Anyone can smoke, only few can bbq.

[vlap]

After seeing this tag line, It got me thinking. What is the difference between the 2? What is the definition of smoking and what is the definition of bbq'ing?

When does smoking meat evolve into bbq?

Thoughts?

 

[glued2it]

It's like they said in ratatouille

"Anyone can cook, but it only the fearless can be great!"

So goes the personal mantra of the late celebrity chef Auguste Gusteau

 

[gooose53]

My 2 cents......bbq is putting a hamburger, chicken or steak on a grill and throwing on some bbq sauce when about done. Granted bbq is the catch all phrase that we all use. Smoking to me is much more. With smoking you get to know your smoker whereas with a grill you don't have to know much. I know there will be those who disagree, but that's ok.

 

[gypsyseagod]

the age old argument. the common definition is(if i remember right) bbq is low & slow over indirect heat as opposed to grilling -which is directly over high heat.

 

[gooose53]

Gypsyseagod said it better than me.....

 

[fatback joe]

I tend to use the 2 words interchangeably, but when I think about it, smoking to me is more cold smoking and BBQ ing is hot smoking.

 

[vlap]

I agree with gypsyseagod as well but that is the difference between grilling and bbq.
After seeing the statement in a tag line of anyone can smoke but few can bbq I am looking for the difference there.
Fatback Joe I think may have found the difference between smoking and bbq. I just found the tag line interesting and wanted opinions on the differences in smoking and bbq. Thanks for your thoughts everyone so far.

 

[glued2it]

wikipedia
Barbecue or barbeque [1] (abbreviated BBQ, Bar-B-Q or Bar-B-Que or diminuted, chiefly in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to barbie, and braai in South Africa) is a method and apparatus for cooking food, often meat, with the heat and hot gases of a fire, smoking wood, or hot coals of charcoal and may include application of a marinade, spice rub, or basting sauce to the meat. The term as a noun can refer to foods cooked by this method, to the cooker itself, or to a party that includes such food. The term is also used as a verb for the act of cooking food in this manner. Barbecue is usually cooked in an outdoor environment heated by the smoke of wood or charcoal, or with propane and similar gases. Restaurant barbecue may be cooked in large brick or metal ovens specially designed for that purpose.

 

[fatback joe]

Who had it in their tag line? Is it anyone you can ask........would be interesting to hear what they thought the difference was.

 

[homebrew & bbq]

Being kind of new to all this, I am wondering if the difference isn't just a matter of skill level.

I have put a number of things in the smoker and made them smoky tasting. Some were pretty good; others not so much. I think I am approaching the point where I am actually BBQing pork butts. The pulled pork tastes great and is "no teef" tender.

On the other hand, the ribs I do are okay but I know they can be a lot better. That's my next goal... to learn how to BBQ ribs instead of just smoking them.

Just my $.02 worth.

 

[vlap]

It is BigAl who has that tag line. I hope he sees this thread and makes his comments. I am interested to hear.

 

[richtee]

I guess to me, BBQ is a subset of smoking. Both use indirect heat, and wood proper, not just charcoal. But BBQ is cooking the meat, smoking is not necessariy so. RE jerky, cheese, some smoked fish, etc.

 

[fatback joe]

Ummmmm, I knew that. LOL

 

[homebrew & bbq]

Found this quote for BigAl in http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...?t=3821&page=2

"Most around here already have a smoker, may not use it much, but still have one. The biggest difference is knowledge. This site has helped me so much, along w/other sites, google, food tv, etc. Anybody can smoke, but only a few can bbq. My new motto."

Thought it might shed a little light on the topic until he gets here himself.

 

[pigcicles]

How many people have came into the forum making the statement that they have been smoking for years? Then somewhere down the road they admit they haven't been doing it right.

If you think about it anyone can go through the motions of smoking. But not getting it right. You know - the meat is tough, or too smokey, bitter, etc.

When you learn to Q then you have reached a whole new level that a lot of back yard grillers can only dream of. Tender meat, succulent flavors, blends of rubs or marinades, thin blue smoke and people begging you to "do something" for them.

That is the difference in my eyes.

 

[richoso1]

I agree that there is a difference, but for the GP, I usually use the term BBQ when I'm talking about smokin'. Otherwise, I'll say grillin'. Some folks aren't aware of the difference in BBQ (smokin') and grillin'. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it...

 

[bigal]

Glued2it made me aware of this post, thanks. Pigcicles said it better than I could, thanks. I'm not that deep, but dang PIG, ya did good!

 

[capt dan]

I think I seen it on a food network show that " Barbeque" comes from a similar word that means cooked over an open fire, coals, or wood. I don't remember its origin but somehow I am thinking Australia.

I have always thought that real Barbeque meant cooking indirectly over wood coals.

 

[swkegelguy]

I Q'd on an Old Smokey for many many years and that would be directly over the heat only using the cover with dampers to control the heat level. I grilled on the same cooker only without a lid and that was over the heat as well. There is a big difference in BBQ and Grilling but BBQing and smoking are close but not the same, no one Q's chicken in a smoke house but one can Q chicken on an indirect smoker that they smoke a butt on! It is what it is and all have their opinion on what that is to them which makes our lovely world go round and keep us here talking about the wonderful thing we do outdoors with food!

 

[deejaydebi]

IMHO ...

Smoking can be a big old smoke house that doesn't require as much control a few smoldering logs and some time. It could be cresol soaked meat, burnt up and dry but came from someones smoker.

BBQ is when the TBS is flowing, the temperatures are steady and in the end the meat just melts in your mouth, the juices run down you chin and all is right with the world!