Tips and Tricks from a Pitmaster

When you think of summer, you think of grilling in the backyard next to the pool and eating barbecue with your friends and family while that wonderful smell of the smoke fills the hot summer air. 

Grilling is not just about cooking something to eat that day; it’s a way of life. I’ve spent 40 years in the restaurant industry and have always found it incredibly fulfilling to be able to share my craft with friends and family while nourishing their stomachs and souls. In its own way, barbecue is a community because it brings people together. 

I started working as a kitchen manager at Jim ‘N Nick’s 18 years ago. The kitchen is called the heart of the house because we sell food and our food starts at the pit. After undergoing the restaurant’s extensive 12-week training, the smoke was in my lungs, and I became a pit master.

There are several factors to consider if you or someone you know is aspiring for the coveted title of “pit master,” including developing a passion for the pit, mastering your grill or smoker, utilizing quality ingredients and most importantly, cooking low and slow.

Passion for the Pit
Barbecue is an art and a science, so possessing the desire to master your craft is essential. When you smoke and grill for a long time, you’ll develop a desire to perfect the craft more and more every day. Once the passion gets you, you just can’t let go!

To truly develop your passion for the pit, putting time into cooking daily and growing your skills by trial by fire is essential. Understand that honing your grilling skills involves taking chances and experimenting, so mistakes are inevitable. However, real-life experience will help you master your craft and, at the same time, provide your friends and family with the gift of a home-cooked barbecue meal.   

Mastering Your Grill or Smoker
The best and most popular grill for a beginner is the Weber Kettle Grill. It’s user-friendly and accessible since its smaller size allows you to cook conveniently from a house or apartment. It cooks consistently and will teach you the art of grilling.

If you are more interested in a smoker, I recommend Ole Hickory Pits. The best thing to do when mastering your grill or smoker is to cook on it as much as possible. This will allow you to learn the hotter and cooler spots of the grill and continuously improve the meats you prepare. When looking to fuel your grill or smoker, I prefer hardwood lump charcoal – either hickory or mesquite. It creates great flavor without any additional additives. 

Anyone can master the craft of barbecue with a little practice. Even if tools are unavailable to you, there are still ways to smoke and grill. In fact, the name barbecue originated from the act of cooking meat in a hole in the ground. It’s as easy as digging a pit, starting a fire and getting it down to coals, throwing your meat in the pit, covering, and letting it sit for 10-12 hours.

Invest in Quality Ingredients
Purchasing high-quality ingredients is one of the easiest ways to bring your barbecue skills to the next level. Before firing up the grill, ask yourself what you want the end result to look like in terms of flavor and tenderness. The better the ingredients, the better the outcome.

My favorite meats to cook are brisket and pork. When shopping for an excellent cut of brisket, you’ll get a flat and the point (lean and marbled). If you want more of the marbling, you’ll need to purchase a higher grade of meat for more of that intermuscular fat. Remember, fat is flavor. 

Cooking Low and Slow
When smoking or grilling your meats, it’s most important to be patient, follow the process, and cook low and slow. That’s one of the secrets I’ve learned working at Jim ‘N Nick’s for 18 years.

The biggest mistake beginners make is trying to cook something too fast. It’s essential to understand your cooking method and the time required to cook your meat properly without drying it out, allowing it to be juicy, flavorful, and tender. The best way to learn this process is by continuously practicing and experimenting with different cuts and kinds of meat. 

If you are a beginner, I recommend starting with grilling before smoking, as this method is generally more forgiving. Additionally, grilling is an easier learning process and requires less time to hone your skills. 

Chicken is a great option to begin experimenting with, as it’s easy to prepare, maintains its moisture, and grants you several options for different seasonings and flavors.  

Share the Wealth
There are few things in life as rewarding as cooking something and sharing it with your loved ones. If you want to take your grilling and smoking skills to the next level, try experimenting with different techniques and sharing everything you make with your friends, family, and neighbors to get feedback. 

When you dedicate the time to mastering your craft and taking your skills to the next level, you will be amazed at the outcome and the rewards.