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Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 isolated on black, next to text describing this article is a review.
Grills

Napoleon TravelQ Pro285 Review

Who said barbecuing was limited to huge grills parked in your backyard? Not me! I grill wherever I go, and I’m always looking for the best cooker to join me and the fam on our adventures. Is this the ideal camping cookout companion? Let’s find out together!

Some cuts steaks, and some whole joints, wrapped in clear plastic in a glass refrigerator.
General Knowledge

How Long Can Raw Steak Stay in the Fridge?

I think we can all agree that we love steak? And that it’s hard to resist cooking and eating a steak the moment you get it home? Sometimes, though, we have the foresight to purchase our meat before we need it. The question is: how far in advance is it safe to do so?

A man turning meat with tongs on a very smoky looking gas grill.
General Knowledge

Does BBQ, Grilling and Smoking Meat Cause Cancer? Truth or Scare?

We all know that smoke contains carcinogenic chemicals, so does that make BBQ, grilling, and low and slow smoking cancer-causing? Is there any connection between cancer and the smoke we use to flavor our meat? We wanted to find out, and in this article, we provide the research and what we discovered.

A Kamado Joe Jr grill and smoker isolated on black, next to words describing that this article is a review of this product.
Smokers

My Review of the Kamado Joe Jr After 2 Years of Ownership

I already owned a pair of Kamado Joe grills before buying the Jr and starting this review. I promise you, though, I’m no blindly allegiant fanboy! I love my barbecued food too much to put up with junky gear. So how does the Kamado Joe Junior measure up? Let’s find out together!

A GrillEye Max smoker thermometer isolated on black, alongside text describing that this article is a review of it.
Thermometers

GrillEye Max Wireless Digital Barbecue Thermometer Review

Time is money — but temperature is the key to perfect grilling and smoking! That’s why I’m reviewing the GrillEye Max digital barbecue and smoker thermometer, a device that tests my theory that you can’t have too many probe ports. Read on to see if the Dr. Octopus of thermometers is right for you.

raw, boneless, pork cushion meat, on a cutting board with a red and yellow pepper in the background.
Ingredients

Pork Cushion Meat Guide — What it is, Where it’s From, How to Smoke it

When you think you’ve finally cooked it all, along comes a “new” cut to surprise you! It’s a bargain cut with flavor to spare that’s always overshadowed by its more famous neighbor on the pork shoulder. No more! It’s time to introduce you to pork cushion meat, and show why we love it.

An overhead shot of reheated steak on a white plate, with some roasted veg, next to a glass of wine.
General How Tos

How to Reheat Steak Without Overcooking and Drying it Out

The idea of not finishing a steak may seem foreign to many, but sometimes it just happens. Maybe you have a no-show? Perhaps you filled up on a pre-dinner dessert? Whatever the reason, there’s NO reason you can’t reheat and enjoy a leftover steak for a delicious meal another day. Here’s how to do it.

Steaks cooked from rare to well done, on forks on a dark background.
Grilling Guides

Steak Doneness Guide — With Photo Chart and Cooking Times

Do you know your steak doneness levels? When your steak is rare, medium-rare, medium, medium well, or well done? Do you know the temperatures of each level? How firm should the steaks feel, and how pink should the center be? You will once you finish this guide.

Thermopro TP620 review written beside one isolated on black, with text describing the product.
Thermometers

ThermoPro TP620 Instant Read Meat Thermometer Review

To paraphrase the classic slacker film Clerks, there’s a million fine looking thermometers in the world, dude. But, they don’t all have an auto-rotating display. I’m testing out the ThermoPro TP620 to see if it’s a keeper or just flashy eye candy that looks good but lets you down in the end.

a frozen steak in vac pack, sitting on a wooden cutting board.
Prep & Serving

How to Defrost Steak Quickly and Safely, The Very Best Methods

Who doesn’t love knowing they have thick, delicious steaks at the ready whenever the craving hits? Stocking up on steaks means keeping them on ice, and that means thawing them out for grilling. What’s the best way to get it done without compromising on flavor or safety? We’ve got the answer.

A BBQ Guru UltraQ temperature controller isolated on black, next to words describing that this article is a review of the product.
Thermometers

BBQ Guru UltraQ Temperature Controller Review

A virtual BBQ assistant that monitors the temperature of my cooker and my food, and automatically adjusts the cooker’s temperature for optimal results? Bring it! This may be the next best thing to a robot grillmaster. Read on to learn all about the BBQ Guru UltraQ temperature controller.

An illustration of the eight beef primals on a diagram of a cow.
Ingredients

The 8 Primal Cuts of Beef — Everything You Need to Know

Today we look at the American derived eight primal cuts of beef. We look at their position on the cow, names, sub-primals, and then major cuts they are butchered into. We also look at the best methods of cooking and uses of the produce from each primal.

Before and after pictures of a grill brush that
General How Tos

How to Clean a Grill Brush — Plus Maintenance Tips to Last Longer

Today’s money-saving article will teach you how to clean your grill brush — Whether bristled or bristle-free — to prevent tainting the taste of your food. Plus, learn how to keep it in tip-top shape with maintenance tips, so it lasts longer, and how to know when the time is right to replace it.

Wild garlic and bone marrow butter melted onto a grilled ribeye steak.
Recipes

Wild Garlic and Bone Marrow Compound Butter Recipe

This compound butter is easy to make with wild garlic picked from the woods, unctuous beefy bone marrow shafts, shallots, lemon zest, and salt and pepper. Melted over resting steaks, boiled or steamed veg, or baked potatoes, is nothing short of heavenly. Be sure to give it a go!

bone marrow butter melted on steak.
Recipes

Bone Marrow Butter Recipe — Smoked for an Insane Flavor Profile

This bone marrow butter uses smoked beef marrow bones, as well as smoked shallots and smoked puréed garlic to create an incredible compound butter that packs an almighty flavor punch. It’s perfect for adding into sauces, stocks, gravies, or for melting over boiled veg or resting steaks.

The Z Grills 700D pellet grill sitting on a patio next to a kamado grill.
Smokers

Z Grills 700D Wood Pellet Grill Review — Hands On, With Cook Results

So, you couldn’t hold out any longer; after seeing so many videos and blogs, you decided you HAVE to own a pellet grill. I’m not here to talk you out of it. Far from it — I want to introduce you to the Z Grills 700D wood pellet grill. It could be exactly what you’re after.

A woman in yellow gloves holding a gone bad steak, making a thumbs down gesture.
Ingredients

How to Tell if Steak is Bad, Gone off, or Spoiled

Part of our mission at FoodFireFriends is to save you from barbecue misadventure. Sure, failing is the best way to learn. But, wouldn’t you rather learn from someone else’s failure? With that in mind, let’s see if we can save you from buying or eating a steak that’s gone off.

A block of beef tallow on some pink butcher paper.
Ingredients

What is Beef Tallow? Best Uses and How to Make It

When you dig deep into barbecuing, you come across new and exciting stuff to try. And today our topic is beef tallow — what is it, how do I make it and use it, and why do I want to? All will be revealed.

A paper roll full of beef jerky on a dark background.
Ingredients

The Best Cuts of Beef for Jerky — And Which to Avoid!

Beef jerky is a snack that satisfies like no other. But, if you’ve only had gas station jerky, you’re missing out on one of the most incredible things you can make in your smoker. To help you make delicious homemade beef jerky, let’s learn which cuts are best for the job.

A woman
General How Tos

Wood Pellet Storage Guide — Dos, Don’ts, and Expert Tips

If you’re new to smoking, you probably have lots of questions. And if you use a pellet grill, an important one is: what’s the best way to store wood pellets? It turns out this mystery is an open and shut case. Get the longest life and best performance out of your pellets with our guide.

lava rocks in gas grill, under a chrome or SS grate.
General Knowledge

Why Don’t Gas Grills Use Lava Rocks Anymore?

It sounds like a “when I was your age” story, but it’s not; once upon a time, we loaded up our gas grills with lava rocks. Sounds straight out of a Flintstones episode? Well, it’s true. And here’s why we did it, and why we stopped.

Small meats and vegetables being grilled on a grill mat.
Accessories

Are Grill Mats Safe? Fear of Toxic Fumes and Chemicals

We've noticed many people questioning the safety of grill mat use, stating that they give off toxic fumes. So we decided to dig into the details in a search for the truth and give ourselves the confidence to keep on using them. Which we have and will do!

An array of meat, vegetables, corn and kebabs on a grill.
Grilling Guides

21 Grilling Mistakes You Can EASILY Fix Today to Improve Your Cookouts

If you plan to have garden parties and be at the helm of the grill this summer, then there’s a lot riding on your grilling skills! Grilling seems simple, but a lot can quickly go wrong. Luckily for you, we’ve put together a list of common mistakes and professional advice on how to avoid them.

Ribs on a charcoal grill, with a thermometer probe attached.
General Knowledge

How Much Charcoal Should You Use in Your Grill or Smoker?

Got your bag of charcoal ripped open, and you’re ready to grill? Now you’re asking yourself, “How much of this stuff do I need?” As always, we’ve got this — keep scrolling to learn the right amount of charcoal to use for every type of grilling and smoking session.

Four kinds of peppercorns on spoons, on a white surface.
Ingredients

Different Types of Peppercorn, Pepper, Their Flavors and Substitutions

Learn all about the different types and varieties of peppercorns. From the common black, through white and green, to the more esoteric pink and red, and even some peppers that aren’t from peppercorns at all. With origins, flavor profile, and uses, there’s a lot discussed here.

Pork belly slices with very good-looking, crispy crackled skin.
General How Tos

How to Get Crispy Pork Skin and Make Crackling — Right Every Time!

Get crispy pork skin — or even better, full on crackling — by following the simple tips in this guide, that work every time. We also cover a few things to avoid, because you can sabotage your crackling even when you think you've done everything right...when you haven't!

grill table plans, written beside an image of DIY grill cart for weber kettles.
Accessories

Kettle Grill Cart Plans, and Detailed Steps on How to Build it

These grill cart plans show you step-by-step how to make your own grill cart with storage and work surfaces for a 22-inch kettle grill. With exact dimensions, materials list, tools required, and step-by-step illustrated diagrams and images to help you every step of the way.