Be Amazing! Try the Pitmaster Club FREE

2,000+ Free Pages

2,000+ Free Pages

The Science Of Clarified Butter and Ghee

Steaks in clarified butter

Do you know the difference between clarified butter and ghee? Longer cooking! That’s it. Ghee whiz! Read on to see a recipe for clarified butter and ghee, and why this simple process raises the smoke point so you can fry in clarified butter or ghee and so you can store it at room temperature without it going rancid.

Parmesan Is Really Parmigiano-Reggiano And Why It’s So Great

grating parmesan over pasta

What’s the difference between Parmigiano-Reggiano and Parmesan from a green can? Flavor! Parmigiano-Reggiano is called The King of Cheeses because it tastes amazing. Find out how it is made and aged to develop its “umami flavor,” and how to buy, store, serve, and cook with it. Even what to with leftover Parmesan rinds!

Offset And Barrel Smokers Setups And Modification Tips

reverse flow offset diagram

Find out how to setup and modify inexpensive offset smokers such as the Brinkmann Pitmaster, Brinkmann Smoke’N Pit Professional (a.k.a. SNPP), and Char-Broil Silver Smoker to get the best possible BBQ with the least possible expense.

Myth: The Bones Make The Meat Better

grilled chop on a plate

“Tender at the bone” is a common phrase in cooking. It leads many cooks to believe that bones make the meat better. Is it true that bone-in meat tastes better than boneless meat? Do bones add flavor or somehow make meat more tender near the bone? We have the answers, and they may surprise you.

How to Remove the Membrane from Ribs: Skin & Trim ‘Em

Man removing membrane from ribs.

Removing the paper-thin membrane from the bone side of ribs prior to smoking ensures that the ribs come out as tender as possible without guests having to gnaw through the membrane’s tough texture. This how-to guide features step by step photos for trimming a slab of ribs and removing the membrane.

Myth: A Melting Fat Cap Penetrates Meat

Man using a boning knife to remove fat from a briket.

The fat on the outside of meat does not melt and penetrate the muscle fibers making the meat moister. That is a myth. Here’s the science on different types of fat, what happens as fat heats and melts, and the best way to trim meats before cooking to create the most delicious browned bark or crust.

Spatchcock Chicken And Turkey, A How To

Spatchcocked chicken on the grill over burning charcoal.

Spatchcocking, or butterflying, a whole turkey, chicken or any other bird is a great way to make moist, delicious birds that are browned all over and evenly cooked in less time. It’s a simple matter of cutting out the bird’s backbone, a deboning process that is easy and painless with good kitchen or poultry shears.

Myth: If You’re Lookin’ You Ain’t Cookin’

Man in a blue shirt lifting the lid on a charcoal grill.

Conventional wisdom says you should keep the grill lid closed at all times. What do precise measurements tell us? It turns out that opening the lid may not have a huge effect on the grill’s ambient temperature. Learn about all the variables and whether or not a steady temperature makes a big difference anyway.

Golden Brown And Delicious: Why We Love Crust And How It’s Made

the chemistry of bark

Recipes often tell you to cook food until it is browned. Why? Browning is flavor! The most important chemical changes in food occur when heat initiates the Maillard reaction and caramelization. These processes make food GBD: Golden Brown and Delicious. Read on to find out how it all works.

Strategies for Using BBQ Sauces

Jar of mustard BBQ sauce with spoon resting on the side.

Here’s what you need to know about when and how to use BBQ sauce. There are tricks to know, including how much sauce to use on smoked ribs, pulled pork, and other barbecue. Find out when not to apply BBQ sauce, how to avoid burnt sauce, how to use a kitchen torch, and how to sizzle, glaze, paint on barbecue sauce.