
Cooking on a BBQ pit is a great way to add a smoky flavour to your meat. It's also a fun way to cook outdoors and impress your friends and family. The first step is to decide on the location of your BBQ pit. It should be far enough from your house so that smoke doesn't blow inside, but not so far that it becomes a chore to carry food and utensils to the pit. You'll also need to make sure there are no fire hazards nearby, such as overhanging trees, buildings or fences. Once you've chosen a safe location, you can start digging your pit. The depth of your pit will depend on how much food you want to cook. For a family feast, you'll need a hole that's roughly a metre by a metre and about half a metre deep. If you're cooking for a large group, you can dig a bigger hole. Don't forget to keep the dirt you dig up, as you'll need to cover the pit with it later.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Location | Away from overhanging trees, buildings and fences. Not too far from the house. |
Size | 3 feet by 5 feet, or bigger for larger feasts. |
Shape | Rectangular or square. |
Depth | 8 inches or one brick turned vertically. |
Materials | Bricks, cinder blocks, gravel, mortar, spirit level, grill, metal braces, trowel, hand tamp, shovel, wooden or metal panel, old blanket, rocks, chicken wire, butcher paper, newspaper, burlap, sand, water. |
Meat | Beef, pork, goat, turkey, lamb, salmon, mackerel, venison, or an entire pig. |
Wood | Oak, maple, green alder, cherry, or applewood. |
Cooking time | 12-20 hours, or longer for a pig or side of beef. |
What You'll Learn
Choosing a location for your BBQ pit
- Distance from your house: You don't want the pit to be too far away, as it will be inconvenient to carry food and utensils. However, you also need to ensure that the smoke will not blow into your house or your neighbour's house.
- Safety: Choose a location that is away from any potential fire hazards, such as overhanging trees, buildings, or fences. Make sure there are no low-hanging branches or flammable materials nearby.
- Size and clearance: Ensure you have enough clearance for the pit, which should be approximately 3 feet by 5 feet (4.6 meters square). Make sure the area is clear of any brush or obstacles and allows for good airflow.
- Level ground: If you are building an above-ground BBQ pit, it is important to place it on level ground to ensure stability. Use a spirit level to check the evenness of the surface.
- Proximity to seating: Consider placing the pit near a seating area, such as a few lawn chairs and a small table, to create a comfortable and functional space for hosting BBQ gatherings.
- Accessibility: Select a location that is easily accessible and convenient for you. Consider factors such as proximity to your home, pathways, and any obstacles that may hinder movement.
Remember to put safety first and consider the convenience of your setup. By choosing the right location for your BBQ pit, you can create a safe, enjoyable, and functional space for your outdoor cooking adventures.
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Digging a hole
When digging the hole, keep the dirt you remove nearby, as you'll need to use it to cover the pit when you're done cooking. It's also a good idea to keep any rocks and topsoil separate for use in other garden projects.
Once you've dug your hole, you can line it with rocks. This isn't necessary, but it can help your pit heat the food more evenly. Medium-sized, flat rocks work best.
If you want to save time and effort, you can make a basic BBQ pit without putting bricks or cinder blocks along the sides. However, adding bricks or cinder blocks will make your pit more secure and long-lasting.
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Preparing the hole
The first step to making a BBQ pit is to dig a hole in your backyard. The size of the hole will depend on how much food you want to cook and how many people you want to feed. For a family feast, you'll need a hole roughly a metre by a metre and about half a metre deep. If you're cooking for a larger group, you can make the hole bigger. Conversely, if you're just cooking something small like a whole fish, you can make the hole smaller. Keep the dirt you dig up, as you'll need it later to cover the pit.
Once you've dug your hole, you should line it with rocks. This step is optional but can help your pit heat the food more evenly. Find some medium-sized, flat rocks and line the bottom and sides of the pit with them.
The next step is to add a layer of gravel to the pit. Spread about 2 inches (5 centimetres) of gravel and level it off with a hand tamp or another flat tool.
Now it's time to add the mortar. Mix dry mortar with water, making sure to add enough water to keep the mortar moist. Spread a layer of mortar about 2 inches (5 centimetres) thick on top of the gravel and level it off with a trowel. Work quickly so that the mortar doesn't harden before you have a chance to level it.
Building the walls
Place cinder blocks or bricks along the edges of the mortar, leaving a small hole or two for drainage. Use a level to make sure the cinder blocks or bricks are even, and check the corners with a carpenter's square.
Finishing touches
Continue building up the walls of your pit by laying bricks on top of the cinder blocks. You can spread mortar on top of the cinder blocks and then place the bricks side by side, or you can add mortar to each brick individually by putting mortar on the sides and bottom of each brick with a trowel.
Keep adding bricks until you reach your desired height. As you build, frequently check the levels and corners to ensure that everything is even and structurally sound.
Once you've reached the desired height, place metal braces in the last layer of mortar while it's still wet. These braces will hold up the grill, so they need to face inward. Let the mortar dry, and then place the grill top on the metal brackets.
And that's it! You've now built your very own BBQ pit and are ready to start cooking.
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Adding a grill
The type of grill you use will depend on the size and shape of your pit, as well as your personal preferences. A gridiron is a typical choice for barbecue grills, but you can also use a metal sheet or a wooden panel. If you opt for a metal grill, you can lay it directly across the top of your pit. For a wooden panel, you may want to consider adding some bricks or cinder blocks around the edges of the pit to provide support and ensure the grill doesn't slide off.
If you're building a more permanent above-ground barbecue pit using bricks or cinder blocks, you'll need to attach metal braces to the top layer of bricks to support the grill. Make sure the braces are facing inward so they can hold the weight of the grill. Once the mortar is dry, you can place the grill on top of the metal brackets.
If you're using a simple shallow pit barbecue, you can place the grill directly over the pit. However, it's essential to check that the grill is level and secure before adding any food. You can use bricks or cinder blocks to support the grill and ensure it doesn't slide off to one side.
Once your grill is in place, you're ready to start cooking! Remember to allow enough time for the coals to heat up before adding your food to the grill. Enjoy experimenting with different foods and cooking techniques to find what works best for your barbecue pit setup.
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Cooking techniques
The first step to cooking on a BBQ pit is to prepare the meat. Wrap each cut of meat in a dry, clean paper bag, which should be folded tightly around it. You can use butcher paper as long as it's wax-free. Then, wrap each bundle in two sheets of soaking wet paper. This covering will cling to the inner wrap and make a neat package.
When preparing the pit, it's important to have a good bed of coals. This will take a few hours, so it's a good idea to start the fire a few hours before you plan to cook. Use dry wood to build the fire, and add more wood until you have a good, thick layer of coals. It's also a good idea to hose down the area around the pit to prevent any fires from starting.
Once you have a good bed of coals, it's time to add the meat. Place the parcels of meat on a wooden or metal grill, and cover the pit. If any smoke escapes, plug up the holes with soil. Heap the remaining earth on top of the cover, and add an old blanket to help maintain the heat.
Leave the meat to cook for about 12 hours. The low and slow cooking method will result in tender, juicy meat with a smoky flavour. When it's ready, remove the meat from the pit and unwrap it. The outer wrapping should still be wet, but the meat inside will be warm and juicy.
If the meat is underdone, you can finish cooking it in the oven at 325-350°F. Serve with your favourite BBQ sauce and enjoy!
For an extra smoky flavour, try using different types of wood such as oak or maple. You can also experiment with different types of meat, such as beef, pork, lamb, turkey, or even an entire pig!
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Frequently asked questions
Building a BBQ pit is a simple DIY project that can be completed in a few steps. First, gather your materials, including a hand tamp, shovel, cinder blocks, measuring tape, gravel, dry mortar, water, a trowel, a leveler, a carpenter’s square, metal braces, a grill top and bricks. Next, pick a location that is clear of any fire hazards and about 3 feet by 5 feet in size. Then, dig a hole about 8 inches deep and lay gravel at the bottom. Mix dry mortar with water and spread it on top of the gravel before placing the cinder blocks on the edges, leaving holes for drainage. Check that the blocks are level and square before laying the bricks with mortar in between. Finally, add metal braces to the last layer of mortar and place the grill top on the braces once the mortar is dry.
Pit barbecuing is a traditional method of cooking meat and root vegetables buried below ground. It involves digging a hole in the ground, lining it with rocks, adding hot coals, and placing meat wrapped in paper or tinfoil inside. The pit is then covered with a wooden or metal sheet and left to cook for several hours or overnight.
When cooking on a BBQ pit, it is important to use good quality wood and let it burn for about four hours to avoid over-smoking the meat. The quality of the meat is also important, and it is best to use meat from animals that were reared outdoors. For the best flavour, use BBQ rubs and sauces, and experiment with different combinations. It is also important to practice cooking on the BBQ pit to perfect your skills.
One common mistake to avoid when cooking on a BBQ pit is not letting the meat come to room temperature before placing it on the grill. This can result in uneven cooking. Another mistake is not creating a hot enough fire, which can lead to the meat sticking to the grill. It is also important to keep the pit covered to maintain a consistent temperature and avoid flare-ups.