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Techspring Learning and DNB BBQing

This Course in a Nutshell

Whether you have an offset smoker, a Gas powered grill or any other type of BBQ or Smoker this course will teach you the things you need to improve your cooking skills and most importantly make better BBQ food.

We cover off how to get the BBQ ready, how to prepare and season the meat and the best way to barbecue your food for amazing results.

Course Overview

Covering both a selection of dishes and ways of cooking them you'll learn how to trim, prepare and season the meat and then cook it using different types of BBQ tools and cooking methods.

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This Course in a Nutshell

Whether you have an offset smoker, a Gas powered grill or any other type of BBQ or Smoker this course will teach you the things you need to improve your cooking skills and most importantly make better BBQ food.

We cover off how to get the BBQ ready, how to prepare and season the meat and the best way to barbecue your food for amazing results.

Course Overview

Covering both a selection of dishes and ways of cooking them you'll learn how to trim, prepare and season the meat and then cook it using different types of BBQ tools and cooking methods.

Lessons include the following and more:

  • Fire management

  • Offset smoker Barbecue

  • Drum Style Barbecue

  • Kettle style Barbecue

  • Simple Gas Barbecue (LPG / Propane)

  • Competition Style vs Regular

  • Pulled Pork from Pork Butt (Boston Butt)

  • Pork Ribs

  • Beef Short Ribs

  • Beef Brisket

  • Whole Chicken (Spatchcock and Beer Can)

  • Chicken Pieces (Drums, Thighs, Nibbles)

  • Sausages

  • Beef Steak

What Will You Learn In this Course?

By the end of this course you will feel really comfortable cooking on almost any style of BBQ. The skills you learn will translate well to any other recipes you want to try. You will be able to impress family and friends with your cooking prowess.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn to cook better barbecue (bbq) food
  • Learn different styles, from low and slow to to hot and fast
  • Master different types of barbecue equipment (gas, offset, kettle and drum)
  • Learn the easy way, using the equipment you already have.

Syllabus

Introduction

Welcome to the course

Most people want to cook for their friends and family - but this covers the difference if cooking for a competition

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Although cooking on gas is one of the simpler ways to Barbecue there are still a lot of tips and tricks that will help you get better results. 

Barbecue is all about controlling the temperature this lesson will cover two of the major methods of placing coals to control the temperature for your cook.

This shows the minion method in practice on a drum smoker

Preparing your chicken wings correctly will make it much easier to get great results from your BBQ

We cover different ways of preparing chicken drumsticks so that you have lots of options.

This lesson will help you get your BBQ ready for the chicken pieces.

Although this is a simple step in the grilling process it is still very important.

Keeping an eye on your chicken will help make sure that your food is cooked correctly

Helps you understand when to take your chicken off the grill

This part of the chicken preparation will help you Spatchcock a chicken.  This is a method that will help your chicken cook more evenly and quickly. 

Getting your whole chicken ready for the Beer Can chicken method of cooking a popular way of ensuring moist, tender, flavourful chicken.

Throughout this whole course we have used lots of different styles of BBQ this one shows how to light the barrel smoker a common type of BBQ.

We've used the offset smoker in other lessons, and you can still certainly use it for whole chickens but this shows why to consider the kettle or drum smoker if you have the chance.

This will simplify your calculation of cooking time.  You're still going to use the temperature checks to confirm as with everything in the whole course, but this will help you plan how long you need.

Setting up the offset smoker is an important part of your barbecue process

Filling up and lighting the charcoal is necessary to get your offset smoker up to temperature.

The transition between coals into the first wood for your barbecue will go much smoother after watching this lesson.

The final steps and adding wood to your offset smoker so that it is ready for the meat you are gong to barbecue.

Seasoning your pork butt and preparing it will make sure that your final barbecue results are as tasty as possible

Spritzing ensures that your barbecue food remains moist

Once you've imparted the smoky flavour to your meat it's time to wrap it

Minimum temperature is extremely important, but just how far over the minimum should you cook your meat.  This lesson will guide you to the ideal consistency for BBQ pulled pork.

Tasting your BBQ food is perhaps the best part of the BBQ process :-)

Getting your offset smoker ready for the BBQ ribs

Seasoning and preparing your ribs ready for the BBQ

Once you've imparted the smoky flavour its time to wrap your BBQ ribs

The all important taste test, lets see how these Barbecue ribs turned out !

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Covers a wide range of BBQ styles and equipment, from gas grills to offset smokers, making it suitable for cooks with different setups
Teaches fire management techniques, which are essential for maintaining consistent temperatures and achieving optimal results in BBQ cooking
Explores competition-style BBQ, offering insights into the techniques and standards used by professional BBQ cooks
Includes lessons on preparing and cooking various cuts of meat, such as pulled pork, ribs, brisket, and chicken, providing a comprehensive BBQ education
Emphasizes the importance of temperature control and monitoring throughout the cooking process, which is crucial for achieving safe and delicious BBQ
Requires learners to have access to different types of BBQ equipment, which may be a barrier for some beginners

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Reviews summary

Practical bbq skills for home cooks

According to learners, this course serves as a solid foundation for beginners and intermediate enthusiasts looking to enhance their home BBQ skills. Students particularly value the clear, step-by-step instruction covering essential techniques like fire management across different equipment, including gas, kettle, and offset smokers. The course teaches how to prepare and cook popular items such as pulled pork, brisket, and various chicken preparations. While the content is highly practical and helps students impress friends and family, some reviews suggest it leans more towards foundational knowledge than truly 'pro' level techniques, which might be a minor warning for advanced cooks. Overall, the feedback indicates a largely positive learning experience.
Less focus on truly 'pro' or advanced techniques.
"Great for home BBQ, but probably not for competition level."
"Title is a bit misleading, 'Beginner to Intermediate' might be better."
"I was hoping for more advanced smoking techniques."
Provides techniques you can apply immediately.
"I could use the tips right away on my weekend cookout."
"Focuses on practical steps rather than just theory."
"Lots of useful demos on trimming and seasoning."
Learn to cook popular BBQ dishes and techniques.
"The section on pulled pork was fantastic, my best batch yet!"
"Covers gas, kettle, and offset smokers, which was very helpful."
"Learned new ways to cook chicken pieces and a whole bird."
Excellent starting point for new BBQ enthusiasts.
"Perfect for someone just starting out with BBQ."
"Explains basic concepts very clearly, making it easy to follow."
"I felt much more confident using my grill after this course."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in BBQ - From Beginner to pro: Grilling, Smoking and Cooking with these activities:
Review Safe Minimum Temperatures
Reviewing safe minimum temperatures ensures food safety and prevents foodborne illnesses, crucial for successful BBQ.
Browse courses on Food Safety
Show steps
  • Consult the USDA guidelines for safe minimum internal temperatures.
  • Create a cheat sheet of temperatures for different meats.
  • Memorize key temperatures for chicken, pork, and beef.
Read 'Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling'
Understanding the science behind BBQ will help you troubleshoot problems and improve your cooking techniques.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Meathead: The Science of Great Barbecue and Grilling'.
  • Read the book, focusing on the sections related to meat science and heat transfer.
  • Apply the scientific principles to your BBQ cooking.
Read 'Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto'
Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of BBQ techniques and philosophies, enhancing your skills.
Show steps
  • Obtain a copy of 'Franklin Barbecue: A Meat-Smoking Manifesto'.
  • Read the book, paying attention to the sections on brisket and fire management.
  • Take notes on key techniques and tips.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice Fire Management
Practicing fire management techniques will improve temperature control, leading to more consistent and delicious BBQ.
Show steps
  • Set up your smoker with different coal arrangements (minion method, snake method).
  • Monitor the temperature and adjust airflow to maintain a consistent heat.
  • Experiment with different types of wood for smoke flavor.
Watch BBQ Pitmaster Tutorials
Watching tutorials from experienced pitmasters will provide valuable insights and techniques for improving your BBQ skills.
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on YouTube or other video platforms.
  • Focus on tutorials that cover specific techniques or recipes you want to learn.
  • Take notes on key tips and tricks.
Document Your BBQ Journey
Creating a blog or social media account to document your BBQ journey will help you reflect on your experiences and share your knowledge with others.
Show steps
  • Create a blog or social media account dedicated to BBQ.
  • Document your cooks with photos and descriptions of your process.
  • Share your recipes, tips, and experiences with your audience.
Smoke a Brisket
Smoking a brisket from start to finish will test your knowledge and skills in trimming, seasoning, fire management, and temperature control.
Show steps
  • Select a brisket and trim the fat cap.
  • Season the brisket with your favorite rub.
  • Smoke the brisket at 225-250°F until it reaches an internal temperature of 203°F.
  • Rest the brisket for at least one hour before slicing.

Career center

Learners who complete BBQ - From Beginner to pro: Grilling, Smoking and Cooking will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Pitmaster
A pitmaster is responsible for managing and cooking large quantities of meat, typically in a barbecue setting. This course helps build a foundation in various barbecue techniques. The course covers essential skills such as fire management, meat preparation, and the use of different barbecue equipment like offset smokers, kettle barbecues, and gas grills. You'll learn how to maintain consistent temperatures, season meats effectively, and use different cooking methods to achieve optimal results. Aspiring pitmasters who want to master the art of cooking excellent barbecue should enroll in this course.
Restaurant Chef
A restaurant chef oversees the culinary operations of a restaurant. This course helps further develop the skills required to cook a range of barbecue dishes. The course covers topics such as preparing and seasoning meat and different barbecue tools and cooking methods. Lessons on fire management, pulled pork, pork ribs, beef short ribs, beef brisket, whole chicken, chicken pieces, sausages, and beef steak may allow you to improve the barbecue portion of your restaurant menu. Restaurant chefs who want to enhance their barbecue cooking skills should take this course.
Catering Manager
A catering manager plans, organizes, and oversees food and beverage services for events. This course may provide the knowledge and skills needed to produce high-quality barbecue for large groups. The course includes lessons on fire management, offset smokers, drum style barbecues, kettle style barbecues, and simple gas barbecues. Lessons such as pulled pork from pork butt, pork ribs, beef short ribs, beef brisket, whole chicken, chicken pieces, sausages, and beef steak would be useful for a catering manager, because these are popular food that can be served to large groups. Taking this course may allow you to be confident in the quality of barbecue you serve and improve your catering operations.
Food Truck Owner
A food truck owner manages all aspects of a mobile food business. This course may help improve your skills to create and serve delicious barbecue from a food truck. It covers fire management, meat preparation, and the use of different barbecue equipment. The course also has lessons on items such as pulled pork, pork ribs, beef short ribs, beef brisket, and chicken, all of which are great food truck options. This course would be helpful for food truck owners to master barbecue cooking.
Butcher
A butcher is a skilled professional who prepares and sells cuts of meat. This course can help a butcher gain a deeper understanding of meat preparation and cooking methods to better advise customers. The course covers meat trimming, seasoning, and various barbecue techniques. Lessons such as preparing beef brisket and pork butt, will help you improve your knowledge of the different cuts of meat and inform your customers. Butchers who want to provide the best barbecue advice to their customers may find this course useful.
Culinary Instructor
A culinary instructor teaches cooking techniques and culinary arts to students. This course may provide a solid foundation in barbecue, enabling a culinary instructor to incorporate barbecue techniques into their curriculum. The course covers barbecue equipment, fire management, and cooking methods. In particular, lessons on pulled pork, ribs, and brisket can enrich your teaching and make you a more well-rounded instructor. Culinary Instructors who want to expand their barbecue knowledge may find this course useful.
Personal Chef
A personal chef prepares meals for clients based on their individual needs and preferences. This course may allow personal chefs to improve their barbecue skills and offer more customized options. The course covers fire management, meat preparation, and use of different barbecue equipment. Each module, covering dishes like Beef Brisket, Chicken, and Pork Ribs, can help you improve your ability to offer a delicious barbecue experience to your clients. Personal chefs who want to provide personalized meal options may find this course useful.
Recipe Developer
A recipe developer creates and tests new recipes for publication in cookbooks, magazines, or online platforms. This course may help you gain new skills in barbecue, enabling you to develop various barbecue recipes. You will learn fire management, meat preparation, and cooking methods. Lessons on preparing and cooking pulled pork, ribs, and brisket can provide inspiration and help you in developing innovative barbecue recipes. Recipe developers who want to expand their culinary repertoire may find this course useful.
Food Stylist
A food stylist prepares and arranges food for photography or videography, typically for use in advertising or editorial content. This course may improve your understanding of barbecue, allowing you to create more appealing and authentic food presentations. The course covers fire management, meat preparation, and overall cooking methods. Lessons on preparing dishes like ribs, brisket, and chicken can help you visualize and style barbecue dishes. Food stylists who want to enhance their barbecue styling skills may find this course useful.
Food Blogger
A food blogger creates and publishes content, including recipes and restaurant reviews online. This course may improve your barbecue knowledge, allowing you to create more informative and engaging content. The course covers fire management, meat preparation, and cooking methods. Lessons on preparing pulled pork, ribs, and brisket can provide you with content for articles. Food bloggers who want to enhance their barbecue content may find this course useful.
Restaurant Manager
A restaurant manager is responsible for overseeing daily operations, including food quality, customer service, and staff management. The knowledge gained from this course may give you the tools for maintaining high standards in barbecue food preparation, including fire management, meat preparation, and cooking methods. You will learn how to properly prepare and cook a variety of dishes, such as pulled pork, ribs, and brisket. Restaurant managers who want to improve the expertise of their barbecue staff may find this course useful.
Food Photographer
A food photographer specializes in capturing images of food for various purposes, such as advertising, editorial, or personal projects. This course may help improve your understanding of barbecue, allowing you to capture more beautiful and authentic images. The course covers fire management, meat preparation, and overall cooking methods. Lessons on preparing dishes such as ribs, brisket, and chicken will improve the subject of your photographs. Food photographers who want to enhance their barbecue photography skills may find this course useful.
Dietitian
A dietitian provides expert advice on nutrition and diet to promote health and manage diseases. This course may provide a broader understanding of the culinary aspects of barbecue, even if it's not directly related to dietary advice. The course covers various cooking methods and meat preparations, which are essential for barbecue. It's possible that taking this course can help with dietary recommendations. Dietitians who want a general knowledge of barbecue may find this course useful.
Health Inspector
A health inspector ensures that food establishments adhere to health and safety regulations. This course may provide a deeper understanding of barbecue food preparation, which could be helpful in assessing food safety practices. The course covers fire management, meat preparation, and cooking methods. By learning about these techniques, health inspectors may gain insight into the potential risks and safety measures needed in barbecue operations. Health inspectors who want to better evaluate barbecue establishments may find this course useful.
Event Planner
An event planner coordinates and manages various types of events, ensuring they run smoothly and meet the client's needs. This course might be useful for understanding the logistics and requirements of serving barbecue at events. The course covers fire management, meat preparation, and cooking methods. Lessons on preparing dishes like pulled pork, ribs, and brisket can provide insights into the food preparation process. Event planners who want to broaden their event catering options may find this course useful.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in BBQ - From Beginner to pro: Grilling, Smoking and Cooking.
Is written by Aaron Franklin, a pitmaster known for his exceptional brisket. It covers everything from building your own smoker to selecting the right wood and perfecting your technique. It provides a deep dive into the science and art of barbecue, offering insights beyond the basics covered in the course. This book is highly regarded in the BBQ community and great resource for aspiring pitmasters.

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