If you know barbecue, you鈥檝e likely heard of Rodney Scott and his famous pit-cooked meats. And even if you don鈥檛, all you need to know is this: Scott cooked his first hog at the age of 11 and he鈥檚 never looked back. With decades of experience and six locations of spanning South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and soon to be Tennessee, this man is a bonafide barbecue expert. Here are his three rules of the home grill:
1. Food safety first. Don鈥檛 leave anything out too long. Stay mindful of what you鈥檙e doing as you handle it. There are gauges and thermometers for a reason.
2. Don鈥檛 grill too close to the house and walk away. Things can happen [Strong can attest to this: His family鈥檚 roadside barbecue spot in Hemingway, South Carolina, burned to the ground in 2014 and his Charleston location had a pit fire in 2017.] I like to make sure the grill is away from the house. If it is close, get a grill mat to avoid sparks getting on the floor boards.
3. Have fun. Don鈥檛 let the pressure of that critical visitor steal the joy out of what you鈥檙e preparing. You鈥檝e got your music going, you鈥檙e outside grilling, you鈥檙e having fun. Even if you鈥檙e burning it, it鈥檚 fun鈥攋ust add extra sauce.