Nothing is better than barbecue during a backyard get together. Manning the grill is a big responsibility that can take a lot of time – sometimes up to 18 hours if you’re slow cooking. This quick guide to BBQ cooking times will help you coordinate everything based on the needs of different meats and the heat sources. You’ll get a good idea of what needs to put on the grill first and how to time things right to make the best use of your grill space.
NOTE: These are strictly the cooking times, which do not include preparation like marinating.
Brisket
Barbecue in Texas wouldn’t be complete without the regional favorite brisket. It’s an inexpensive cut of meat that takes a while to cook but is worth every second. Do keep in mind that you’ll only end up with about half the total weight after cooking, and you’ll need a Kamado Joe Grill or a smoker to get the job done.
Cooking Method: Smoking
Cooking Temp: 225° F
Cooking Time: Up to 15 hours (approx. 1.5 hours per pound)
Ribs
Just about anywhere in the country pork ribs, beef ribs or both are a BBQ staple. They are super delicious and inexpensive. To get the best meat yield for your money keep the number of bones and amount of fat low. Regardless of whether you cook the ribs bare or use the 3-2-1 wrapping method here’s the cooking time for this cut of meat.
Cooking Method: Smoking
Cooking Temp: 225° F
Cooking Time: 6 hours
Chicken
White meat, dark meat, skinless or whole chicken is one of the healthiest and most popular meats to BBQ. However, cooking chicken can be a little tricky because of all the different pieces. You can simplify the cook time by making a certain section of the grill hotter and placing the thicker cuts there.
Cooking Method: Grilling
Cooking Temp: 350° F
Cooking Time: Approx. 45 minutes
Bratwurst
Here in Central Texas it’s not uncommon to see bratwurst on the grill. It’s one of the easiest meats to BBQ since bratwurst doesn’t require much preparation or additional seasoning. Just throw them on the grill, flip and enjoy.
Cooking Method: Grilling
Cooking Temp: Medium Heat
Cooking Time: 25 minutes
Pork Shoulder
If you’ve ever been to a BBQ in the Carolinas there’s a good chance pulled pork was on the menu. The square shoulder is what most people use to get a good pulled pork, and because of its size (usually around 15+ pounds) it will take a bit of time to cook.
Cooking Method: Smoking
Cooking Temp: 225° F
Cooking Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes per pound
Turkey
This bird shouldn’t be reserved for holidays. When you cook a whole turkey you actually get a lot of meat for your money, and it’s an option just about everyone likes.
Cooking Method: Smoking
Cooking Temp: 235° F
Cooking Time: 30 to 40 minutes per pound (until internal temp is 165° F)
1 Inch Thick Hamburgers
Hamburgers are unique because everyone has their personal preference for rare, medium rare, medium and well done. This, of course, will affect the time that the burgers spend on the grill and the amount of heat you use to cook them. Like chicken you can simply things and cook burgers all at once by creating hotter areas on the grill for the ones that need to be medium to well done.
Cooking Method: Grilling
Cooking Temp: High Heat
Cooking Time: 6-10 minutes
Hotdogs
Hotdogs are as all-American as they come. If you have kids at the BBQ hotdogs are a definite must, but don’t be surprised if adults are chowing down on them as well. The cooking times below are based on regular hotdogs that have been cut or spiraled so as to cook them more evenly.
Cooking Method: Grilling
Cooking Temp: Medium to High Heat
Cooking Time: Approx. 5-10 minutes
Trying to find an amazing smoker/grill or outstanding rubs for your next backyard BBQ? Swing on by Timbertown Austin. We’ve got a complete lineup of Kamado Joe Grills and mouthwatering BBQ rubs.
Image Source: gardawamtu.deviantart.com/art/Texas-Millionaire-Brisket-318788110
Original Source: http://timbertownaustin.com/outdoor-accessories-and-decor/planning-out-your-meat-cook-times-at-a-backyard-bbq/
