Summer’s here and in full swing, so it’s time to get that old barbecue up and running, invite some friends over, and pop open a cold beer. Before you start though, let us ask you this: what do you really know about barbecues? Here we’re going to give you the lowdown on all things BBQ…
No one knows where the name originates
We know that the word barbecue evolved from the Spanish work barboaca. Where the word actually originated though is still a thing of debate. The leading theory is that its origins lie in barabicu, which is a word the Tiano people of the Caribbean used to mean “a framework of sticks upon posts”.
The type of wood you use matters
If you want to enjoy a great barbecue, you can’t just pick up any wood and burn it. Hard woods are most often used for pork and beef because they impart a strong smoky flavour. Fruit woods like apple, cherry, and pear, release a sweeter taste and are ideal for fish and poultry.
There’s a barbecue competition
In this competition, more than 500 teams compete. It’s the American Royal World Championship and it’s the largest competition going to test your BBQ skills.
In Alabama, there are lots of BBQ joints
More than 8% of all the restaurants in Alabama are BBQ places which is the highest percentage in America (they do love their BBQs).
“Smoke rings” come from carbon monoxide-based reactions
You know you’ve BBQ’d right when the meat has a faint reddish smoke ring around its edge. This smoke ring occurs because of a chemical reaction between myoglobin, an oxygen carrying protein in muscle tissue, and the carbon monoxide in the smoke.
George Washington attended a “barbicue” in 1769
BBQs in America date back to the colonial era. George Washington (a notoriously bad speller) wrote of attending a “barbicue”.
So there you go. A few facts to wow your friends at your next summer BBQ. Need some equipment to hold your BBQ party? Four-Candles can help. Get in touch here to learn more.
