I have a pet peeve, ok, so maybe I have a lot, but today we’re talking about one inparticular. Since it’s Summer, a lot of people are firing up the grill and throwing on some meat and I think it’s time we have a heart to heart.

If you’re cooking hamburgers, hot dogs, brauts, steaks, etc… you are A) Grilling or B) having a Cook-out. If you are cooking barbecue chicken, barbecue brisket, barbecue pork (starting to see a pattern?), ribs, etc… you are having a BBQ.

So what’s the difference?
Believe it or not, there’s a pretty big difference. Grilling is generally done directly over the flame (direct heat) whether it be a gas grill or charcoals. It is called “cooking out” because it is done outside and requires constant supervision, just like cooking something inside. BBQ on the other hand, is slow cooking over indirect heat - that means the heat source/flames are off to one side, not directly touching the food. BBQ also implies their is sauce or rub applied.

If you are cooking some hamburgers and grilling brautwurst you are not having a BBQ, you’re having a cook-out.