The Friday Fire (Page 2)

Cochinita pibil-style pork served inside banana leaves with pickled red onions nearby.

The Friday Fire #18 - Cochinita Pibil Weekend

A brighter backyard BBQ plan for cochinita pibil-style pork shoulder with achiote, citrus, banana leaves, pickled red onions, and patient heat.

How AI is Changing Backyard BBQ (And Why That's a Good Thing)

AI isn't replacing the pitmaster — it's giving every backyard cook the knowledge that used to take decades to build. Here's how artificial intelligence is quietly transforming how we smoke, grill, and plan our cooks.

The Friday Fire #5 — The Weeknight Issue

Hey — Five things worth knowing before you light the fire this weekend. Or a Tuesday. I'm not the boss of you. 1. The Guide How to smoke chicken wings on a Weber kettle. Wings might be the best weeknight smoke out there. Thirty to forty minutes at 325-

The Braai Pitmaster Challenge — 4 Weeks of AI-Coached BBQ

Join the 4-week Braai Pitmaster Challenge. Use the free AI BBQ coach to level up your smoking and grilling game — with weekly themes, prizes, and a community of pitmasters cooking alongside you.

Meet Braai Pitmaster: A Free AI BBQ Coach That Actually Has Opinions

Most BBQ advice online is vague. The Braai Pitmaster GPT gives you specific, opinionated coaching — the kind of advice a competition pitmaster would give you standing next to your smoker.

The Friday Fire #4 — The Chicken Issue

Hey — Five things worth knowing before you light the fire this weekend. 1. The Guide How to smoke a whole chicken on a Kamado. Kamados hold temp like nothing else, and chicken is where they really shine. The ceramic walls give you convection-style heat that crisps the skin while

The Friday Fire #3 — The Pulled Pork Issue

Hey — Five things worth knowing before you light the fire this weekend. 1. The Guide How to smoke pulled pork on a Weber charcoal kettle. You don't need an expensive smoker to make great pulled pork. A standard kettle with a two-zone setup works better than most

The Friday Fire #2 — The Ribs Issue

Hey — Five things worth knowing before you light the fire this weekend. 1. The Guide How to smoke baby back ribs on a pellet grill. Pellet grills make ribs almost too easy. Set it and walk away. This guide covers the 3-2-1 method, why I sometimes skip the

The Friday Fire #1 — The Brisket Issue

Hey — Five things worth knowing before you light the fire this weekend. 1. The Guide How to smoke brisket on an offset smoker. Full timing breakdown from trimming to slicing. Pit temps, when to wrap, and how to handle the stall without panicking. Read the guide → 2. What I'

The Story Behind Braai

Braai was born long before it was software. Follow the journey from South Africa to Austin, from a Thanksgiving turkey tracker to the app that helps you stay calm and confident around the fire.

Why Your Brisket is Always Late (And How to Fix It)

Is your brisket always running behind schedule? Here are the common mistakes that cause late brisket and how to avoid them.

How to Plan a Multi-Protein BBQ Cook (Brisket, Ribs, and Sides Together)

Learn how to coordinate multiple proteins and sides so everything finishes at the same time. A step-by-step guide to meal-level BBQ planning.

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Brisket Timing: How Long to Cook, Rest, and Serve Perfectly

Master brisket timing with this comprehensive guide. Learn how long to cook, when to wrap, how long to rest, and how to coordinate the entire meal.

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The Problem with BBQ Apps (And Why We Built Braai Differently)

Your Traeger app monitors your Traeger. Your Meater app monitors your probe. But neither tells you when to start your brisket so everything is ready together.