Tips and Techniques Articles
October 16, 2026 | Lucas
How to Tell When Brisket Is Done Without Chasing a Number
A brisket is done when the probe slides in like warm butter, not when the thermometer hits a number. Here are the feel, jiggle, bark, and slice signals that tell you it is time.
October 14, 2026 | Lucas
Should You Wrap Brisket in Foil or Butcher Paper?
Foil or butcher paper? Compare the Texas Crutch wraps - bark, moisture, smoke flavor, cook time, and exactly when to wrap your brisket.
October 09, 2026 | Lucas
What Is the Stall When Smoking Meat?
The stall explained: why smoked meat hits 150-170F and stops rising. Learn the evaporative cooling cause, how long it lasts, and how to push through it.
October 07, 2026 | Lucas
Baby Back Ribs vs. Spare Ribs: Which Should You Smoke?
Baby back vs spare ribs compared: size, fat, flavor, cost, cook times at 225F, wrapping, and which pork rib to smoke for the best backyard BBQ.
September 25, 2026 | Lucas
Smash Burgers vs. Grilled Burgers: What's the Difference?
Smash burgers vs grilled burgers: how surface contact, patty size, heat, and equipment change crust, texture, and flavor, plus when each style wins.
September 23, 2026 | Lucas
How to Keep Burgers From Shrinking on the Grill
Why grilled burgers shrink and puff up, and how to stop it: the right 80/20 blend, wider patties, the thumb dimple trick, smart salting, and real heat control.
September 18, 2026 | Ben
How Long Should You Let Meat Rest After Grilling?
How long to rest meat after grilling: steak 5-10 minutes, burgers 3-5, chicken 10-20, pork 10-30, and brisket 1-4 hours, plus carryover cooking temps.
September 12, 2026 | Lucas
Direct vs. Indirect Grilling: When to Use Each Method
Direct heat for thin, fast-cooking foods and indirect heat for bigger cuts - here is how to set up two-zone grilling on charcoal or gas and when to use each method.
September 11, 2026 | Lucas
The Best Woods for Smoking Every Type of Meat
Every wood burns a different flavor. Here is how to match apple, cherry, hickory, oak, pecan, and mesquite to beef, pork, poultry, and seafood.
May 10, 2024 | Lucas
Q&A: Getting the Temperature Just Right
One of our readers writes in and asks us how to control the temperature when smoking meat. We've got the answers they're looking for!
May 09, 2024 | Ben
Perfecting the Sizzle: Understanding the Ideal Cooking Temperatures for Beef
Want to cook the perfect steak, brisket or burger? Then you need to know what the perfect temperatures are for cooking your beef.
January 31, 2024 | Lucas
Is Flank Steak Really a Cheap Option?
Curious about the cost and reputation of flank steak? We discuss its flavor, versatility, and recent price increase in our in-depth analysis.
