Home LivingGardenBarbeque6 foods you should never cook on a barbecueFrom oysters to bacon, these foods shouldn’t come in contact with your barbecue or grillWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Home LivingGardenBarbeque6 foods you should never cook on a barbecueFrom oysters to bacon, these foods shouldn’t come in contact with your barbecue or grillWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
From oysters to bacon, these foods shouldn’t come in contact with your barbecue or grill
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Luis Quintero / Pexels)
(Image credit: Luis Quintero / Pexels)
The spring/summer months are on the horizon and with them will hopefully come warmer weather – you never know what to expect from the UK! For many people (including myself), that means one thing: it’s time to fire up the barbecue.
Thebest barbecuescan tackle a variety of cooking tasks, from searing and grilling to steaming and reheating. The main attraction to barbecues, specifically charcoal and wood pellet ones, is the authentic smoky flavour and texture they give to food, which you just can’t replicate with thebest ovens.
Before you start barbecuing this year, here are 6 foods you should avoid cooking on your barbecue or grill.
1. Flaky & skinless fish
(Image credit: Farhad Ibrahimzade / Pexels)
(Image credit: Farhad Ibrahimzade / Pexels)
The first thing you should avoid cooking on a barbecue is flaky and skinless fish. Many people love cooking fish on the grill but if the fish you’re using is dry and flaky, it won’t stand up well to a barbecue. This is because the meat on the fish is extremely delicate and it could fall apart, meaning it’ll fall in between your grill grates, causing burning and a more extensive clean-up than you were hoping for. The same can be said for thin fillets and skinless fish, as it doesn’t have the skin to hold it together, meaning it falls apart easier. The heat from a barbecue can also result in your fish being overcooked and tasteless after grilling, or cause them to be too chewy. In general, it’s best to stick to fattier robust fish on the barbecue, like tuna and halibut.
2. Scallops & oysters
(Image credit: Elle Hughes / Pexels)
(Image credit: Elle Hughes / Pexels)
3. Pork chops
(Image credit: KSV Billi / Unsplash)
(Image credit: KSV Billi / Unsplash)
Pork is a staple on many barbecues but pork chops should be avoided on the grill. As pork chops have a low fat content, they’re easy to overcook and tend to dry out quickly, so you’re left with a tough and chewy piece of meat. You’re better off sticking to sausages or bigger cuts of pork on the barbecue to get that barbecue flavour. Alternatively, you can quickly sear a pork chop on the grill and immediately transfer it to the oven, so it retains its moisture but you still get a hit of barbecue taste.
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4. Bacon
(Image credit: Wright Brand Bacon / Unsplash)
(Image credit: Wright Brand Bacon / Unsplash)
I’m not sure why you’d cook bacon on a barbecue but if you were ever considering it… don’t! Bacon grease is flammable, so if you flip your bacon and the grease splatters near the barbecue’s flame, you could easily burn yourself or start a fire – not an ideal start to your summer party. If you use an electric barbecue, like theWeber Luminor theNinja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker, you reduce this risk as you’re not cooking on an open flame. However, too much barbecue smoke can ruin the taste of bacon (yes, it really can happen) and cause it to burn.
5. Tofu
(Image credit: Polina Tankilevitch / Pexels)
(Image credit: Polina Tankilevitch / Pexels)
If you’re a meat-free barbecue-r, meat alternatives fare well on the grill, but tofu is something you should avoid. Similar to flaky fish, tofu has a delicate texture and it can easily fall apart. While tofu can be eaten raw, if you want to cook it all the way through on a barbecue, you run the risk of burning it or half cooking it, so the outside is crispy but the inside is mushy. Stick to frying tofu or putting it in the oven to get that crunchy texture and flavour.
6. Lettuce
(Image credit: Petr Magera / Unsplash)
(Image credit: Petr Magera / Unsplash)
Most vegetables are perfect for throwing on the barbecue, especially corn on the cob, peppers, red onion and aubergine. But leafy greens like red and green lettuce are best to be avoided. Can you cook them on a barbecue? Technically yes, but it’s more hassle than it’s worth. If your barbecue is too hot, these leafy greens will wilt rather than char and they can fall through the grill grates. Lettuce can be cooked on a barbecue on a lower heat, but this can be inconvenient if you’re cooking for lots of people and need to keep your barbecue at a high temperature to tackle the other food you’re cooking.
For more advice on how to best use your kitchen tech, check out these6 foods you should avoid cooking in an Instant Potand whatyou should never cook in an air fryer.
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Today’s best Charcoal Barbecues, Gas Barbecues and Electric Barbecues deals173 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆$61.52View$119View$156.38ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
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173 Amazon customer reviews☆☆☆☆☆
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