Tips for Success

Tips for Success
Tips for Success

– When cooking poultry, never use oak wood chips. It will acquire the taste like it was cooked in a burning building. Instead, use only a small piece to ensure great flavor.

– If you want the meat to be the center of attention, don’t use overpowering side dishes.

– When preparing fish, a simple marinade is a light mixture of white wine, poultry seasonings, butter, garlic and a spicy or tangy salsa.

– Pork can be sprinkled with a pinch of brown sugar to give a hint of sweetness and something new and interesting.

– Beef is complemented by a pinch of pepper or all-purpose seasonings.

– If smoking the meat, pink is not going to go away. The only time a meat turns grayish or brown is when it is barbecued.

– When making a homemade rub, use granulated products or mix all fresh products thoroughly to achieve uniformity in flavor.

– Fresh vegetables, i.e. garlic, tend to be uneven and may blow you out of the water in one bite and then be bland in the next – so be cautious.

– Just because a certain cut of meat is expensive and/or looks good does not mean it is right for the occasion. Decide what kind of mood you want to create before choosing all dishes. If casual, hamburgers, hot dogs and sausages will be fine, whereas a more formal event may call for a choice cut of prime rib or filet mignon.

– Don’t be afraid to ask for help in the kitchen – you’d be surprised how eager some people are to do their part.

– There are as many methods of barbecuing as there are people doing it, so don’t be afraid to try new things.

– When cutting tri-tip, and most meats for that matter, cut against the grain. This maintains tenderness and reduces the chance of the meat being tough and chewy.

– Always cook slowly. Don’t rush it. Set yourself a deadline 10 minutes before the time you want it done, this way, no one is cheated out of the best.

– When checking to see if the meat is done, here is a trick: make a tight fist and feel the muscle between your thumb and your index finger – this is well done; make a loose fist and feel the same spot – this is medium; relax your hand almost completely – this is medium rare.

– For more tips, ideas, recipes, products and a semi-annual newsletter, log onto www.mansmith.com.