Taste the Difference! A Cedar Plank – One of the Ultimate Barbecue Accessories!

Barbecue accessories have also become a popular sign of summer with many stores stocking up on stainless steel spatulas, silicone marinade brushes, rotisserie attachments and even different varieties of charcoal.

However not all barbecue accessories have to be store bought. One of the most enjoyable, flavorful and economic barbecue accessories available is a simple cedar plank!

Plank cooking has reached a new level of popularity in the past few years. This is mainly due to the rise in healthy living and the increasing number of people who have turned to grilling fish as a more health cautious alternative.

Though most people choose cedar as their wood of choice for plank cooking, almost any type of wood will work. For added flavor some grillers use apple or cherry wood, where others choose a more dense wood such as alder or oak.

Regardless of which type of wood you choose, you will find your foods’ flavor is richly enhanced and your wooden planks will quickly become one of your favorite barbecue accessories.

The following are step-by-step instructions which you can use to achieve and enjoy the full flavor of plank cooking.

Choosing your wood. Make sure to use a plank which has not been treated with any sealers or stains. You also want a plank which is long and wide enough to accommodate your chosen meat.

Soak your plank. Once you have decided on your plank of choice, whether purchased or found, you will need to soak the plank for at least an hour. The more water absorbed by your wood the more smoke will occur and where there’s smoke, there’s flavor!

Add a touch of Olive Oil. Brush the cooking surface of your plank lightly with olive oil. You don’t need to brush the oil on all sides of your coking plank, just enough on one side to ensure that your meat does not become burnt or stuck to the plank.

Season your meat. Prepare your chicken breasts, fish fillets, or thinly cut pork however you like and place the meat onto your cooking plank.

The secret to plank cooking is to maintain a relaxed and patient approach to grilling. Once your plank and meat are placed on the barbecue, simply leave it alone. Your smoking flavors will be lost if you are constantly opening the barbecue lid.