One of the biggest questions which many food enthusiasts face when preparing a barbecue is: What type of meat should we use for barbecue? Normally, people use chicken or beef but in rare cases, other meats are also used particularly when people want a change in their taste. Find out more information about different types of barbecue meats as well as the pros and cons of using them.
Types of Barbecue Meats
There are several kinds of barbecue meats, each of which has its own list of pros and cons.
Beef
The most popular type of barbecue meat is beef. From steaks to kebabs, beef is considered the most ideal form of meat since it has a lot of boneless meat allowing you to prepare your favorite dishes right away. Many people prefer a beef steak compared to a chicken steak because it has better meat quality and content while it also gives a juicy taste. You can make a burger as well with beef cooked via barbecue.
Some people also make small pieces of beef and cook them with the help of chopsticks. Beef is a meat that is globally popular and widely consumed except for India. This is because the Hindu culture considers cows as sacred animals.
Benefits of Using Beef Barbecue Meat
There are vital health benefits of using beef as barbecue meat. Beef contains the major essential vitamins and minerals required by the body. With a higher protein content, it helps in keeping you fit and healthy. If you regularly visit the gym, beef is going to be helpful in bodybuilding as well. It has several antioxidants such as Glutathione which helps in flushing out the toxins from the body. Besides the vital health benefits, it’s also the taste that matters, and beef has a great one indeed.
Drawbacks of Using Beef Barbecue Meat
Despite giving you essential nutrients, beef is one meat that has a high content of fat. Although barbecuing beef would melt the fat, it still contains a high content of fat. Excessive consumption of meat could result in increased levels of cholesterol and unwanted fats in the body.
Therefore, doctors recommend that you shouldn’t consume a lot of beef, especially on a regular basis. A maximum of 350-500grams of barbecue meat per serving is suggested by the doctors while there should not be more than 3 servings per week. Some people have also said that they feel very thirsty right after they consume beef so keep that in mind too before using it for barbecue.
A barbecue sauce would go great with beef barbecue. Learn how to make the best one here – What Makes a Great Barbecue Sauce?
Chicken
Chicken is one of the most widely consumed meats all over the world. Chicken chops, chicken steak, and other pieces of chicken like leg pieces and chest are the items that can be barbecued. You can also make kebabs out of minced chicken.
Benefits of Using Chicken Barbecue Meat
One of the main benefits of using chicken is that it is easier to cook than beef. It isn’t that hard and you can get an exceptional taste without a lot of effort. You do have to put in a little extra when it comes to beef. Chicken barbecue requires lesser marination time as well while it is one meat that most people consume without having any issues.
Besides that, chicken meat has a high content of protein essential for the body’s health. Comparing chicken to beef, there is a very low-fat content which is again beneficial. Chicken meat has Vitamin B12, Choline, Zinc, Iron, Copper, and Tryptophan. With a high protein content, chicken meat becomes beneficial for those that are aiming to hit the gym as well as help in reducing elevated blood pressure. There is going to be a reduced risk of heart diseases as well.
Drawbacks of Using Chicken Barbecue Meat
Although a very rare chance for this to happen, a big concern for many people prior to consuming chicken meat is that the chicken may have bird flu. This type of disease is commonly found in chickens and could make you sick as well. Another drawback is that overeating chicken, be it grilled or cooked, is going to be hazardous to your health in the long run as it contains some quantity of unwanted fats. The maximum portion size per serving should be between 80 and 100 grams.
Lamb / Mutton
Lamb is becoming the next favorite choice for Americans. Lamb is the meat of a sheep while mutton is the meat of a goat. Both of these meats are quite similar with the exception that lamb meat has a slightly higher fat content. Lamb is one of the most consumed meats all over the world including the USA, Australia, Aisa, and especially Middle Eastern countries that have a preference for lamb meat.
Lamb is of various qualities and some of the best ones are found in the UK, Australia, and the Middle East. Besides barbecue, lamb gravy is also one of the most popular dishes specifically in Asian and Middle Eastern culture. Furthermore, it is one of the favorite food items to eat with rice.
Benefits of Using Lamb Barbecue Meat
The taste of lamb is exceptional which is why the price of lamb is higher too. Its meat is considered softer and juicier than other meats enhancing your taste buds and giving you the perfect barbecue treat. Another great benefit of consuming lamb meat is that it is rich in protein and helps you in gaining muscle mass.
People who are into sports and want to increase their physical performance, as well as stamina, are also recommended to eat lamb meat mainly because it contains beta-alanine: an amino acid responsible for better muscular function in the body. With a high iron content in lamb, people who suffer from the problem of Anemia are also cured easily.
Drawbacks of Using Lamb Barbecue Meat
Lamb is one of the most expensive meats you would ever get. Chicken and beef are quite cheap but lamb is very expensive so you many don’t prefer to use it. Besides the price, lamb meat has the most amount of unsaturated fats which is why it is not recommended by doctors to consume it beyond a certain level. Half ounces of lean meat per day is sufficient. You should try to not overeat lamb meat and limit the consumption to once or twice a week only within certain portion sizes. With a high amount of unsaturated fat, there is a chance that you could develop heart problems if you don’t limit the consumption of lamb accordingly.
Turkey
Most of you wouldn’t have tried out the turkey meat for barbecue but it can be a great one. We always recommend that you go for the newer ideas rather than sticking to the previous ones. Turkey is one of the hot favorite meats in North America and is served in the form of several dishes. Commonly, it is consumed at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but you can have a turkey barbecue party anytime else too.
Benefits of Using Turkey Barbecue Meat
25% of turkey meat content is protein which means that it is a healthy source to complete your protein requirements. It has 1% fat and no carbohydrates which makes it one of the healthiest meats of all time. Besides that, the grilled turkey has a better taste than some other meats. If you take off the skin properly, a lot of fat content would go down making it healthier to consume.
Drawbacks of Using Turkey Barbecue Meat
One reason why doctors suggest you should replace turkey meat is that it may lead to high levels of cholesterol in the body that could ultimately result in an increased risk of heart problems. In addition to that, it may also result in the chance of several different types of cancers. However, this does not mean that you shouldn’t eat turkey meat rather it only means that a balanced intake would be quite beneficial. Don’t worry as a one-day party would be fine for that.
Related – The History of Barbecue
Conclusion
Above we have mentioned the different types of meats used for barbecue. Although each one of them has its own benefits and drawbacks, a controlled intake would be perfectly fine. If you ever plan on having a barbecue party, we recommend having small portions of every kind of meat to savor the taste as well as to attain the health benefits of different types of barbecue meats. In case you don’t have all types of meat we mentioned above, we recommend using beef as it is one of the most readily available and tasty meats for barbecue.