Customer Reviews

How to Grill: The Complete Illustrated Book of Barbecue Techniques

5 star:		(186)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

At first I almost called this a great basic grilling book. To be honest, I think this book has changed the definition of a "basic grilling book", simply because while it shows the burgers, etc. that most experienced grill cooks know, it also shows other foods that really are a natural for the grill - expanding the envelope of what really is basic. Many different foods are shown, but nothing is redundant and every subtlety in preparation is explained - giving each recipe a reason for belonging. (ie there aren't seperate recipes for hot dog, cheese dog, and chili dog because there aren't 3 different techniques involved).

The layout and format are simply outstanding - done, again, in what seems to be a "basic grilling book" format. Tons of color pictures showing various techniques. You want to know how to grill chicken breasts? Bam! It's right there. Bone-in chicken? Whole chicken? Chicken sate? Chicken wings? All there.

And for the more seasoned cook, there are new things as well. Recipes like rum-cured smoked salmon and turkey pastrami are a few non-everyday recipes that are quite excellent. And yes, I've tried many of the recipes and they've all come out quite well. In addition, there are plenty of notes and comments that will bring any cook to a higher level.

One note, however. I also bought his 'The Barbecue! Bible' book, and it appears that most of the recipes are also in that book as well, albeit not as nicely illustrated and laid out. I still, though, use both quite frequently (the photos on cutting up a whole chicken are just one of the things that are better in this book).

_____The book's greatest feature is its completeness. Raichlen covers all aspects of grilling:

1: Types of grills - Raichlen discusses the basics on gas grills, charcoal grills, hibachis, tuscan grills, smokers, you name it.

2: How to set everything up - I learned how to probperly light coals, clean and oil the grate, and test for proper temperature.

3: Recipes! - From steak to ribs to chicken, and even lobster and vegetables, Raichlen provides detailed instructions on how to cook just about anything on the grill. Plus, he even has quite a few recipes for rubs and sauces.

4: Everything else - Essential accessories, tips, and how to be a flamboyant griller can be found here.

_____In addition, the book is easy to read and logically outlined; you won't need to flip through trying to find specific information - you can find it easily once you know the layout.

_____I thought I was already an expert griller, but this book taught me A LOT of stuff, stuff that every griller should know. BUY IT!!

What the Barbecue Bible! was to inspiration, How to Grill is to technique. Written around 100+ grilling and barbecue techniques this book provides the Backyard Barbecue Chef with an arsenal capable of cooking just about any cut of meat to perfection. In his conversational style the author takes the reader through the process of selecting and preparing the meat, using rubs and marinades and best applying fire to food. After reading this book you will have the ability and knowledge to treat each cut of meat with a cooking technique that will best enhance the natural traits of the food.

Be warned that this book is a little biased toward the charcoal grill, but most of the recipes can be done on a gas grill if that is your taste. In addition it is primarily a book about grilling. The author only touches on advanced cooking techniques such as barbecuing and smoking. He does however treat rotisserie grilling very thoroughly. The section on materials is short but does provide the basic information you will need to know before cooking outdoors.

All told this book is an excellent guide to the fine art of grilling. It is an essential reference manual for both the beginner and advanced cook.

Like many people I once thought I knew everything I needed to know about grilling -- and how to do it. I own several grilling books, including Barbecue Bible by the author, and have had many successes. But until I got this book I never knew how great grilling could be. Things I have done and especially those I never thought of doing or attempting -- like a whole chicken or turkey or pineapple -- are explained in such great (and color!) detail that I am rethinking every possibility and doing it all better than before. There must be at least six photos or more for every technique -- and the details are helpful even when I am not following the recipes like skewering shrimp or chicken wings. The asparagus "rafts" were a real eye opener and have already saved dozens from a firey fate. Every time you grill you should check this book, not just to find a recipe but just to brush up or learn how to do anything on the grill. Thanks Steven!

Okay, honestly I'm culinary challenged, but this book surely helped me overcome that.

This book is packed with all kinds of good recipes. Everything from how to grill a whole hog, right down to the perfect burger (which really is perfect! I love his technique!) and even a short chapter on grilling deserts (grilled pineapple with cinnamon/sugar is insanely good, especially with vanilla ice-cream)

I have tried numerous recipes and none have failed. The only quam some might have is the challenge of finding some of the ingredients. Well, not only are there usually substitutions that he points out, but often-times you can just ommit the ingredient all-together and still get perfectly fine results.

This book is also great because it's geared towards a very broad audience. A novice should have little problem churning out mouthwatering meals, also a grilling guru (or "grill jockey") will likely stumble across new techniques to help their dishes taste even better. Also, this book starts off be teaching the most basic grill techniques, such as setting up a 3-zone fire, indirect grilling...etc.

It gets better... Everything in this book is made from scratch. Not only will you learn how to apply the right BBQ sauces, rubs, marinades, mop sauces...etc to your dishes, you also learn how to make each and every one! The basic BBQ sauce is hardly "basic" like the name implies, it is the single tastiest BBQ sauce I have tried!

I highly recommend this book!

If you are like me, you just bought a grill and started throwing burgers and chicken and dogs on it. But you weren't too happy with the charred and dry result. This book is grilling 101, and it teaches you how to do everything right. So the recipes ARE basic but they are good and if you follow the directions, they will turn out fine. Most important, you will get the skills to move on to bigger and better things. A real cook has knowledge of the quirks of what he is cooking and what the techniques he is using do, and this book will teach it.

Despite it's popularity as a best seller, I think this book is rather over-rated.

STRENGTHS:
* This book has lots of comforting full-color photographs for the benefit of culinarily adventerous n00bs.
* This books covers a fairly broad array of grilling recipes ... meat, fish, vegetables, fruit ... there's a little bit of something for almost everyone, which is exactly what they set out to do, in order to maximize sales. Charcoal is preferred, but this book is minimally gas friendly too ... but only if your burners are of the front-to-rear variety. If they're side to side, you're SOL when it comes to most 'indirect heat' techniques.
* Some of the recipes are actually pretty tasty, which partially compensates for some of the serious flaws listed below. One standout for me is the whole butterflied marinated leg of lamb (which I've since improved upon). Nice recipe, but too much scallion.

NITS:
* This books sacrifices depth for breadth - in other words, it covers a LOT of turf, but none of it exhaustively or well.
* This book is heavily and gratuitously padded with needlessly repetative and unnecessary fluff. Case in point - virtually every recipe says to start your grill, and then wastes a FULL PAGE repeating, over and over and over again (with the same color photos) how to start and bank a 2 or 3-tier charcoal fire, for direct or indirect grilling. Cutting out that wasted repitition would have left room for (I kid you not) at least 33% more recipes, for the same page count. Can you say "RIP OFF" ? I knew you could.
* The photographer they hired is a cheater, and a gimick-hound, and nothing irks me faster than photographs (and cookbooks that use them) that lie and deceive. Case in point - if you look any almost any of the close-ups, you will spot right away that most of the grilled items were BAKED (not grilled) off camera, and that the food photographer merely made them APPEAR grilled by branding them with hot wires, and then laying them on a stone-cold-never-before-used grill. There are, however, a few very helpful sequences ... such as the one on how to prep and grill a whole baby lamb (something I'm looking forward to attempting sometime this coming year).
* Some of the recipes are just plain absurd. I mean come on - what [...]-retentive cook is going to butterfly a dozen hot dogs, stuff them with cheese and jalepeno slices, tie them closed, grill them (somehow without making a total mess), and then de-string and serve them before the cheese hardens back up again ? HELLO ?

Should really be called "How to Barbecue". While Stephen Raichelen has written many books on culinary creations, he has managed with "How to Grill" to demystify the process of actual barbecue. This is no mere book on how to enjoy your backyard cookout, HTG is a step by step text book detailing and illustrating all the steps you need to go through to produce mouthwatering 'Q, from the types of grill, (gas, smokers, kettles etc...) to the meats, vegetables, fruits, marinades and rubs, fuels, sauces, serving ideas, not to mention items you would never think of grilling (grilled cabbage, anyone?). To those who crave real 'Q and more importantly, the to those who simply love to create it, this is your reference book. I have spent hundreds of 12 hour days with this book creating my own rubs, making my own sauces, drinking beer, getting sunburt, smelling like smoke, lovingly tending to my ribs, pulled pork, brisket, chicken, leg of lamb, whole pig, veggies, fruits or anything else you can image that just tastes better on a grill. Real BBQ is ALOT OF WORK!! But for some it is a labor of love that is always worth the effort when you have your guests sit down and take their first bite of pork spare ribs that taste like they're from the best rib joint in Memphis. Pulled pork right outta Boone North Carolina, Brisket that would make a any Texan sit up straight.Raichlen also has other BBQ books, such as BBQ USA, and the BBQ Bible, both are outstanding additions to HTG with more localized recipies, but if you own just ONE gril/BBQ book "How to Grill" is the one.

I love it!!! I've always thought of myself as a grill master. I was the guy you see at every cook out with a drink in my hand next to the grill telling the cook what they're doing wrong. Boy I'm glad I've never had Steven over to my place for a cook out. He would have laughed himself silly. He lets you know how to grill correctly so some jerk like me doesn't hassel you when you're behind the grill. Very good buy and a great gift. Grilling rules!!!

I'd had relative success grilling in the past. But now I am the master! (say it like Darth Vader) Beer can chicken is the best chicken I've ever had. Was so good that now my sister wants the book. Kansas City style beef ribs? Your whole body goes limp after the first bite! Ribs were so good my dad from the Kansas City area (where they know how to BBQ) had to buy a copy. I didn't like to cook ribs before, because I didn't really know how. Now I look forward to doing it again. Corn on the Cob with Herb Butter is excellent! Smoked a brisket that was wonderful. I'm still working up the cajones to try a Prime Rib - I'm sure it'll turn out great with Steve's help!

The pictures and instructions with every recipe are great. General grilling & smoking instructions are priceless. Good overview of the different grills & tools available.

This book has given my grill the Midas Touch - everything it touches, comes out Good as Gold. Can I give it 6 stars??