How the Backyard BBQ Became an American Pastime

Weird History Food is going to fire up the grill with the history of bbq grills. Almost every American loves that time of the year when they open up the trusty outdoor grill, throw some charcoal in, and make some delicious bbq. But when did this practice begin? Well, get some brats, burgers, and bbq chicken, because we're going to dive into the history and evolution of the backyard barbeque.
#bbq #grill #weirdhistoryfood

[@weirdhistoryfood]

What is your favorite thing to grill?

[@DragonKazooie89]

Burgers, especially when camping and with slightly charred red potatoes

[@bgm2658]

Steaks, Hotdogs and Hamburgers ❤️❤️

[@getoffmydarnlawn]

Chicken thighs and burgers --- and I still have soft spot for charred hot dogs. My dad would sometimes set them on fire (I remember them being much fattier than they are now) and put them on the bun that way, we thought it was so cool. To a small kid's eyes, Dad can make the simplest things magical.

[@scottysblog7317]

When I was a kid my dad used to take chopped potatoes, carrots, onion and loose burger and wrap it in foil and throw it on the grill on the top rack. He called it "gazebo dinner". It was delicious!

[@Joe_King7717]

Prob sausage

[@teleiosdawyz4044]

My favourite cookout memory. I was in HS. One snowy day our bored teenaged selves raided our various kitchens for hotdogs, chips, and other munchies. We went to a nearby metropark. We had to pull dry wood from under the sbow, and was thankful for the dry under roof grill. We smoked a bunch of weed, cooked our dogs and had one great winter day.

[@1gx619]

This is AWESOME! Some of the best grilled food I ever ate was with my buddies and a bowl or three😎

[@jewel65]

Winter grilling is the best!

[@lobsterbisque7567]

YES!! I've found that being baked helps keep you warm while grilling/smoking meat😆😆😆🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲 When You're doing a long low & slow cook 8-16hrs, You have to smoke yourself while smoking meat

[@amyfisher6380]

It helps when you live in a warm climate and the weather is accommodating regardless of the time of year. I grew up in Los Angeles, and when I was a kid my dad would take advantage of warm winter days to grill outside. Can’t beat freshly grilled steaks on Groundhog Day. 🤣

[@Iamtheliquor]

Last week here in the UK I did a brisket in my smoker. Absolutely beautiful

[@chipskylark172]

Growing up, in our cul-de-sac our whole neighbourhood would have a bbq for Memorial Day and the 4th you’d bring a dish and the kids would all be playing on the slip N slide or jump on the trampoline or play in the pool while our parents cooked and grilled. I miss those days 😢

[@kyliCatherine1]

Our neighborhood did the same thing and we also lived in a cul-de-sac! Crazy. Us kids made up a club we called “The Cul-de-Sac Kids” lol. Miss those days!

[@yorkiesa]

" A process you may recognize as an absolute pain in the ass." It's gems like these that make this channel truly great.

[@btetschner]

A+ video! Awesome hearing about the tradition, makes all those holidays and socials more meaningful!

[@spddiesel]

11:16 love that you show an explosion for a turkey fryer 🤣🤣🤣

[@NeilDeal2023]

Thanks once again for a (ful)filling video. I feel stuffed. LOL. Seriously, your channel is my favourite on KZbin. The writing, research, editing, artwork, narration and any other elements I'm missing, are all top notch! 👏Great work!

[@LittleBearBBQ_Food_Original]

Here in the UK, BBQ is starting to gain some traction with Folks looking for more than the ubiquitous "English Barbecue" stuff. We now have access to good cookers, seasonings, meats etc. I am, however, continually amazed at the response when I do a catering gig and provide, what I consider "Proper BBQ"; Everyone loves it!!!

[@busker153]

I got the strangest reaction from a friend once when I went out to fire up the grill in deep snow. "You're cooking out in the snow?!? I shot back something sarcastic like, "Yeah, who wants to stand near a fire when it's cold outside?" LOL

[@agentp6621]

I work around aircraft and jet fuel is made mostly of kerosene. When I smell the exhaust. It reminds me of charcoal barbecues at the local lake. It was the lighter fluid back then in the early 90’s. It isn’t the same today. I would imagine it has something to do with the fact people used too much and burn their eyebrows off. So the manufacturers likely reformulated the mixture to be less likely to blow up.

[@thejimmy6533]

How does this channel have only 300K subscribers?? This is some high quality content!

[@spacedredd]

Open flame, and meat!!! Yeah... Snow and Icy wind, rain, or summer heat... It all adds a flavor to the meat on an open flame!!!

[@kebabaluba]

Gas grill are the most convenient for a quick BBQ as they light up and turn off quickly. I have a small portable gas grill myself and i love to BBQ on my balcony from time to time.

[@NASCARFAN93100]

The OG Narrator is Back! 😀

[@Thephinxst]

He was never gone lol, they just have multiple narrators

[@Jason-tz7ir]

You mean the only narrator worth listening to on this channel

[@Jason-tz7ir]

​@@Thephinxstwhat is stupid way to unnecessarily correct somebody that wasn't even really incorrect

[@yoursubconscious]

yeppes! 🎉

[@Princenigetta]

yESIIR

[@AdamYJ]

Ah, but when was the chimney style charcoal starter invented? And by who?

[@robertchambers6344]

I miss the block party days. And the lake. That's what I think of when I think about Bbq

[@btetschner]

Thank you Prometheus for fire!

[@viralnorn9173]

It is so ignorant that people assume only men grill. I do all the grilling at our house, and even grilled steaks last year for Christmas dinner. My son and husband loved it!

[@jons.6216]

When I was a kid, long after the BBQ in the backyard was done I used to take a burned down briquette and drop it into a water puddle which would simulate the sounds of the melting Wicked Witch of the West! Haha!

[@EMTevjorgensen]

Steak are going on the Barbecue tonight!!

[@murphyebass7837]

You can make pretty much anything on a charcoal kettle bbq if you know how. Big key is having a safe zone on one side with no heat underneath, close the lid and now you have an oven. Then crisp up food on the over charcoal side.

[@dweb2275]

90% of the food cooked at my house comes off my Green Egg or Blackstone. Taste great and keeps the kitchen clean.

[@lucasandrews578]

I watched this during the 4th of July.

[@inquirewue2]

Winter is grillin' season. It's too damn hot in the dead of summer. Spring and Fall are smokin' season. I do grill on the 4th every tho.

[@auntvesuvi3872]

Thanks for this! 🔥 #WeirdHistoryFood #FoodHistory #Barbacoa #Barbecue #BBQ #Grilling

[@glennso47]

It certainly didn’t during the 2020 pandemic. The mayor of Chicago said if you were caught having a large party in your backyard, the cops would shut you down. Then she went and had her hair done in violation of another one of her rules. (Lori Lightfoot)

[@jameshamm7911]

I grill year round, all around the world (Germany, Iceland, Canada, etc.). Coldest ever was in North Bay, Ontario, where one year it was -40, yet there I was, drinking Rickards Red during a snow storm, putting the "Q" on the meat, lol. Now, living in the Colorado Mountains, I get down with some Voodoo Ranger IPA and slow-smokin' on my Kamado Joe Kettle, whilst dodging snowflakes and watching mobile Elk burgers cross my lawn. ;-)

[@RealBigBadJohn]

Nothing beats whole-hog barbecue. That said, LaFayette, Georgia is pronounced luh-FAY-et.✔

[@Jrfuente]

They used brazier aswell before the Webber grill

[@btetschner]

Would be fascinating to read: x Jamaica viewed by Edmund Hickeringill - To see when the word barbecue was first used. x The Barbacue Feast by Edward Ward - To read about the first described account of an Anglo-American barbecue.

[@JDWanko]

How about Birthday Parties?

[@bangdollarsign]

Tom is the narrator of this channel.

[@adj789]

I usually grill every weekend, my smoker just broke though :(

[@weirdhistoryfood]

Not the smoker!

[@adj789]

@@weirdhistoryfood yeah the fan broke and trying to get the part has been difficult

[@Truckngirl]

Hammer pants. I see what you did there...

[@JCooke031]

Speaking of American traditions, nothing to do with grilling of course, but if you guys get around to it. Do a history of banquet tv dinners. Honestly who hasn’t had a banquet tv dinner!?

[@mamiemonrovia7654]

Weber is the ONLY way 2 go. it's impossible to screw up ur food . I have never burned anything on a weber. spend the extra $$

[@alankeith7866]

There's never a bad day for BBQ...

[@jimmyyu2184]

Well, OK, I live in CA, so it's a bit different to BBQ in winter than say, MI or IL. But I tend to do less BBQ in summer (really, it's already hot, so why make it hotter) but the other 3 seasons? Heck yeah. Nothing beats standing next to a warm BBQ (smoker) and slow cook a full rack of ribs for hours while drinking a brew. And listening/watching football.

[@santiagoaguilar8429]

really making California's sound like losers saying "ah its to hot to bbq". I live in LA and me and my homies bbq all year round. Hell bbq is preferred for poor communities so we dont get the house extra hot during the summer cause we either have no AC or rather not pay more to turn it on and spike the electric bill.

[@waynepurcell6058]

First thing is grilling out IS NOT BBQ. It is grilling out. BBQ is seasoned and SLOWLY smoked meat (for up to 14 hours). Grilling out is great, we do it all the time, but BBQing is a totally different animal.

[@willcresson8776]

What you have pictured in the thumbnail is a cookout, not a barbeque. Might want to see to fixing that.

[@tomsenior7405]

So this is why I used to spend my Sundays trying to set-light to burnt wood, and then standing in the rain desperately hoping the meat was cooked through before the fire was inevitably washed-away. Meanwhile our guests were merrily drinking my booze indoors. All this, because America fooled the world into thinking outdoor cooking was a good idea. For all these years I have been blaming the Australians.

[@killercaos123]

For the past two days I grilled.

[@gregmiller9710]

i can tell ya..it was Henry Ford....

[@wongjefx980]

Grilling....brings men back to basics...fire, raw meat and booze. Guys chat around the grill, taking meat, seasoning, thermometers, ... whatever. BBQ smoking... that is tedious next level thing.

[@Pinkstonsheep2]

Hi

[@dakotahowe]

tone on this video is a little cattier i like it

[@aaronz6094]

It's the male narrator

[@btetschner]

Gen X Food #326: Van Camp's Pork and Beans Gen X Food #327: Grilled Hamburgers Gen X Food #328: Grilled Hot Dogs Gen X Food #329: Grilled Bratwurst Gen X Food #330: Shish Kabobs Gen X Food #331: Cow Brow Beans Gen X Food #332: Barbacue Beans Gen X Food #333: Grilled Pineapple Gen X Food #334: Grilled Steak Gen X Food #335: Succotash Gen X Food #336: Grilled Sausage Gen X Food #337: Grilled Bacon Gen X Food #338: Bush's Baked Beans Gen X Food #339: Grilled Corn Gen X Food #340: George Foreman Grilled Chicken Breast Gen X Food #341: Grilled Chicken Breast Gen X Food #342: Brick Oven Pizza Gen X Food #343: Grilled Fish Gen X Food #344: Grilled Flapjacks Gen X Food #345: Cowboy Beans Gen X Food #346: New World Ribs (New) Gen X Food #347: Beef Brisket Gen X Food #348: Grilled Whole Chicken Gen X Food #349: Grilled Pork Chops Gen X Food #350: Pork chops Gen X Food #351: Grilled Meat Pies

[@remuslazar2033]

Bibiqu 😂

[@icecreamorc]

BBQ is such a huge thing that our old neighbors where grilling on their apartment balcony and then burnt down the entire complex. Like true patriots.

[@quanbrooklynkid7776]

damn

[@smittykins]

My previous complex had a rule that grills had to be a certain distance from the buildings(I want to say 20 feet).

[@chazzx1018]

How did the BBQ come out?

[@icecreamorc]

@@chazzx1018 burnt I would imagine.

[@Megadextrious]

As is tradition here in America 🇺🇸

[@sfernando04]

Hank Hill would be proud of 60% of Americans use gas grills.

[@EeveelutionStorm]

I'd actually be curious to see if there was a correlation between King of the Hill and propane grills during it's major air time.

[@paulmarion7578]

And now there using wood pellet smokers ! 🙄 which are just easy bake ovens ! Lang BBQ Smokers all the way 😜

[@GigsofRam]

Taste the meat, not the heat

[@shaneeddings883]

I trashed my propane grill over a year ago and have never looked back! Wood, Charcoal or a combination. Lone Star Grillz 20X42 Offset, and currently 4 Weber Kettles(always changing).

[@forgettablelisa]

@@GigsofRammy daddy says butane’s a bastard gas

[@moochieone1]

One thing that you forgot to mention is that summer weather in the southern United States tended to get quite hot, and with the high cost of electricity, most people could not afford air conditioning. Therefore, to keep the house a bit cooler, cooking would be moved to outside over open or "contained" fires for meals on hot summer evenings. Growing up on a farm, this became our primary means of cooking during the summer, as it allowed for cooler rooms in the house for sleeping later in the evening. In addition, it allowed for large families and friends to gather together to not only do farm work but also to socialize and eat together without taking up valuable space in the house.

[@RealBigBadJohn]

Interesting. 👍

[@VoidOneGamer]

Several old farm houses straight up have a separate kitchen outbuilding for that as well, to keep cooking out of the main house in the summer. The stove gets moved back in the mai house in the winter. Most of the time summer kitchens aren't used as kitchens anymore of course

[@RTStx1]

OP you missed that politicians were buying votes by doing mass BBQ's not long ago. Feeding entire towns as a form of payment.

[@BarnabyJones07]

Being born on the Fourth of July, like myself, is nice because I will always know what my birthday dinner will be, BBQ, and I'm totally fine with that.

[@octaviasandridge2955]

Does anyone remember the Country Crock couple? They had so many life changing events while eating something smeared with butter, but you only saw their hands! Would you guys please make a video about this awesome butter couple? Thanks!

[@DH-.]

Yes but thanks to family guy. my memory is cloudy

[@Megadextrious]

@@DH-. ​​“Jokes on you, I have Hepatitis!”

[@michaelfernandez8413]

I still can't believe it's still not butter

[@debicadude]

Nice! I love the USs culture of BBQ. Here in Poland we love grillin too, and it has actually also became a meme, that people try grilling in bad weather or on the balconies in an apartment block! Good to see that the survey said that big % of all year round users!

[@Rebelgtp]

My grill goes pretty all year round and have even been in use in sun zero temps. Every year for Thanksgiving (early winter) I smoke a whole turkey

[@HayTatsuko]

What kinds of foods do you grill over there in Poland? I hope polska kielbasa is on the menu!

[@n1ls53]

@@HayTatsuko they probably cook shashlik

[@donaldpiper9763]

Barbecued Krampus 😂

[@nomoretwitterhandles]

Until now, I had no idea that BBQ grilling was considered an American thing! But I'm glad to see people overseas are also enjoying the fun of wacky weather grilling lol!

[@Facetiously.Esoteric]

You should do a show on the origins of camping in America. The story is interesting. Maybe a bit about the first auto campers too.

[@vhsmemories504]

When I was a kid I hated grilled food. Steak, chicken, kebabs you name it I hated it. I never understood why Dads liked to grill. I'm 30 now and there's almost nothing better than grilling a some steaks with a couple beers on the porch. It's an almost zen like state.

[@lisapop5219]

We are year round grillers. Can't beat it. We like to use it for meal prep because you can cook a weeks worth at one time. We have gas & charcoal grills and a smoker.

[@WVUer21]

To be fair, most of us will happily swap five minutes alone outside in a blizzard to grill than deal with family inside.

[@jewel65]

Right! 😂😂😃

[@willcresson8776]

If you're only out 5 minutes, it ain't a barbecue, it's a cookout.

[@xpatsteve]

I grill year-round. Everything from burgers to whole, smoked turkeys. Veggies too. My grills are my second kitchen.

[@marcpeterson1092]

Did you notice that when he mentioned turkey fryers, the video showed a massive ball of flame?

[@jackhackett80]

Last week on Father's Day had a beautiful ribeye on charcoal man im still thinking about it! Anything tastes better on the grill!

[@Crocogator]

can confirm, grilling in the middle of a winter storm is a great feeling. I AM MAN, WATCH ME BURN.

[@jeremiahalguire8231]

Hello from Buffalo n.y , best part about our absurdly crazy winter's is that we NEVER stop bbq-ing. Tailgating for bills games in blizzards or deep-frying a Thanksgiving turkey while the snow is gently falling around you , is amazing:)

[@van3158]

I have both a gas and charcoal grill, an electric smoker and a wood smoker. I grill year round, no matter how cold. Shashlik is eaten year round.

[@BeyondDaX]

So yer a gopnik/eastern euro griller eh? Neat

[@Killem-Dafoe]

LAWN DARTS!!!!!!!!

[@setituptoblowitup]

Now that's what I'm talking bout 🎯🎯🎯😂🚀✌️

[@kwalsh1968]

Jarts 😂 played quite a few times and no injuries.

[@fermio100]

Bbq in Brasil is a bit different, but it's very tasty too. Made one just today. Love roasting meat over the fire while drinking beer and chatting .

[@deirdregibbons5609]

I really like the graphic designs you used in this video. Very clever. The subtitles for the historical people were hilarious.

[@mikehughes4969]

I remember the neighborhood Labor day cookout very fondly. Us kids, from 13 to 15, would always try and raid the big metal tub of ice where all the beer was, so we could sneak off down to the creek and get drunk. Those were good times.

[@clemnewton9007]

Grill at home is cheaper than eating out and do not forget the beer

[@jd9119]

Ever since beer companies started pushing perverts on us (Coors and Annheiser Busch specifically), we've decided to quit drinking alcohol, hit the gym and start fight clubs.

[@paullenoue8173]

Wish you would do a show on bread machines.

[@antoniousmanonioussonofmin5057]

I wouldn’t necessarily credit the American cowboys for their style of bbq when it’s straight from Mexican/native Texan style of cooking.

[@gbae636]

The first american cowboys were mexican.

[@cris_j]

In Puerto Rico they pronounce Taino, "Tah eeh' noh," for whatever that's worth...

[@thesinfultictac5704]

Not enough my wife bought me this beautiful charcoal griller and I've only used it a couple of times the last couple of months I'm hoping to get to it this summer

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

Talking with friends and family while on a BBQ party is the best

[@dennislogan6781]

I cook on my propane grill or wood burning fire pit at least once a month. Love that smokey flavor from the fire pit.

[@jerranspearman3369]

good video

[@btetschner]

@3:57 - "like leather chewing gum" - hahaha! good one!

[@NewMessage]

_Armie Hammer has joined the chat_

[@GreaseBIizzard]

Charcoal 🤮 We use propane and propane accessories in this house.

[@TheDarkThunder]

Turkey fryers (FOOM)

[@wamken619]

That part actually made me laugh. F'n nuked the shit outta that turkey

[@billclancey5090]

wee

[@HayTatsuko]

I will never miss Lawn Darts. What a horrible idea for a game. Right up there with javelin catching. Also, this guy is my favorite narrator of any food channel ever. Great voice, great delivery, always a fun listen!

[@BrentTJo]

In college I went to light our charcoal grill but we were out of lighter fluid. If you are ever in this bind Everclear can work for lighting charcoal.

[@Kinglioncrown]

Barbecue Chicken wings are the best bbq in the world

[@solanaceae2069]

I don't always grill. Sometimes I fire up the smoker.

[@klabkebash]

Taino - it's pronounced "Tha-E-NO" or "Thai-E-NO" .. But Not "Thai-NO"

[@pamelamays4186]

My Grandpa built his own brick BBQ pit in his backyard.🧱

[@btetschner]

At college (Doane University), we had a Luau...back in the day. Good times!

[@RippieFarmer]

In one video you guys give credit to the slaves of early America for the introduction of BBQ and then in the next you tell everyone they learned it from their colonist owners 😂 Wierd History indeed. Seems it's history as you choose to tell it for the video you're making in the moment😅

[@wei8280]

I'm in the minority of not owning a grill or wanting to grill. But attends plenty of friends bbqs. Of course I never attend empty handed.

[@howardwhitney9314]

I bought a George Forman rotisserie grill for whole chickens and roasts at a yard sale. Best Buy ever.

[@JoeNOhio]

Man, fire, food. Call it channeling our inner caveman or whatever. Master cooking in the backyard, the people will come 😁

[@jlshel42]

Gotta have something good to eat to balance out the booze we down. USA ALL THE WAY!

[@beatle7809]

We’re a Mexican family. But we still grill out every Sunday.

[@eltronics]

I specifically grill, year round. I do want to get a smoker some time soon though.

[@FoaL1991]

I was not prepared for the cataclysmic pillar of flame on “turkey fryer,” lol’d

[@intaze]

it’s funny to think that barbecue could’ve been abbreviated as bbc

[@btetschner]

My roommate, my senior year of college, was born on the Fourth of July.

[@rudevalve]

Certified Gold!!!!!!