Competitive BBQ is a rising trend throughout America. After all, everybody has to eat, and who doesn’t love a little healthy competition? If you are interested in getting into this world of competitive barbecue, there are some things you should know before you get started.
1. Smoking vs. Grilling
Different competitions will have different rules, so decide what your preference is before you apply to a competition. Smoking meat is a long process, so know what you’re getting into. That said, smoked meats are delicious, and there are speciality smokers for competitors, so if you’re looking to make this a big part of your life, it might be worth investing in. If you’re really looking to go all out, there are also custom-made carbon steel smokers for competitors, but we’d recommend waiting to get your feet in the water before buying any custom bbq smokers for competitors.
Grilling, on the other hand, is more straightforward and quicker, but still requires a great amount of skill. These competitions are incredibly competitive, so if you aren’t the real deal with your grilling, you might want to reconsider applying for a competition right away, or at least applying to a competition that’s friendly for beginners to the scene.
2. Work With Your Friends and Family
If you’re putting a team together for a competition, work with the people you know you can rely on, and hopefully who you won’t mind being in a stressful situation with. Above all, you want this to be an enjoyable experience, so undertake this with friends or family. Cooking, and grilling especially, can be a great family bonding experience; something you can pass down to your children. These events are also a great place to meet new friends, with shared interests!
3. Do Your Research!
If you want to be taken seriously as a competitor, you better know all there is to know about barbecue! The men and women in these competitions are pros. Take a walk through a BBQ competition and you’ll see a staggering amount of heavy-duty grills and smokers for competitors, so know what you’re walking into before you compete!
Competitive barbecue is an incredible hobby. It can even be a lifestyle! Have you had experience in a BBQ competition? What are your thoughts? Let us know down in the comments!
