BBQ & Grilling In Depth: Tested Recipes, Science-Based Technique, Equipment Reviews, Community
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Barbecue season is in full swing. Get outside and cook your favorites! It’s prime time for smoking ribs, burgers, sausages and more. Make this July 4th weekend extra special with an all-American menu featuring our famous Last Meal BBQ Ribs and for dessert a new take on an old standby: Grilled Strawberry Shortcake with Smoked Whipped Cream. July is also National Hot Dog Month: Check out some of our top dogs below. And if you need any new grill gear, have a look at our top picks for tools, grills and smokers to celebrate “Christmas in July”. Gear up now as stores discount their inventory to make way for Fall. Happy grilling and smoking!
How To Make The Best Smoked Ribs You Have Ever Tasted: Last Meal Ribs
This mouthwatering smoked ribs recipe will ensure juicy and tender ribs every time, just like the top pitmasters and rib joints. It all starts with our award winning spice rub and end with championship tangy sticky sweet sauce. And unlike the hyped 3-2-1 method which can result in mushy, overcooked ribs, we'll help you master the techniques that ensure perfection.
Are My Ribs Ready Yet?
There are several techniques to tell when your ribs are ready: bend, twist, peek-a-boo, taste, toothpick, popup, and thermometer test. Since ribs come in so many different weights and thicknesses, knowing when they are done is an inexact science but here are some guidelines and techniques that will help make it easier.
Our Best July 4th Menu
Celebrate Independence Day with an all-American menu featuring the best BBQ ribs you ever tasted, old-fashioned potato salad, Boston baked beans, classic cole slaw and, for dessert, a new take on an old standby: Grilled Strawberry Shortcake with Smoked Whipped Cream. Don't forget the ice cold beverages.
Party Planning: How Much to Cook for a Crowd
So you're cooking for a crowd. How much food do you need? Here's how to plan for a party or special occasion, including some basic rules of thumb and tips on how to handle dietary restrictions, how to prep ahead, and how to calculate the right amount of food so no one goes hungry.
Pesto Potato Salad: Summer’s New Favorite Side
It's time to rethink serving ordinary potato salad as a side dish at your next BBQ and grilling cookout thanks to this delicious recipe for pesto potatoes. Pesto is a savory pasty green sauce that traditionally includes basil leaves, olive oil, plenty of garlic, pine nuts or walnuts, and parmesan cheese.this item is for members only
Barbecued Ice Cream, A Surefire Showstopper
Sweet meets heat with this showy grilled ice cream dessert. First introduced by AmazingRibs.com on Live with Regis and Kelly in 2001, this delicious barbecued ice cream dessert is the perfect way to wow your friends at your next BBQ and grilling cookout as you pull it from the grill at the end of the meal.
Join Our Whiskey Tasting!
Like bourbon? Join us for an exclusive tasting of four single-barrel bourbons conducted by master whiskey distiller Jeremy Elliot of Smugglers Notch Distillery.
Celebrate National Hot Dog Month with the Best Wurst On the Planet
The hot dog is an iconic American food beloved every which way in every region of the country. July is National Hot Dog Month, so grab a pack of dogs, and get grilling with our best recipes for hot dogs and sauces. We also reveal some interesting history on hot dogs and the truth about what really goes into them.
Christmas In The Summer: Why Wait For The BBQ Gifts You Can Use Now?
The holiday gift giving season is still several months away but why wait until then to get the BBQ and grilling gear that you could use right now? Treat yourself to Christmas in July with one or more of these great gift ideas – from spatulas and tongs to smokers and grills and numerous items in between!
BBQ Season Checklist
Getting ready to fire up for BBQ season? Check out our must-have checklist of tips to kick things off right. You'll find out how to get rid of built-up grease, clean the grill grates, and improve your cooker's overall performance so you're barbecued food will taste its best all season long.
Meathead Makes The Barbecue Hall Of Fame!
On May 26, 2021, I was informed that I made the Barbecue Hall of Fame. Wow! This is quite an honor. The other two living inductees honored this year are Ollie Gates of Gates BBQ in Kansas City, and Rodney Scott of Rodney Scott’s BBQ in Charleston. “Legacy” (deceased) inductees this year include Arthur Bryant of Arthur Bryant’s BBQ in Kansas City and Lyttle Bridges Cabaniss of Bridges Barbecue in Shelby NC. I am the second inductee from the Chicago area, the other being James Lemons, founder of Lem’s Bar-B-Que.
Hypocrisy By Epicurious
The cooking website Epicurious.com, is not publishing any new recipes using beef out of concern for sustainability. This is bullpoop. Find out why.
AmazingRibs.com Has A Powerful New Engine!
Welcome to the new AmazingRibs.com! Over the past year, our elves have been working diligently behind the scenes to rebuild this entire website. At first glance, AmazingRibs.com may look similar to the way it always has, but under the hood, we have completely rebuilt the engine. It's now faster and easier to navigate.
Meathead’s World Famous Memphis Dust Rub Recipe
This popular Memphis dust bbq dry rub recipe is the only seasoning blend you'll ever need for pork, chicken, fish, beef, and veggies. The rub is based on Memphis style BBQ, where ribs are served "dry," letting the seasoning and smoked shine by skipping the sauce.
The Easiest Authentic BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe Ever
This easy BBQ pulled pork recipe skips the slow cooker to create authentic low and slow smoked pulled pork on a smoker or grill. With smoke woven through the moist meat, bits of seasoned crust, and a gentle splash of BBQ sauce, BBQ pulled pork is a foolproof low and slow smoked food, perfect for feeding large crowds.
Authentic Texas Style Smoked Brisket Recipe
Behold the best smoked brisket recipe ever! Texas style brisket is more than a recipe, it is a concept and a goal. It all begins by selecting the right meat, trimming it, seasoning it, smoking it, slicing it, and more. Follow this easy BBQ brisket guide for mouthwatering results!
Hamburger Secrets: How The Zen Master Prepares A Real Happy Meal Hamburger
Here's everything you need to know about burgers and how to make the best hamburger you ever tasted.
The Steakburger Recipe That Puts The Best Steakhouses On Notice
Here's everything you need to know to make the best thick juicy crispy steakburger hamburger you ever tasted. This reverse seared steakhouse burger recipe produces perfectly cooked burgers with rich steak flavors, a wonderful smoky undertone, perfectly seasoned interior, and enough juice to soak the bun.
Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs Will Be Your New Best Friend
Stuffed with cheese then wrapped in bacon, this grilled hot dog recipe is a sure fire hit at any backyard bash. Inspired by Chicago's famed francheesie, our recipe skips the traditional deep frying in favor of the grill for a crisp bacon shell and deep smoky flavor.
Hot Dog Heaven: How to Cook Frankfurters
Many ways to skin a cat and many more ways to cook a dog. Here's how to grill, griddle, split griddle, dirty water, steam, nuke, and deep fry franks.
Mom’s Old Fashioned Potato Salad Wows ‘Em Every Time
Make mom proud with this recipe for the perfect potato salad. No backyard BBQ is complete without potato salad but often times it can be lacking in flavor. The secret to old fashioned potato salad is the dressing, a simple blend of mayonnaise and sour cream that perfectly complements the other ingredients.
The Science of Slawsome Slaw
No backyard cookout would be complete with a side of slaw, whether it is a creamy coleslaw with mayonnaise, sweet-and-sour vinegar law, or a custom creation. Begin putting together the one that is right for you with this extensive tutorial.
Burger, Sloppy Joe, Salisbury Steak Recipes
Our growing section of burger recipes will help you understand all the angles in making big fat juicy steakburgers or thin crispy diner burgers, and the techniques are very different! We'll take you on a tour of the regional styles of hamburgers, and even give you the secret sauce recipe. Plus sloppy joes, Salisbury steaks, and more!
Our Most Popular Recipes
Here's a list of the AmazingRibs.com top 15 recipes of the year, the best and most visited ones on our site, including ribs, brisket, pulled pork, pastrami, spice rubs, and other BBQ favorites.
Quick Start Guide: The Meathead Method
If you are new to BBQ and grilling, start here. These articles will give you a solid foundation on BBQ and grilling equipment, ingredients, and techniques. You'll learn about thermodynamics, how to control temperature, meat science, smoke science, and how to get your food done exactly how you want it when you want it.
Sous-Vide-Que Marrying The Grill, Smoker, And Sous Vide
Sous-Vide-Que combines the best of three great cooking methods: grilling, smoking, and sous vide. From grilling you get the rich flavors of browning. From smoking, you get the alluring aromas of wood smoke. And from sous vide, you get evenly cooked meat that is incredibly tender and juicy.
Pizza Perfection: Everything You Need Know
You want to make the best pizza? Here's what you need to know from thin crust to deep dish, Naples to Rome, Detroit to New York, baking stones to steels, grills to pizza ovens, reliable dough recipes to the best topping combinations, and everything in between.
Frying Is Best Done On The Grill!
Frying is a project for your grill. If you do it on your grill, who cares if there are spatters, smoke, and there is no smoke alarm. Here are some articles and recipes that will show you how to make great fried chicken, onion rings, and more on your grill.
Why You Need To Start Griddle Grilling
Cooking on a hot griddle, flattop, or plancha is a great way to get an all-over flavorful sear. And it is fun! Here's a guide to everything you need to know for griddle grilling!
Reverse Sear, Grilling Temps, When To Cook Hot & Fast, When To Cook Low & Slow, And When To Do Both
What is the right cooking temperature for barbecue? It depends. Not all food should be cooked low and slow or hot and fast. Sometimes, a combination of both is best, as seen in the reverse sear and in sous-vide-que. Read more about 2-zone cooking and when to grill with the lid up or down for perfectly cooked BBQ.
Ratings, Reviews, And Buying Guides
Forbes called us "the top website devoted to in-depth grill reviews." Our team of professional reviewers is hard at work finding the best and worst grills, smokers, thermometers, tools, accessories, artisan foods, and books for you.
Best Cooking Thermometers, 200+ Lab Tested And Reviewed
A good digital thermometer is a cook's most important tool. Our electrical engineer has tested and rated more than 200 different types of thermometers in a searchable database, making finding the perfect one for your needs a breeze!
BBQ And Kitchen Tools, Toys, And Accessories Rated And Reviewed
Check out our reviews of tools, equipment, gadgets, and toys that can help make you a better cook. We have tested all of these products and we really put them through their paces to see if they are worth using. Our reviews and ratings are honest and unbiased, and you can read about exactly how we test products to learn why we stand by that claim.
Charcoal Grillin’ Starter Kit
New to charcoal grilling? Here's everything you need from the best grill and charcoal to tongs and a reliable thermometer.
7 Amazing Grills and Smokers Under $500
Ready for a new rig? A brand new, good quality gas grill, smoker, or pellet grill doesn't have to break the bank. For many folks, the sweet spot is about 500 bucks. These 7 grills and smokers all cost less than $500, and they are all winners of our highest honor, the AmazingRibs.com Platinum Medal for Best Value.
Videos Show You The Science Of Great BBQ And Grilling
Check out our videos to see detailed BBQ and grilling techniques, step by step recipes, and video reviews of grills, smokers, thermometers and other products we have tested and find useful.Published On: 3/16/2021 Last Modified: 6/21/2021
Digital Thermometers Are Your Most Valuable Tool And Here’s A Great Buy!
A good digital thermometer keeps you from serving dry overcooked food or dangerously undercooked food. They are much faster and much more accurate than dial thermometers. YOU NEED ONE!
Click here to read our complete review
Grilla Pellet Smoker proves good things come in small packages
We always liked Grilla. The small 31.5″ x 29.5″ footprint makes it ideal for use where BBQ space is limited, as on a condo patio.
Click here for our review on this unique smoker
Heat Resistant Gloves With Extra Long Sleeves Hold The Hot Stuff
If you’re using oven mitts at the grill, it’s time to trade up. Say hello to these suede welder’s gloves. They’re heat resistant enough to handle hot grill grates, and flexible enough to handle tongs. The extra long sleeves even let you reach deep into the firebox to move hot logs without getting burned. Our Fave.
Click here to read our detailed review
Click here to order from Amazon
Griddle And Deep Fryer In One
The flat top does the burgers and the fryer does the fries. Use the griddle for bacon, eggs, and home fries. Or pancakes, fajitas, grilled cheese, you name it. Why stink up the house deep frying and spatter all over? Do your fried chicken and calamari outside. Blackstone’s Rangetop Combo With Deep Fryer does it all!
Click here to read our detailed review and to order
Fireboard: The Ultimate Top Of The Line BBQ Thermometer
Fireboard Labs Product Photo Shoot. Kansas City Commercial Portrait and Wedding Photographers ©Kevin Ashley Photography
With the ability to monitor up to six temperatures simultaneously with either Bluetooth or Wifi on your mobile phone, tablet, or computer, Fireboard is the best digital thermometer we’ve tested.
Click here to read our detailed review
Is This Superb Charcoal Grill A Kamado Killer?
The PK-360, with 360 square inches of cooking space, this rust free, cast aluminum charcoal grill is durable and easy to use. Four-way venting means it’s easy to set up for two zone cooking with more control than single vent Kamado grills. It is beautifully designed, completely portable, and much easier to set up for 2-zone cooking than any round kamado.
Click here to read our detailed review of the PK 360
Click here to order directly and get an exclusive AmazingRibs.com deal
Surely you know somebody who loves outdoor cooking who deserves a gift for the holidays, birthday, anniversary, or just for being wonderful. There he is, right in the mirror! Here are our selections of best ideas, all Platinum or Gold Medalists, listed by price.
Click here to see our list of Gold Medal Gifts
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