How to Make the Best BBQ This 4th of July

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Fourth of July is just around the corner, which means we’re already in peak grilling season! Today I have the pleasure of being joined by Courtland Miller, owner/chef at the Main Kitchen Cafe, to help us review what not to do when grilling and barbecuing.

1. Don’t put the sauce on the meat first. If you’re going to marinate your meat, do it the night before. When you take your meat out of the refrigerator, let it sit out so it’s not too cold and it cooks evenly all the way through. Be sure to wipe away any excess marinade. If it’s too wet when it hits the grill, the extra sugar and oil in that marinade will catch fire and char your food with an unsavory taste.
2. Don’t cook on a high heat setting. Make sure that your grill is on high when you turn it on and when you season it. Before you lay your meats on, however, lower the heat so that the temperature sits between 300 and 350 degrees. A high temperature can burn the meat and cause it to cook unevenly on each side before flipping it over. And don’t assume barbecuing heat time and grilling heat time are the same. Whereas grilling utilizes higher heats to sear each side of the meat and lock in the juices, barbecuing goes low and slow for a more tenderizing process.




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Never cook meat on a high heat setting.

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3. Don’t prod or poke the meat. Seems obvious, but we’ve all done this one before. Prodding or poking the meat while it’s cooking can release the juices and render the finished product drier than it should be. Don’t poke holes in it like it’s a baked potato.
4. Let it rest! Too often people see the meat come off the grill and start slicing. All that does is let the juices and flavors out. Instead, let it rest for 10-15 minutes. A good idea would be to cover it with aluminum foil to allow the juices to evenly distribute throughout the meat.

Have a safe, happy, and satiating Fourth of July! If you’re looking for some great venues to catch all the fireworks, check out Timeout.com and the LA Times. If you have any real estate questions, be sure to call us or shoot us an email.