15 Tips for the Great Kiwi BBQ

Us Kiwis love BBQs! There’s nothing more relaxing on a gorgeous summer’s evening than having friends and family around for a good old Kiwi BBQ.

Follow these few simple tips to ensure your guests go home pleasantly satisfied after their Kiwi BBQ, not peaky.

1. Keep all perishable ingredients in the fridge until ready to use.
2. Ensure any frozen meat is thoroughly thawed before you put it on the BBQ.
3. Don’t allow raw meat and fish to come into contact with other foods – use separate boards and utensils.
4. If you touch raw meat or fish, ensure you wash your hands before touching ready-to-eat foods.
5. Season meat just before putting it on the BBQ.
6. Utensils and dishes used for raw meat or fish must be washed in hot soapy water before reusing.
7. Ensure your BBQ is hot enough before you start, and turn your meat once during cooking to ensure it cooks evenly.
8. Using tongs rather than a fork to turn the meat to help stop the juices escaping.
9. Chicken, pork, sausages and burger patties should be cooked right through. Microwaving chicken pieces before barbecuing, especially pieces with the bone in, such as chicken drumsticks, helps ensure this.
10. Don’t overcrowd the barbecue as this reduces the heat and can cause the meat to stew.
11. Watch out for dripping meat and fish juices. Avoid trailing raw meat or fish over cooked foods.
12. Don’t carve cooked meats on the board used to cut raw meat, or where raw meat has been sitting.
13. Don’t use leftover marinade as a sauce, and discard any leftover marinade.
14. As with cooking meat in the oven, resting is an important step to ensure the meat fibres relax and reabsorb some of their juices to maintain moisture and tenderness.
15. Avoid leaving food in direct sunlight or out for more than two hours.