Pitmaster Rodney Scott's Top Recommendation For Grilling Newbies
For many people with no grill experience, or maybe a lack of a backyard to stick the equipment, their barbecue experience is limited to cookouts at a neighbor's house or the confines of a local restaurant. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it'd be a shame to fail to at least try your hand at grilling. Don't fear the smoky tenderness of grilled meat, because you too can make something just as delicious. And if you're in love with the taste of herb-rubbed baby back ribs – wouldn't you want to be able to make it for yourself any night of the week?
Per NPR, stepping into the grilling game is a lot easier than people think once you've got the skills. So if you've yet to break into the grilling game, what are you waiting for? Like anything, it just takes a little practice. (And some much-needed tips from the experts). For all you grilling newbies, legendary pitmaster Rodney Scott has one top recommendation to help get you started.
Who is Rodney Scott?
The 2018 recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef in the Southeast, Scott is an experienced grilling expert from South Carolina. Per Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, Scott is one of only two pitmasters who received the honor of this prestigious award, not to mention one of only five African-American chefs nominated in its history. He's got a slew of barbecue restaurants open all around the Southeast, each with long lines of hungry patrons stretching out the doors daily, and a reputation of passion for cooking.
Per his restaurant's website, Scott has been specializing in whole-hog barbecue since middle school. (A technique that takes 12 whole hours to cook one hog). He spent many years perfecting his craft, 25 to be exact, working at his family's barbecue restaurant in South Carolina for decades. In 2017, he opened up his own restaurant by the coast in Charleston: Rodney Scott's Whole Hog BBQ. Within a year of opening, the culinary awards already started pouring in, and by 2018 Scott was already renowned in the cooking community. Per an interview with Lifehacker, some of Scott's favorite meats to cook after all this time are his bone-in ribeyes or his chicken on the grill. So if you're looking to jump behind the grill yourself, there are not many better teachers around. And Scott has one especially important piece of guidance for you grilling newbies.
What the grilling expert recommends
As Scott shared in an interview, newbies to the world of grilling have more than a few things to think about before firing anything up, via Lifehacker. Starting with the basics, question one is what type of grill should you buy? Scott suggests using a Weber Grill. That's right, the pitmaster suggests one of the most common pieces of grilling equipment. "Not even the Kettle, just the regular Weber Grill with the tall four legs," he said. So if you're getting serious about grilling, here's where you can start. Beyond the grill, Scott recommends buying some wood lump charcoal instead of regular since it lends a better flavor. It's not only a better-tasting upgrade, but it's also affordable.
According to NPR, while charcoal grills do have a little bit of a steeper learning curve than gas, they offer a more traditional smoky flavor just like the barbecue you're used to. We'd say the extra effort is worth it.
Speaking past equipment, Scott also gave some insight into what meats he recommends are best to start with. He claimed classics like steak and burgers were the best starters, then chefs can start into the territory of tougher meats like turkey and chicken. So what are you waiting for? It's time to get grilling.