The Benefits of Smoking Meat

If you are trying to decide between the grill and the smoker for your upcoming family cookout, there are many reasons to go for the latter. Although grilling is a classic and dependable method of preparing your favorite cuts of meat, the smoker can offer you a long list of unique benefits unparalleled to any other cooking method.

Continue reading to learn the top benefits of smoking meat.

For Great Smoked Meats and BBQ, Call 317-688-7290!

For Great Smoked Meats and BBQ, Call
317-688-7290!

Inexpensive Cuts

For smoking meat, the best cuts to use are the ones with enough fat and connective tissue to tenderize and fill with flavor. One of the best parts about barbecue is that these cuts tend to also be the cheaper ones. Cheaper cuts of meat work better with smoking since leaner cuts can have difficulty withstanding long hours of cooking without drying out. Common cuts to smoke include pork shoulder, pork ribs, beef brisket, ham roast, and any kind of poultry.

Flavor

Smoking is most popular for the flavors it adds to meat. When it comes to smoking meat, great results start with the type of wood you choose for your smoker. Wood chips render unique and individual flavors that can be used alone, or in combination with one another, to create new flavor profiles. The hot temperatures and quick burning attributes produce a momentous burst of smoke that gives meat a distinct flavor unparalleled to meat cooked any other way.

Tenderness

If you want a juicy, tender, fall-off-the-bone cut of meat, smoking it will get you there. As fat melts and connective tissues breaks down, the meat is kept perfectly moist during smoking. That is one reason why cuts of meat with high fat and connective tissue tend to improve with smoking, and finish tender and flavorful.

Preservation

The tradition of smoking meat dates back to ancient times, when it was primarily used as a form of food preservation. To this day, the innovative advancements in the culinary industry allow us to smoke and cure meat with ease and convenience. One of the most common methods of preserving and curing smoked meats include hanging or placing it on racks in a chamber designed to contain the smoke. This drying action of the smoke tends to preserve the meat, giving it a longer shelf life.

Where to Get Tender Smoked Meats Neat You

Rackz BBQ Carmel, IN 317-688-7290

Rackz BBQ
317-688-7290

Rackz BBQ is eager to impress you with our delicious smoked barbecue meals and barbecue cuisines. As a Carmel BBQ restaurant dedicated to quality and value, you can trust us for exceptional customer service, neighborhood prices, and most importantly, authentic barbecue fare that you will love. Contact us at 317-688-7290 to place a call ahead order, or to learn more about our menu selections, prices, and specials.

How to Start Up a Charcoal Grill

Charcoal grilling is a classic method of cooking up your favorite cuts of meat and vegetables in the great outdoors. Not only does it deliver outrageously delicious flavor unparalleled to other cooking methods, there is something quite pleasurable about creating a succulent masterpiece over an open flame. When using a charcoal grill, it is important to know how to safely start it up for the first time since improper use can lead to serious injuries and accidents.

If you have just brought home a new charcoal grill, you are just a few steps away from getting started. But first, you need to review all the different ways to light it up. Continue reading to do just that!

Barbecue Restaurant Carmel IN

For Great Smoked Meats and BBQ, Call
317-688-7290!


There are 3 traditional methods for starting a charcoal grill. The approach you choose will largely depend on personal preference and experience; however, there are some techniques that are more recommended than others for reasons of safety and convenience. So gather up your charcoal of choice, and then check out the different means of lighting your grill!

3 Methods to Start a Charcoal Grill:

Charcoal Chimney

The top recommended method of lighting a charcoal grill is to use a charcoal chimney. Also known as a chimney starter, these tools are often sold separately from kettle grills, but they are cheap and can be purchased online or at any home improvement or garden store. Expect to spend between $10 and $20.

To use a charcoal chimney, you will need your charcoal briquettes, some newspaper scrap, and a source of flame. Start by laying down some wads of newspaper in the bottom of the basin, stack your briquettes neatly on top, and then give them a light. If you do not have newspaper, use some pre-treated briquettes instead.

Pre-Treated Briquettes

If a charcoal chimney is not a suitable option for your grilling needs, you can opt for some pre-treated briquettes. Also known as “matchlight” or “easy-light” charcoal, these are small lumps of charcoal that have been infused with a degree of lighter fluid, making them easier to light.

To use easy-light charcoal, simply stack the briquettes and light them in several places. The coals should light up rapidly, but once lit, do not add more pre-treated charcoal to the flame. It is also important to allow the lighter fluid to burn off before cooking anything on the grill; this generally takes around 45 minutes or so.

Lighter Fluid

Lighter fluid is the riskiest method of lighting up a charcoal grill, so it should be reserved for those with grilling experience. If you do decide to use lighter fluid, be sure it is compatible for charcoal. There are some lighter fluid products that cannot be used on a charcoal kettle grill.

There are several dangers to avoid when using lighter fluid too. For starters, never pour liquid lighter fluid on hot or lit coals because the charcoal can instantly flare up and burn you. And as mentioned before, you must allow the chemicals to burn off before cooking anything on the grill.

Barbecue Made Easy for the Whole Family!

Rackz BBQ Carmel, IN 317-688-7290

Rackz BBQ
317-688-7290

Visit Rackz BBQ in Carmel, Indiana for delicious smoked meat entrees, hand-crafted barbecue sauces, and homemade side items, like peach baked beans, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw, and more. From appetizers and sandwiches, to salads, entrees, and desserts, there is much to choose from on our comprehensive BBQ menu, so be sure to try them all! Contact us at 317-688-7290 to ask us about our menu prices, weekly specials, and more. We accept call-ahead and takeout orders too!