I have always had a question, what is the difference between BBQ and grilling? Why is it that every time I do this, someone always tells me that this is not BBQ, is it because there is no lid?
I have always had a question, what is the difference between BBQ and grilling? Why is it that every time I do this, someone always tells me that this is not BBQ, is it because there is no lid?
by heysiew
25 Comments
oh_stv
probably the same reason some Americans call a pizza “a pie” …
chris_dea
BBQ is cooking at low temperature for a Long time, resulting in very tender meats (brisket, pulled pork).
Grilling is cooking over direct heat (Steaks, sausages etc)
ExcitementAfraid5412
Because they are a bunch of snobs. You’re doing fine. Don’t worry about anything anyone says.
No-Examination9611
Salute 🫡 for your keen question. Bbq is a way of life. Grilling entails the skillset of working with live fire 🔥 be it direct or indirect along with the elements of smoke, charcoal wood etc. Grill on Grill strong 💪 Make Barbecueology Great Again! Have a most joyous holiday season too!
EmotionalGur9336
Actually it appears you’re grilling. However, as long as you’re happy with it continue & enjoy.
unicorntea555
This is the second barbecue vs grill discussion I’ve seen today. People were real testy on the other one. I truly didn’t know people cared so deeply about it though lol
Anyway, I think (online) people get hung up on barbecue being a type of food(like pulled pork). But it can be a type of food, an item, an act, or an event. Looks like you did KBBQ. No one calls it “Korean grilling”
Independent-Virus-54
It’s an American snobbery thing.
2Drunk2Shoot
Once I organized a BBQ to grill some food on my BBQ, but ended up BBQing food on my grill.
Fartin_Scorsese
I think the main confusion lies in the fact that a lot of people use “BBQing”and “Grilling” interchangeably, especially outside of the US.
To me, grilling involves direct or indirect high heat, and BBQ involves indirect low heat, with smoke.
But more precisely, I don’t use BBQ as a verb. To me, it’s a noun. BBQ, to me, is a type of cuisine. (Ribs, pulled pork, brisket etc – all smoked low and slow).
JimmyBluffit420
I’d say that all grilling is BBQ, but not all BBQ is grilling. Like smoking indirectly low and slow.
koozy407
BBQ’ing is low and slow. Can be direct or Indirect heat. Indirect like an offset or a larger cooking surface with a hot and mild zone. Direct like with a rotisserie or a pit with a spit on it.
BBQ can also refer to the type of cooked meat Pulled pork or ribs even when done in the crockpot or oven once sauced is still called BBQ
Grilling is higher temps over direct heat.
Smoking is any type of cooking, cold or hot where smoke is used to impact flavor.
humphreybr0gart
Grilling is high direct heat cooking while bbq is low and slow indirect cooking. It’s pretty prickish to fuss about the difference in casual conversation though considering if you’re going to a BBQ the vast majority of the time it’s gonna be someone throwing a bunch of shit on the grill
Someone told me once, “That’s not BBQ. There’s no sauce.” Not sure if I agreed with him, but it was his definition.
Narrow-Plate4499
BBQ is traditionally ‘low and slow’ cooking at <300F generally, and closer to 225-250F specifically. Grilling is accomplished at temperatures well in excess of what true BBQ is all about. There’s nothing snobbish about these facts as some others have intimated. Certain cuts of meat with higher fat content and more connective tissue require longer cook times to render that fat and break down the connective tissue. You generally can’t achieve the tenderness of these cuts by grilling them hot and fast (i.e at ‘grilling temperatures’) as you can with low and slow. Bbq is also mainly associated with wood fires or charcoal, or with a gas burner that heats a pan of wood. Though one can also grill with these methods as well, as it’s all about fire management and the temperature of the pit and the grill grates.
inquisitiveimpulses
BBQ is indirect heat
Pantalyra
Because people are wrong! Let us take a look.
# barbeque
# noun
1. a rack to hold meat for cooking over hot charcoal usually out of doors 2. a cookout in which food is cooked over an open fire; especially a whole animal carcass roasted on a spit 3. meat that has been barbecued or grilled in a highly seasoned sauce
Bogmanbob
You are grilling. BBQ is low and slow with indirect heat while covered. The reason behind this is connective tissues basically dissolve when heated at a slow rate but toughen when heated quickly. This is why bbq ribs and pulled pork fall apart but grilled ribs and pork can be tough.
robomassacre
BBQ refers to a type of cuisine, and cooking method. It is usually done in a smoker, not a grill. Low and slow, with smoke, and usually indirect heat. And of course, BBQ sauce. Usually tougher cuts of meat which require long, extended cooking times.
A grill uses direct heat, with the food suspended above the flame. The food is cooked quickly and develops a slightly charred surface.
It’s really not that hard to understand and it has nothing to do with being a snob or anything like that. They are 2 completely different cooking methods. Around here, people often say “let’s have a BBQ”, when they really mean “let’s have a cookout”.
A cookout is done on a grill, BBQ is cooked in a smoker. The terms got intertwined at some point and now everything is everything apparently.
roughingit2
I would like to show up to your bbq and grill out please
Active-Berry-4241
Its your cookout, call it what you want, but grilling is not done over coals, usually in an electric range.
godbyzilla
I assumed the difference was heat at which you are cooking and for how long.
funwthmud
I’d like to say that a Santa Maria BBQ has no lid. To me this is a similar style
25 Comments
probably the same reason some Americans call a pizza “a pie” …
BBQ is cooking at low temperature for a Long time, resulting in very tender meats (brisket, pulled pork).
Grilling is cooking over direct heat (Steaks, sausages etc)
Because they are a bunch of snobs. You’re doing fine. Don’t worry about anything anyone says.
Salute 🫡 for your keen question. Bbq is a way of life. Grilling entails the skillset of working with live fire 🔥 be it direct or indirect along with the elements of smoke, charcoal wood etc. Grill on Grill strong 💪 Make Barbecueology Great Again! Have a most joyous holiday season too!
Actually it appears you’re grilling. However, as long as you’re happy with it continue & enjoy.
This is the second barbecue vs grill discussion I’ve seen today. People were real testy on the other one. I truly didn’t know people cared so deeply about it though lol
Anyway, I think (online) people get hung up on barbecue being a type of food(like pulled pork). But it can be a type of food, an item, an act, or an event. Looks like you did KBBQ. No one calls it “Korean grilling”
It’s an American snobbery thing.
Once I organized a BBQ to grill some food on my BBQ, but ended up BBQing food on my grill.
I think the main confusion lies in the fact that a lot of people use “BBQing”and “Grilling” interchangeably, especially outside of the US.
To me, grilling involves direct or indirect high heat, and BBQ involves indirect low heat, with smoke.
But more precisely, I don’t use BBQ as a verb. To me, it’s a noun. BBQ, to me, is a type of cuisine. (Ribs, pulled pork, brisket etc – all smoked low and slow).
I’d say that all grilling is BBQ, but not all BBQ is grilling. Like smoking indirectly low and slow.
BBQ’ing is low and slow. Can be direct or Indirect heat. Indirect like an offset or a larger cooking surface with a hot and mild zone. Direct like with a rotisserie or a pit with a spit on it.
BBQ can also refer to the type of cooked meat Pulled pork or ribs even when done in the crockpot or oven once sauced is still called BBQ
Grilling is higher temps over direct heat.
Smoking is any type of cooking, cold or hot where smoke is used to impact flavor.
Grilling is high direct heat cooking while bbq is low and slow indirect cooking. It’s pretty prickish to fuss about the difference in casual conversation though considering if you’re going to a BBQ the vast majority of the time it’s gonna be someone throwing a bunch of shit on the grill
Who cares, just as long as the food is delicious!
[www.google.com](http://www.google.com)
Someone told me once, “That’s not BBQ. There’s no sauce.” Not sure if I agreed with him, but it was his definition.
BBQ is traditionally ‘low and slow’ cooking at <300F generally, and closer to 225-250F specifically. Grilling is accomplished at temperatures well in excess of what true BBQ is all about. There’s nothing snobbish about these facts as some others have intimated. Certain cuts of meat with higher fat content and more connective tissue require longer cook times to render that fat and break down the connective tissue. You generally can’t achieve the tenderness of these cuts by grilling them hot and fast (i.e at ‘grilling temperatures’) as you can with low and slow. Bbq is also mainly associated with wood fires or charcoal, or with a gas burner that heats a pan of wood. Though one can also grill with these methods as well, as it’s all about fire management and the temperature of the pit and the grill grates.
BBQ is indirect heat
Because people are wrong! Let us take a look.
# barbeque
# noun
1. a rack to hold meat for cooking over hot charcoal usually out of doors
2. a cookout in which food is cooked over an open fire; especially a whole animal carcass roasted on a spit
3. meat that has been barbecued or grilled in a highly seasoned sauce
You are grilling. BBQ is low and slow with indirect heat while covered. The reason behind this is connective tissues basically dissolve when heated at a slow rate but toughen when heated quickly. This is why bbq ribs and pulled pork fall apart but grilled ribs and pork can be tough.
BBQ refers to a type of cuisine, and cooking method. It is usually done in a smoker, not a grill. Low and slow, with smoke, and usually indirect heat. And of course, BBQ sauce. Usually tougher cuts of meat which require long, extended cooking times.
A grill uses direct heat, with the food suspended above the flame. The food is cooked quickly and develops a slightly charred surface.
It’s really not that hard to understand and it has nothing to do with being a snob or anything like that. They are 2 completely different cooking methods.
Around here, people often say “let’s have a BBQ”, when they really mean “let’s have a cookout”.
A cookout is done on a grill, BBQ is cooked in a smoker. The terms got intertwined at some point and now everything is everything apparently.
I would like to show up to your bbq and grill out please
Its your cookout, call it what you want, but grilling is not done over coals, usually in an electric range.
I assumed the difference was heat at which you are cooking and for how long.
I’d like to say that a Santa Maria BBQ has no lid. To me this is a similar style
Grill is direct heat; barbeque is indirect heat.