Tips For Meat Barbecues

A good barbecue is a real joy - it can make a wonderful family get together or a party for friends. Although most barbecues are perfectly good, a great barbecue is rare. Here are some top tips for making sure your next barbecue is one your family and friends will remember for all the right reasons.
Quality Meat
It goes without saying that the best barbecues start with the best quality ingredients. If you are lucky enough to have a decent butcher near by, make sure you use it. Tell the butcher that you are having a barbecue and see what they offer. However, do not be swayed by their 'marinated meat' - this is likely to be once decent meat covered in some artificial marinade, unless you are lucky. It is far better to choose good meat and marinate it yourself.Allow plenty of meat per person - at least one sausage, one burger and one piece of steak/chicken or pork, depending on what you are cooking. Buy the very best you can afford. If this means having more salads and breads than meat then that is better than buying lots of low quality meat.
Marinate
You can introduce some really exciting flavours by marinating your meat. Make sure the flavours are complementary, such as honey and mustard or chilli and lemon.Allow plenty of time for the flavours to develop, although be aware than any acidic ingredients (such as lime juice) can start to cook the meat, so use these for a maximum of two hours.
A good way to marinate your meat without making a mess is to put all the ingredients in a sealable plastic bag. Gently press out the air and massage the flavours into the meat. This works especially well with slashed chicken pieces as the flavour penetrates through the flesh.