Much like salmon, the firmness of the meat makes it a great candidate for the grill. Swordfish is also one of the few fish types that you can grill in a steak due to its size.

The cost of swordfish is typically much higher than other kinds of fish. If you aren’t entirely sure of how to cook it, consult a professional.

#4: Bass

Sea bass, black bass, and largemouth bass are all excellent fish to have while cooking. Grilling is a perfect way to bring out the natural flavors of these fish. Meatier types of fish are always better for use on the grill.

You can grill any size of fish on the grill and receive similar effects to baking. But large cuts of meat at “low and slow” temperatures that absorb wood chunks’ flavor result in a fantastic taste experience.

#5: Tuna

Tuna is typically associated with small cans. Those are to be mixed with mayonnaise and kept to sandwiches, don’t even think about putting canned tuna in a grill. However, a full tuna fish is a large and versatile fish in various forms.

Tuna is a thick fish that you can easily cut into steak form. Much like other steaks, you can season it as you wish and put it on the grill.

Final Thoughts

While the grill may seem more suitable for brisket, ribs, and pork shoulder, fish is often underserved in this area. For those who love fish, choosing to grill over bake might be one way you can change up your dinners. Fish are excellent for your BBQ with the right seasoning. Just make sure you keep your grill clean to avoid cross-contamination.

What’s the Difference Between Smoking and BBQ?

January 31, 2021 by bbqpros

Grilling on the BBQ and smoking meat have quite a bit of crossover. In many ways, they are two sides of the same coin. But you still have to ask: what are the significant differences between smoking and BBQ?

The most significant difference is temperature level. Both use indirect heat, but barbecue typically has higher temperatures. Smoking uses the lowest available temperatures, sometimes cooking at around 200, therefore taking the longest time.

In the rest of this article, we will dig into the details that cause a barbecue and smoker to be different. We will also look into the most significant difference in the cooking process.

What is Barbecuing?

Contrary to grilling (which uses direct heat), barbecue’s essence is cooking with large cuts. While grilling uses the grill’s surface to 204 degrees celsius, barbecuing involves lower temperature. Typically, you will see these recipes from 107 to 148 celsius or 225 to 300 Fahrenheit.

The barbecuing process holds a lot of similarities between other types of activities. Typically, your method of temperature control will depend on the type of barbecue you use. For example, you can easily control a gas grill with a knob. When using charcoal, you control the temperature by the level of coals.

By the end of the cooking process, you can still typically sear your food by turning up the heat. Barbecuing is still commonly done on a grill, but smoking is a different animal.

What is Smoking?

Smoking is the slowest version of all of the cooking methods discussed on this list. By using quality wood chips, chunks, or pellets, wood smoke what cooks your food. Much like barbecue, the critical element is “low and slow,” which means lower temperature over an extended time.

Smoking can cause cooking times of your food to take upwards of 24 hours. The most significant difference between grilling and this is that extended wait. Combine that with the indirect burning of wood, and literal smoke is cooking your meal.

Both barbecuing and smoking lead to incredibly tender meats, but the significant difference comes from cooking times and charcoal usage. Smoking burns actual wood, such as hickory, to get natural smoky wood flavors from what you burn.

How are Smoking and Barbecuing Similar?

Both cooking methods can cook a variety of animals:

Brisket
Turkey
Salmon
Poultry
Pork shoulder
Sausage
Ham
Vegetables

You can also use different wood types, like cherry or hickory, to enhance the smoky flavor. They can also use moisture treys to ensure the insides of your chosen meat are moist.

Can You Get a Grill To Combine All Three Cooking Methods?

While smokers are the only cooker in a vertical variety, all three can technically come in the same machine. To find a device that can handle all three, look for something with an offset chamber to place the wood or charcoal.

Remember that indirect cooking is the key to what makes your smoker/BBQ unique. The “grill” portion can seer your meat, which can get you a crispy outside with a moist inside.

What Is The Best Recipe To Prepare Ribs Without BBQ Sauce?

January 5, 2021 by bbqpros

BBQ sauce is an old staple of ribs for some people. Who could blame them? The fantastic smoky flavor that comes from BBQ sauce is difficult to pass up. But with this in mind, can you find a good rib recipe without relying on BBQ sauce?

The short answer is yes, so let’s explore a recipe below.

Option One – Dry Rubs – The Key To Making Tasty Ribs Without BBQ Sauce

When looking at most other foods, we use a combination of seasonings and spices to get the flavor we want. That same logic applies to ribs, as utilizing a dry rub of spices and herbs are keys to making some of the most amazing ribs.

How Do You Make A Dry Rub?

First, you need to define the overall flavor profile that you want. If you want something spicy, look for spices in this variety:

Cayenne pepper
Paprika
Chilli powder
Cumin

People also often mix the following combinations above with gobs of brown sugar. However, you can also use onion powder and garlic powder as a base depending on your family’s flavor preferences. Given that my family loves garlic a bit too much, we use up to two tablespoons.

A Recipe For Dry Rub That You Can Use

Before you start this recipe, be sure you have a smaller mason jar. You can store dry rubs for up to six months. All you need to do is make sure that the jar is air-tight. Combine the following spices:

Two cups of brown sugar
A half a cup of cayenne pepper
A half a cup of paprika
Half a cup of garlic powder
Two tablespoons of cumin
One tablespoon of black pepper
Two teaspoons of salt

This recipe will assume that you have a smaller rack of ribs. If you have something larger, go ahead and double the amounts listed above. The good thing about this is that spice mixes can last you for quite a while, so you can always use it again.

You will also want to be sure of three extra things:

Remove the Membrane

If you just purchased the ribs, you likely see a silvery chunk of skin on the surface. It is the membrane, and you will need to remove it with a knife so your ribs will fall apart at the seams. If you don’t remove the membrane, your ribs will have a chewy, unpleasant texture

Coat Every Inch Of The Ribs With Dry Rub

When making ribs, you want to be sure that the entire surface has your spices. Missing a spot will cause the flavor to be mediocre in specific areas.

Smoke Your Ribs and Cover Them in Tin Foil

Smoked ribs are a fantastic way to keep them tender and juicy. The key to cooking many portions of meat in this category is “low and slow.” This cooking style is where smoker works. So keep it at 225 degrees Fahrenheit (about 108 degrees Celsius) for around six hours.

Also, be sure that about half of this time is inside of tin foil. Tinfoil will retain the juiciness of the rib, allowing you to rest your meat for 20 minutes after you cook it. Do so until the internal temperature is 170 degrees Fahrenheit (77 degrees Celsius).

Conclusion

Honestly, the best way to cook your ribs is using a dry rub and smoking meat at low and slow temperatures. You could say we have a bit of a reliance on BBQ, but you can finish that dry rub off above if you can’t help but add BBQ sauce. Whatever you choose, there are always ways to step outside of your comfort zone when it comes to good ribs.