Use Smokehouse Pellets to Pump Up Your Barbecue

With summer just around the corner, it’s definitely time to start thinking about all of the events and parties that you are going to be hosting in the outdoors of your home. Of course, no summer garden is complete without a barbecue grill, so don’t make the mistake of leaving it too late to upgrade your equipment and learn all of the best techniques to impress your guests for lunch and dinner!

There are plenty of different ways for barbecue enthusiasts to inject a sense of special smokiness into their meats, but one of the easiest is with the use of smokehouse pellets. Here is some key information on how to use smokehouse pellets and other techniques to pump your barbecue so no one will doubt you are the master of your grill.

Make Sure It Is Well Oiled Before You Begin

Before and after every session with your BBQ, thoroughly clean your grill. Get it nice and hot to bring off any dirt, and then use some tongs to quickly rub over a kitchen towel that has been dipped in light cooking oil. At the end of your cooking session, open up all the vents and burn it clean again.

Set Up An Indirect Cooking Area

Set up the grill so that you have two distinct cooking zones, one that is directly over the flames for searing food, and the other where it can be placed to rest in slightly cooler conditions. This can be done with a charcoal grill where you pile your coals and pellets to one side, and obviously, with a gas grill, this entails adjusting the burners accordingly.

Be Patient!

Meat takes a lot longer to cook than you think it does, so it is important not to rush the grilling process by using too much direct heat. If you are cooking something like a rack of ribs or a big piece of beef or pork, then you need to trust a meat thermometer. Stick it into the cooking meat and it will register the internal temperature. There are plenty of online resources that will provide the temperature range for all types of grilled meats and fish. Even if the food looks done on the outside, it probably won’t be done on the inside yet, so have a seat and trust the process!

No Sauces Until The End

By all means, marinate food before grilling it but if you want to finish with a glaze, leave this until the end of the cooking process. Putting sauces on meat too early will result in the sugars in the solution catching and burning the surface of the meat, which is not something that you want after hours of smoking!

Get your smokehouse pellets today

If you are interested in pumping your own barbecue with the help of smokehouse pellets, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Knotty Wood Barbecue Company for all of the best products in the BBQ market right now. Feel free to contact a member of our experienced team and they will be able to guide you in the right direction no matter what you are looking to achieve with your barbecue this summer and beyond.

Knotty Wood Pellets and Honey are a Match Made in Heaven

If you’ve never grilled with honey, you are definitely missing out. There are lots of benefits to using honey when you grill and those benefits are amplified when you add Knotty Wood pellets. The combination creates top-notch meats that you will be proud to serve to your family and friends. So what’s so great about pellets and honey? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know.

Honey Keeps Meat Juicy

There’s nothing worse than a dry slab of meat so it makes sense to seek out ways to boost the juiciness of your beef, pork and chicken. Adding honey to brines and marinades before cooking over our wood pellets infuses the meat with flavor and preserves the moisture. That’s because honey contains hygroscopic properties that allow the meat to attract and hold the juices inside, even during the cooking process.  

Honey Promotes Crisping

You don’t want dry meat, but a bit of crispy char on the outside isn’t a bad thing. Using a honey glaze helps this process and creates a lovely crisp texture that you will enjoy biting into. At the same time, you get a delicious, browned color on your meat. Many people like the flavor combination of honey and mustard, so you can give that a try as you achieve the ultimate brown crispy edges on your meat.

Honey Extends the Use of a Marinade

You know that when you marinate meat and grill it outdoors you must be careful to avoid cross contamination and other practices that can lead to the transfer of bacteria, which can make you quite sick if ingested. Using honey in your meat marinades is a great way to extend its shelf life. That’s because honey has antibacterial and preservative properties that will keep bacteria from spreading as quickly.

Honey is Free of Added Sugar

Many of the store-bought marinades and barbecue sauces you find are packed with added sugar, both for making the product shelf stable, but also to add flavor. When you use honey, you avoid that trap without having to give up the sweetness you love when you cook. Not only that, but honey has antioxidants and other nutrients you won’t find in processed sugar.

Honey is Versatile and Easy to Use
Another great reason to use honey alongside wood pellets is that it has a versatile flavor profile that allows you to pair it with loads of other ingredients so you can treat your family and friends to delicious new foods all the time. Combine honey with mustard, soy sauce, ketchup and vinegar. It also pairs well with garlic, thyme, citrus zest and a variety of other herbs and spices.

Is your mouth watering yet? Are you ready to fill the grill with Knotty Wood pellets and toss some honey into your meat marinade? Whether you’re grilling chicken wings, salmon filets or sirloins, contact us for all of your wood pellet grilling needs. From plum wood to almond wood to all the recipes your heart desires, we’re here to help. Check out Knotty Wood Barbecue Company online today.

Should You Choose Charcoal or Grilling Pellets This Year?

When it comes to grilling pellets, the material you choose impacts the flavor of the food you prepare, as well as the speed of the cooking process and the other items you can use for marinating or otherwise flavoring your meat, vegetables and fish. So, are charcoal pellets better than grilling pellets? Or are grilling pellets better than charcoal pellets? Great question. Keep reading to find out.

Flavor Profile

No matter what you’re grilling, you naturally want it to taste great and the material you use for the cooking process definitely impacts the final flavor profile of the food. As you can imagine, wood infuses the meat with the flavor it imparts, whether that’s plum wood or almond wood. You’ll get a taste of whatever that wood is when you cook. On the other hand, with charcoal pellets, you can get a good sear on your meat, which adds the iconic grilling flavor you’re probably used to. You are also able to cook at higher temperatures, which can sometimes impart a higher degree of that smoky flavor you love so much.

Cost of the Pellets & Grill

If you’re on a budget, it makes sense to pay attention to the cost of the pellets you choose, be they wood or charcoal. If you don’t already own a pellet grill, that’s an investment to consider at the outset. Depending on which one you choose, expect to spend up to $2000 on a pellet grill. However, a charcoal grill will be much lower. Beyond that, consider the cost of staying stocked up on the pellets you need to grill. Quality plays a role here, as higher quality pellets of any type will cost more but will also impart more flavor and be easier and safer to use. Adding accessories to either type of grill is another cost component to keep in mind. If you want all the bells and whistles, expect to spend more than if you opt for a basic model.

How to Use

When you’re deciding between charcoal and wood pellets, their ease of use is something that can have an influence on your decision. A pellet grill is arguably much easier to use than a charcoal grill. That’s because it’s as easy as pouring in the pellets and choosing your cooking temperature. With a charcoal grill, there’s more work involved in getting the charcoal to light and then you often have to wait for it to reach the desired temperature. On the other hand, a pellet grill is used most often for smoking and may not reach the high temperatures that a charcoal grill can.

Grilling with wood pellets is a fun experience and the taste it gives your meat and seafood can’t be beat. If you want to give it a try and take a break from charcoal, we’re here for you. Shop online today for grilling pellets and browse the inventory of recipes at Knotty Wood Barbecue Company to create a meal to knock the socks off the people you love.

How to Use Costco Wood Pellets on Any Grill

Costco wood pellets are the ideal choice for many people who want to grill or smoke meat or seafood at home. You can even use them if you don’t have a dedicated wood pellet grill. And that’s great news because cooking with wood pellets is going to change your life. Not only can you add new flavor to foods you cook all the time, but it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Use this article to help you get started.

The Sprinkle Method

One way to optimize flavor and share meals with friends and family that they won’t soon forget is the sprinkle method. This is great for charcoal grills but also works with wood pellets. Simply sprinkle the pellets on hot coals. Leave the lid open to get a flame or close it if you’d prefer to smoke the meat. Then let it cook until it reaches the desired temperature. It’s as easy as that!

The Pan Method

This method works for electric, gas and charcoal grills. You’ll need a small baking pan. Any flames that occur during the cooking process may discolor the pan so it’s best to have one dedicated to this method. Fill the pan about ⅓ full with your wood pellets. Cover the pan with foil and use a small knife or other cooking implement to pierce small holes in the foil. Place the pan on your grill and close the lid to create smoke, but not flame if it can be avoided. Then place your meat or seafood on the grill and cook it to your desired temperature.

The Foil Pouch Method

This method is similar to the above-mentioned pan method but utilizes just the foil and forgoes the pan. You’ll wrap the pellets inside the foil (a large handful is probably enough), then seal the edges by rolling or crimping the foil. Poke a few holes in the foil, evenly spaced around the entire packet. Then place it on the grill, coals or other heat source and allow it to smoke. Place your meat nearby and cook until it reaches the desired degree of doneness.

Pellet Grill Accessories
The methods listed above are affordable and easy to carry out, but you can also purchase and use accessories that optimize cooking with wood pellets. Several stainless steel attachments are available. The most popular is a smoker tube that creates smoke for up to 5 hours, making it easier to smoke meat without having to refill the pellets like you would with the methods above. If you’re really into wood pellet cooking and do so often, these accessories may be worth the cost. If you only do so occasionally, you can save quite a bit of money by simply trying the sprinkle, pan or foil pouch methods.

No matter which method you use, you’ll need to stay stocked up on Costco wood pellets. Remember that higher-quality pellets create better meals because they provide optimal smoke and flavor. If you need wood pellets, cooking ideas or other help with your pellet grill, contact Knotty Wood Barbecue Company today and we can assist you.