Find out the tricks to make your next BBQ amazing

(BPT) - With the temperatures inching up, BBQ enthusiasts are looking to turn up the heat. May is National BBQ month and marks the return of backyard grilling. You can jumpstart the BBQ season by perfecting your skills and experimenting on the grill.

Charlie Torgerson, Famous Dave’s Restaurant Executive Chef and Pitmaster, has compiled 20 years of BBQ expertise to provide backyard pitmasters with BBQ tips for the summer. “Anyone can become an expert on the grill with the right knowledge, equipment and willingness to experiment,” says Torgerson.

Before firing up the grill

A successful BBQ begins before you heat up the grill.  When selecting your meat, make sure to examine its color. Beefs should be bright red, and pork should be a deep pink. To assess the true color, take your meats into a natural light and out from under fluorescents.

To ensure an even cook time, make sure the meat is at room temperature before placing it on the grill. Do not speed up the defrosting time by submerging in water as it can purge natural juices and flavor.

On the grill

Move the meat around to different heat zones versus the traditional method of letting the meat cook on one side and flipping to cook the other side. This technique will help build a better crust on the meat to enhance natural flavors.

Layer the flavor

Build flavor on the grill by using a variety of techniques. Marinade, season, smoke, char and caramelize your sauce to build a complex and robust flavor profile. Dress up a cheaper cut of meat with intense layers of flavor but let quality cuts of meat shine with simple seasonings.

One way to add that layer of flavor is to create your own sauce brush by securing a bundle of herbs to a wooden spoon with a piece of butcher’s twine to baste on sauce.

Slow and steady

Let your meat rest for at least five minutes and up to 30 before serving. Resist the urge to cut into the meat right off the grill and you will be rewarded with a juicier cut of meat.

As grilling enthusiasts will tell you, the best tool you can have is a notebook and pen. Keep track of your sauces and seasonings, how you heat, the cuts of meat you use, how long it rests and use what works well to build upon in future grilling excursions.

Celebrate National BBQ Month at your backyard BBQ by mastering your grill and experimenting with new techniques or leave it to the expert pitmasters at Famous Dave’s for an award-winning meal. For more tips, visit www.famousdaves.com