In the summertime, there's nothing better than barbecue. But are your grilling skills the best they could be? Grilling masters spend years honing their craft, but even a beginner can rise to excellence with the right tools. You can become a grill master by making good use of your smartphone!
Let's look at four ways you can use your phone to become a true BBQ king.
1. Grill Timer Apps
Whether you're cooking steaks or veggies, timing is essential. You can't always rely on the time given in a recipe because grill type, temperature, and food thickness all make a difference. You could buy a smart thermometer (See Tip #4) but for a low-budget alternative, consider a timer app.
There are many grill timer apps available, but we recommend Heat Beads BBQ Timer. Even if you don't use Heat Beads products, this app works well. Before the timer starts, it prompts you to tell it about your food and grill, so you know you can trust the results. It will alert you when the food is done and even tell you when it's time to flip!
Download: Heat Beads BBQ Timer for Android | iOS (Free)
2. Recipe-Sharing Apps
It's fine to have a favorite, but the best cooks know a wide variety of recipes. There are a lot of recipe apps available, from social cooking networks to static recipe books. To improve your grill game, you'll want one that focuses on barbecue recipes.
We recommend Barbecue Grill Recipes. This app includes a "Smart Search" option, where you can select ingredients and browse recipes that use them. This is a good way to experiment with new flavors. You'll also find many beginner-friendly recipes, as well as more elaborate dishes for experienced chefs.
Recipes come in both written and video form, and you can save the ones you like. You can also add your own reviews and photos with notes on how you made it your own. Lastly, you can export a recipe to your grocery list, so you can reference it while you shop. It's easy to forget a paper list, but you probably never leave the house without your phone.
Download: Barbecue Grill Recipes for Android (Free, subscription available)
3. Grilling Tips and Tutorials
Getting in touch with some expert cooking resources can introduce you to new possibilities. Fortunately, you don't need to go back to school to keep learning.
Traeger Grills created an app that we recommend for both new and experienced cooks. It not only offers recipes but also contains a "Learn" tab. This tab has tutorials on everything from cleaning and maintaining your grill to specific cooking techniques.
You set your skill level during setup, and the app adjusts its suggestions to match. You can also tell it what grill you're cooking with (it doesn't have to be a Traeger grill), any allergens you need to avoid, and more. This lets the app create customized suggestions that suit your needs.
Download: Traeger for Android | iOS (Free)
4. Smart Thermometers and Grills
Smart Grills and thermometers take your grill game to a whole new level. You can adjust the heat remotely, get a live read of temperatures, flip alerts, and more. These devices free you up to relax and enjoy the cookout without worrying about the food.
The number one option is to get a smart grill. Smart grills can broadcast temperatures, timers, and more to your smartphone. You get much greater control over your cooking. Some grills even let you set different parts of the grill to different temperatures!
If you love the grill you already have, another option is to get a smart thermometer. To use these devices, you insert a probe into the thickest part of the food. The probe attaches to a digital temperature display outside the grill, using a wire.
We recommend you get a thermometer with Bluetooth capability. That way, the smart thermometer can broadcast your food's temperature to your phone. These thermometers pair with an app from the same manufacturer. The app features usually include timers, live temperature, reminders, and more.
Get a Grilling Advantage With Your Phone
Try out some of these tips to improve your grilling skills and impress everyone at your next cookout. From recipe-sharing to food documentaries, technology offers many ways to improve. So take advantage of all your options and become a true grilling master!