Tips & Tricks: The Best Way to Grill

Grilling Tips | Famous Dave's BBQ - iStock-1314288110The summer season will always provide the perfect opportunity to try some new bbq dishes and grill outdoors. From enjoying the sunshine with friends to just soaking in the beautiful day in front of you, grilling is a pastime that brings everyone together.

Though you may have been grilling for years, there are always ways to improve your craft. Perfect your grilling technique this year and ensure that your BBQ catering is to die for. Here we’ve provided you with some tips and tricks to try out the next time you put on your apron and light up the grill. Take a look.

Use the Right Tools 

If you want to get the right results with your bbq dishes, you need to ensure you’re using the best grilling tools. There are few tools that will help hone your skills including:

  • A pair of long handled tongs - these allow you to easily turn and position the meat without worrying about burns or heat rash.
  • A temperature probe - check if the meat is cooked all the way through without having to cut into it and risk drying it out. 
  • Use a homemade herb brush - by attaching herbs such as thyme and parsley to the end of a wooden spoon, you’re able to season the meat evenly and effectively. 

Marinate to Magnificence

To ensure that your meat provides an instant hit of flavor, marinate the different pieces. Marinating your meat the night before ensures that the different flavors are soaked up properly. Be sure to shake off any extra marinade before grilling the meat. If the marinade contains oil, the meat is far more likely to burn or flare. This can ruin the delicious flavor that you are hoping for when cooking your meat.

Choose Your Charcoal 

When you are preparing your outdoor grill, choosing the charcoal will have an impact. There are lots of different types including lump charcoal and briquettes. The former will burn rapidly with a total burn time of just under one hour. This is great if you are cooking a variety of different types of meat. The latter will burn slower and last for up to three hours. As such, it’s the perfect choice for grilling roasting joints. 


Charcoal can also impact the different flavors in your meats. This depends on the tree that it is sourced from. For instance, charcoal from oak trees will provide gentle caramel flavors to your meat. In contrast orange wood coal will provide a marmalade flavor that goes well with meat such as duck. 

Let The Meat Rest 

Once you have grilled your meat, it’s a smart choice to let it rest for a few minutes. This gives it time to reabsorb any juices and become a little more tender. You can rest your meat on a warm tray covered in foil that is left away from direct heat. Leave bigger cuts for longer. 

Why Does Grilled Food Taste Better?

Many people claim that grilled BBQ tastes better, but why is this? Part of the reason is that what we perceive as flavor is largely the aroma of the meat. Essentially the smell of grilled food makes it taste even better. Even bbq side dishes such as peppers can taste better when grilled. Another reason is the fat, which is oxidized throughout the grilling process. This provides a delightful aroma that is impossible to resist and guaranteed to tantalize the taste buds. 

Take your grilling to the next level by implementing some of these tips and tricks into your next backyard barbeque.

Smokin' Deals Every Week at Famous Dave's

We all could use a break during the week. Between work, school, errands, and more, it can feel like the “go, go, go” mentality never ends. There’s no shame in wanting to break up the monotony by skipping out on making a home cooked...

Diet Friendly Grilling Recipes for Christmas

The holidays are here and this often means that your diet is thrown out the window in favor of sugar cookies and hearty meals with friends and family. Plenty of people love the idea of indulging all their cravings during the festive season. However,...

Spend Thanksgiving with Famous Dave's

Thanksgiving is known as the holiday meant to look back on everything you’re thankful for. Families, friends, and distant relatives gather around the table, enjoy a large home cooked meal, and share memories of good times and “back in...

Throw a Famous Dave's Catered Halloween Party

Halloween is just around the corner now and it’s time you started planning for any parties you might be throwing. Let’s get spooky! With the help of Famous Dave’s, you can make your Halloween party everyone’s favorite event...

Our Guide to Grilling

Grilling and hosting a BBQ is a fun and delicious way to entertain and feed your guests. However, there’s more to it than simply turning on the grill and hoping for the best. Instead, there is outdoor bbq and grilling advice to review that...

Labor Day Weekend: The Ultimate BBQ Recipes

Labor Day Weekend is the perfect excuse to throw a barbecue, so why not go all out this year? With the grill fired up you can cook up some of your favorites and maybe even try out some new dishes too. On the 4th of July, we brought you our round-up...

The Side Dish Always Compliments the Main Dish

No BBQ is complete without the proper side dish. Whether you’re looking to host a large backyard event or just sitting down with close friends and family, it’s important to have options for everyone. If you’re stumped on what to...

St. Patrick's Day BBQ Recipe Tips

St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration full of history and traditions. Dating back to the 9th century, the Roman Catholic feast day of St. Patrick is still observed by the people of Ireland every year on the 17th of March. But did you know the...

Guide to Making Your Homemade BBQ Sauce

One of the reasons why Famous Dave’s has become, well, famous, is because of the incredible BBQ sauce that we serve. While we cannot tell you all of our secrets about our award-winning BBQ sauce, we can share some recipes and tips for making...

Tips for Cleaning and Maintaining Your BBQ Smoker

There’s nothing quite like a barbecue for bringing friends together and celebrating delicious flavors. The quality of the ingredients has a role to play, but the way you cook your food and look after your grill are also essential. In this...

Return to Work celebration at Famous Dave's

There is no denying that the past year or so has been incredibly difficult for employees and businesses worldwide. Consequently, it is important to show some appreciation for everything your employees have had to go through and the loyalty they have...

Guide To Having A Family Rib Cook-Off

Nothing beats a tasty BBQ, and what better way to enjoy BBQ food than a family rib cook-off? If you’ve never held a cook-off before you’re probably wondering where to begin. To help you plan an amazing event, check out these five ideas...

Pick the Perfect Menu for Your Graduate's Party

Originally posted on 06/17/2019 With your graduate’s time in high school coming to a close, it is time to party! You have so many options to explore with the party to give them a last get-together with friends and family before...

How to Throw a Great Outdoor Party in Winter

This year has been a tough time for seeing people. The many social distancing guidelines are important to keep people safe, but they also might have left you feeling disconnected. Luckily, during the summer getting together while being responsible...

How to Throw an Outdoor Halloween Party

The leaves have begun to change and the days are starting to end earlier. You know what that means, right?  It is getting spookier out there! Halloween draws closer, along with all the fun and excitement that go with it. The 2020...

Top 4 Tips for Fall Outings with Famous Dave's

With the recent shift in weather and the kids heading back to school (or maybe heading to their laptops for digital school), fall is finally here for the year. Some people feel the slightly cooler breeze and run indoors. Avoid that urge! Fall...

Top 5 Tips for How to Prep Your Grill for the Season

After a long winter and despite much social distancing, it is time to dust off your grill. If you have found that you put off firing up your grill for the season, you are not alone. But now is the time to start it up for you and your family to enjoy...

8 Tips for Safe Winter Grilling: Do's and Don'ts

At this point, we have had a few snowfalls, the cold has been here for months, and spring is still a distant goal. Despite the weather, many die-hard barbequers have a craving that only the grill can satisfy. For our hardiest of friends, grilling is...

Can BBQ Meals be Healthy? [Benefit List Included]

Have you made any nutrition-related New Year’s resolutions? Are you counting calories or cutting carbs? There are many benefits of eating barbeque meals that go beyond the amazing flavors. We consider many nutritional needs when creating our...

Famous Dave's BBQ Honors Veteran's Day

Recognizing people for their contribution is a vital part of Famous Dave’s. We wouldn’t be where we are today without the many honors, awards, and recognition we have received throughout the years. We also wouldn’t be here as a...

How to Keep Your BBQ Sauce Souvenirs While Traveling

Sure, you can get the award-winning BBQ meat and sauces of Famous Dave’s at one of our restaurants, but what about when you are on the road? Many people enjoy food as one of the top reasons for traveling. While on the road you can enjoy...

Five Questions To Ask Your Corporate Event Caterer

​When planning a corporate event, there are a lot of components to juggle. The venue needs to be set up, speakers and presenters need necessary space and equipment, and of course, you have to feed your guests. To eliminate the panic that comes...

BBQ Catering for Your Wedding

  A couple has much to consider when they put together their wedding day. Who to invite, what venue to select, and which theme to go with are just a few of their many choices. Going with a catering service can help you have the best...

Best Side Dishes for Your Next Barbecue

Getting together a barbeque is about creating an experience. Every meal can draw people together to enjoy food and each other’s company. But there is something about barbequing that makes for a relaxing time and a connection to the...

Top 10 Winter Grilling Tips

We have all seen the pictures of folks barbequing in shorts, sandals, and a tank top over the summer. Grabbing some cold ones while the meat sizzles on the grill sounds like a great way to spend a summer day. But about when you get those charcoal...

Picking the Right Sauce for You

Famous Dave’s DMV brings new meaning to barbequed food. Before you get a plate of award-winning meat cooked to perfection, your food goes through several stages. First, the cook hand rubs the meat with spices. Next, the slab goes into the...

3 Benefits Of Having Your Party Catered

Hosting a party can be an intimidating undertaking for even the most hospitable among us. Events ranging from a child birthday party to a family holiday or formal banquets and events, throwing a party requires a lot of time and careful planning. The...

Operation Barbeque Relief

Famous Dave's is proud to be a Hall of Fame member for Operation Barbeque Relief A non-profit response team providing hot meals to those in need after disaster strikes The mission of Operation BBQ Relief is to provide compassion and to...
Sink Your Teeth Into This!
Like Free Stuff? Sign Up For Rewards!
Download our app and earn "BONES" for each visit, receive exclusive offers, and get a FREE burger or sandwich just for signing up! OR join the Famous Nation to receive news, offers, and a tasty gift for your birthday!
Member
KCBS
Proud Sponsor
Special Olympics of Maryland
Proud Supporter
Vienna Little League
Proud Sponsor
Marine Corps Marathon