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If you’d like to enjoy real barbeque with traditional flavor and style, consider building a BBQ pit. When you cook your meat in a BBQ pit, there’s a greater concentration of smoke and heat. The taste is out of this world.

This method of cooking outdoors is ideal for larger cuts of meat such as a roast. If your pit is big enough, it’s possible to cook a whole pig or a section of beef. Just remember that it will take a long time to cook this much meat, anywhere up to 10 hours.

You have two basic choices in open BBQ pits, modern and traditional. The traditional BBQ pit is essentially a hole in the ground. You then lay in your wood or charcoal and light it.

You can cook your food by placing it on a skewer and holding it over the fire. You can also lay a grill over the flames to hold the meat. Another option is to wrap the food in foil and lay it in among the coals after the fire has died down.

The modern open pit is usually an above ground BBQ. Stone, brick and concrete are the most common materials used for building such a structure. There’s a firebox in which charcoal or wood can be set on fire. You’ll likely want to attach a grill to the pit. Just make sure it’s far enough away from the source of heat so your meat won’t become overcooked.

With an open pit BBQ there are two ways of cooking your food. You can choose either direct or indirect heat. Direct heat cooking means that your food is cooked directly over the flame or heat of the burning coals. In order to manage the cooking temperature, many people locate the coals at one end of the pit and the food at the other. This method cooks your food relatively quickly and is perfect for tender cuts of meat.

Indirect cooking is also known as pit cooking. Cooking with indirect heat involves using a very low temperature to cook the food. First you build up the fire until the pit has stored up a lot of heat. The objective is to store up a lot of heat in the sides of the BBQ pit.

The fire is then put out and the meat is placed onto the grill. You then need to cover up the pit. The heat that has been absorbed into the sides of the pit will do the job of cooking the meat. With this style of cooking, it takes a long time before your meal is done. But it’s ideal for tougher cuts of meat. Many people believe this is the best BBQ method for authentic flavor.

Barbequing brings to mind sunny days, savory aromas and great food. A cookout is a great way to relax while honing your cooking skills. In some areas, you can only enjoy this pastime for a few months of the year. Here are some great BBQ tips to help make it a more enjoyable experience.

1. Begin by choosing the best type of BBQ grill for what you’ll be preparing. There are charcoal and electric grills, as well as those that use either propane or natural gas. You can buy barbeques in a variety of sizes, some of them portable and others permanently installed. Many have special features such as built in thermometers, removable drip pans, and side burners. Using a smoker for long term, slow cooking rather than a barbeque is a great option in many circumstances.

2. Learn about the advantages of using various BBQ sauces and rubs, as well as different kinds of wood chips. These are all great ways to improve the taste of your food, no matter what it is you’re cooking.

3. Pick up the barbeque tools you need to make preparation, cooking and clean up easy. The right kind of spatula can make flipping a burger seem effortless. A good thermometer can help you safely measure the internal temperature of the meat.

4. Next, take some time to prepare your meal the right way. There are two styles of BBQ, slow cooking or grilling, which is faster. Slow cooking in a smoker is best for cuts such as brisket. Slow cooking a hamburger will be a disaster. The cooking style should suit the ingredients.

5. Don’t spoil the enjoyment of your BBQ cookout by neglecting safety. Of course, BBQs are hot and there’s always the risk of burning yourself. However, it’s also possible to sustain an injury from your barbeque tools. Pay attention to what you’re doing as you use your tools. They’re larger than regular cooking utensils and can do some serious damage.

6. Insects are an annoyance that can get in the way of enjoying your BBQ. There are some easy solutions for keeping bugs away while you’re cooking. Spray them with a garden hose or use a hair dryer to blow them away. Even a simple fly swatter can keep bugs from ruining your party. Never use chemical laden insecticides near to where you’re cooking food.

7. When you’re all done, make cleanup easy by having the proper tools. Oven cleaner is very useful for cleaning up a messy grill. Some barbeques even have a number of features that make them easier to clean. Cleaning the grill every time you use it will improve the flavor of your food.