Grilling Meats Using Barbecue Sauce

Another question I get often has to deal with using barbecue sauce when grilling.

Question: “When I grill with barbecue sauce, my meats always burn!”

This grilling technique is probably one of the most abused. Many barbecuers start putting the barbecue sauce on the meat the moment it hits the grill, figuring it will help the meats absorb the flavor.

Don’t do this! Add barbecue sauce in the final stages of grilling, when the meat is just about done. I turn the flames down and apply the sauce in the last 5 minutes.

Barbecue sauce contains sugars and such and will burn while you are grilling. You need to get that meat cooked until it is nice and juicy, then begin to apply the sauce. If you are looking for flavors to be infused in the meat, marinade is the route to go.

When adding the barbecue sauce, I apply it liberally on one side, grill it some, turn it and apply it on the other side and do the same and, usually I repeat this step. All this is done within the last 5 minutes and this is really the only time I’m standing there constantly watching the meat and turning it a few times. I leave the lid up during this time as I am babysitting the meat.