A perfect BBQ doesn't start with putting the food on the grill, but with setting up your grill correctly. If you have the right grilling area, the heat is optimally controlled, and your grill doesn't become a sticky mess, you're already halfway there. Here are five essential tips for setting up your grill perfectly.
1. The right location – safety first!
Before you begin, choose your barbecue location carefully. Make sure your grill is sheltered from the wind, as a sudden gust of wind can cause sparks to fly or the heat to spread unevenly. A sheltered corner of the garden or a spot with natural screening is ideal. A fireproof surface is also important. Wooden floors, dry grass, or plastic decking are unsuitable. Place your grill on stone slabs, concrete, or special heat-resistant surfaces to avoid the risk of fire. Make sure there are no flammable materials such as garden furniture, parasols, or overhanging branches nearby. If you're grilling on a balcony, check the house rules beforehand, as charcoal isn't permitted everywhere.
2. Two-zone fire – your heat game changer!
Professionals know that direct and indirect grilling make the difference between dry and perfectly cooked meat. So, set up your grill with two zones. The hot zone is for direct grilling, where the steak gets a perfect crust at full heat. The cool zone is ideal for finishing, keeping warm, or gently cooking thicker cuts of meat or vegetables. With a charcoal grill, you push the coals to one side, while with a gas grill, you only light one side. This way, you always have perfect temperature control.
3. No sticking to the grill grate – so your meat stays whole!
A common problem is that food sticks to the grill grate. To prevent this from happening, you should preheat the grate thoroughly, as a hot grate prevents food from sticking. Brush the food or rub the grate with heat-resistant oil such as rapeseed oil, as butter or olive oil burn too quickly. A natural trick is to rub a halved raw potato over the grate, as the starch it contains prevents sticking. Alternatively, you can rub the meat with bacon rind, which not only prevents sticking but also adds additional roasting flavor.
4. Use ash as a temperature indicator – This is how the pros grill!
If you don't have a thermometer handy, you can use the color of the coals as a guide. Black coals are still too cold and not ready to grill. If the coals are a mix of gray and black, the heat is medium, which is ideal for sausages and vegetables. Once the coals are white-hot with a gray layer of ash, they've reached the perfect grilling temperature. Now is the time to place your steak on the grill. Always keep a small supply of coals on hand in case the embers die down, so you can control the heat flexibly.
5. The perfect heat – close the lid for best results!
Many people leave the grill open, but a closed lid ensures a constant temperature because the heat circulates evenly, similar to an oven. This keeps meat and other foods juicier because less moisture escapes. It also reduces flames because fat doesn't drip directly into the embers but evaporates, imparting additional flavor to the meat. Only open the lid when absolutely necessary, as every glance at it consumes valuable heat.
With these five tips, you'll get the perfect start to your next BBQ adventure. Whether it's steak, vegetables, or fish – with the right grill setup, you'll lay the foundation for a fantastic grilling experience. So get the coals out, light the flames, and enjoy the perfect BBQ.
