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Grilling is a centuries-old cooking technique that involves placing meat, as well as other food, directly over a fire. Because it uses direct heat, it cooks meat more quickly than other methods. Unfortunately, there's a lot of misinformation out there...

Does your living room fill with smoke when the fireplace is lit? Known as a downdraft or backdraft, it's a serious problem that can place you and your family's health jeopardy. Smoke contains carbon monoxide (CO), which is an odorless...

Grilling and smoking is a popular and delicious way to cook food. Whether you're cooking meat or vegetables, even pizza or chili, you can make great flavors come to life in your own backyard. One of the keys to successful...

It's disheartening when you prepare and light your grill, only for a sudden rainstorm to roll your way. When the rain begins to fall, you may assume that you can no longer grill. After all, grilling requires a hot fire,...

Charcoal is the most common type of fuel used in charcoal grills. Available in both lump and briquette form, it burns hot to sear the exterior of meats. Because of its popularity, some pitmasters assume that they must use charcoal...

Does your wood-burning stove or fireplace feature glass doors on the front? If so, you may discover black smoke stains on it after building a fire. The smoke stains generally form on the interior surface of the glass, and while...

No overnight camping trip is complete without a campfire. When the sun begins to set, you can gather around the campfire for light and warmth while also using it to cook meals. But building an effective campfire requires more than...

Smoking is the preferred cooking method for meat by many seasoned and experienced pitmasters. When compared to grilling, smoking typically offers better flavor and increased tenderness. Whether you're cooking steaks, ribs, pork chops, fish, chicken or a brisket, you can't...

Grilling is a popular way to cook steaks, hamburgers, pork chops and chicken because of its ability to sear the exterior of meat. When you grill meat, the heat from the burning charcoal or wood will sear the exterior, thereby...

A fire pit is an essential component of an attractive patio or outdoor living space. It serves as a focal point while offering a container in which you can build fires. Whether it's spring, summer, fall or winter, you'll probably...

Since the beginning of humankind, people have gathered around campfires to tell stories. It's a fun activity that brings friends and family together. Regardless of age or gender, everyone enjoys listening to a good campfire story. Like any art form,...

Does your smoker leak smoke? If so, you might be worried that it will affect the flavor, tenderness and overall quality of your food. This is a common concern shared by countless pitmasters. In this post, we're going to explain...

According to a recent survey, pizza is America’s favorite food. Consisting of round baked dough topped with sauce, cheese, meat and veggies, it’s an incredibly versatile dish that can be prepared in countless ways. However, you’ll need two things to...

When using your fireplace, you'll need to take precautions to prevent creosote buildup. A fireplace is an invaluable feature that can offset the need for central heating in your home. Statistics show, however, that there are roughly 25,000 chimney fires...

Smoked meat offers a delicious flavor and pull-apart tenderness that's not achieved using other cooking methods like grilling or baking. As your smoking chunks heat up, they'll release flavorful smoke that's absorbed into the meat. While using the right smoking...

Ask any seasoned camper and he or she will likely agree: Food tastes better when it's cooked outdoors over a campfire rather than indoors on the stove or in the oven. Unfortunately, many people are unfamiliar with campfire cooking, resulting...

Congratulations on your decision to purchase a new grill or smoker! It's a smart investment that will open the doors to a new world of culinary activities. Before using your new grill or smoker, though, it's recommended that you season...

Barbecuing, grilling and smoking and three of the most popular methods for cooking meat. While they can all be used to cook delicious meals, though, they aren't necessarily the same. Each cooking technique offers unique qualities to meat. So, what's...

Nothing beats a delicious grilled steak cooked with a flavorful variety of wood or smoking chunks. If you're trying to achieve a seared, semi-crispy exterior, you should still use charcoal in your grill or smoker. Adding just a small amount...

You can use your smoker or charcoal grill to smoke more than just meats. Along with beef, pork, chicken, fish and other meats, you can also smoke cheese. Assuming you use a flavorful variety of smoking chunks, it will produce...

The right smoker will allow you to smoke delicious meats and veggies at a low temperature using flavorful wood, such as smoking chunks. While there are over a dozen brands of smokers available on the market, most can be classified...