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Another summer, another round of cookbooks dedicated to the art of smoking, char, and all things meat. Maybe you think you've learned everything there is to already know about grilling, but the 2018 lineup offers surprisingly fresh takes, including Korean barbecue at home, cooking over campfires, and a comprehensive offering from Mark Bittman. Here's the rundown:
Project Fire by Steven Raichlen
Steven Raichlen published the 500-recipe Barbecue Bible in the '90s. Then, in his 2010 book Planet Barbecue, he went way beyond the backyard (to 60 countries, no less) and reminded us that barbecue is a technique used around the world, from Kenya to Laos. He's published expert offerings on sauces and marinades, tailgating, and more. His new book, Project Fire, is designed to bring this expertise to a new generation and includes recipes for grilled breakfast dishes, starters, and cocktails, plus barbecue tips galore.
How to Grill Everything by Mark Bittman
Just when you think Mark Bittman has finally, really, truly taught you how to cook absolutely everything (even Instant Pot recipes!), he has more cooking advice to give. This time, it's all about grilling. In this new installation of the How to Cook Everything series, he comes at you with 250 recipes—plus tips, variations, and tricks that cover all of the grilling basics. There's the standard fare like perfectly grilled steaks, skewers, burgers, and fillets of salmon, but there are also surprises, like desserts and bread (yes, bread). If you plan to spend your summer cooking almost exclusively in the backyard, but need a place to start, Bittman is your guy.
BUY IT: How to Grill Everything: Simple Recipes for Great Flame-Cooked Food, $25 on Amazon
Feast by Firelight by Emma Frisch
This is your guide to cooking around the campfire this summer. Emma Frisch is a food blogger, former Food Network Star finalist, and the co-owner (with her husband) of Firelight Camps, a "glamping destination" in Ithaca, New York. The book offers recipes, menus, and methods for cooking outdoors, as well as tips for packing and prepping in advance. It also offers shopping and equipment lists—but it's really worth the purchase just for the photographs of scenic views, starry skies, and blazing fires.
BUY IT: Feast by Firelight: Simple Recipes for Camping, Cabins, and the Great Outdoors, $18 on Amazon
The Campout Cookbook by Marnie Hanel and Jen Stevenson
Another book about camp cooking, this one by the team who wrote The Picnic, the award-winning book about eating daytime meals outside. This book includes recipes for wood-fired skillet pizzas, vegetables roasted over the fire, energy bars, and bread made in a cast-iron pan. Plus, there are camping tips, guides to stargazing, and a list of essential kitchen tools to bring along.
Korean BBQ: Master Your Grill in Seven Sauces by Bill Kim and Chandra Ram
Here's a cookbook that will teach you the fundamentals of Korean BBQ, while also giving you some strong skills for classic American grilling. The author, Chicago chef Bill Kim, approaches Korean barbecue though master sauces and spice rubs. He then uses those sauces and rubs in dishes with Korean-American twists, such as kimchi potato salad and a Korean riff on buffalo shrimp.
BUY IT: Korean BBQ: Master Your Grill in Seven Sauces, $28 on Amazon
Food52 Any Night Grilling by Paula Disbrowe
Food52's latest cookbook is all about fast and easy grilling. It skips the low-and-slow, all-day grilling techniques and overnight marinades, instead focusing on quicker things like nachos with grilled corn, charred flatbreads, and plenty of grilled vegetables. Plus, it's full of valuable tips that'll teach you to be a better (and faster!) grill master, any day of the week.
BUY IT: Food52 Any Night Grilling: 60 Ways to Fire Up Dinner, $17 on Amazon
A Burger to Believe In by Chris Kronner and Paolo Lucchesi
You may think there's nothing more to learn about making a hamburger, but this new book from Chris Kronner of Oakland's KronnerBurger will prove you wrong. Learn about sourcing the best meat, making your own bun, and why you're better off keeping your toppings simple. There are 40 non-burger recipes in here as well, like onion rings and various salads.
BUY IT: A Burger to Believe In: Recipes and Fundamentals, $30 on Amazon
Michael Symon's Playing with Fire by Michael Symon and Douglas Trattner
If a deeper dive into the nerd world of barbecuing is more what you're after, try this book. An Iron Chef and a host of ABC's The Chew, Michael Symon is a Cleveland native who developed his own style of barbecue that showcases the flavors of his hometown. But wait! He also toured the US to experiment with different styles, and the fruits of that labor are in this book in the form of regional recipes from Tennessee and Texas to Kansas City.
BUY IT: Michael Symon's Playing with Fire: BBQ and More from the Grill, Smoker, and Fireplace, $21 on Amazon
Cool Smoke by Tuffy Stone
Tuffy Stone is a five-time World Champion Pitmaster, and now he's sharing his barbecuing expertise in book form. Cool Smoke offers plenty of tips and technique lessons, with information on choosing your grill, making marinades, and trimming meat—and, of course it offers classic barbecue recipes with modern twists, like ribs with cherry sauce. There are also plenty of sides, including a pineapple hot pot and corn pudding.
BUY IT: Cool Smoke: The Art of Great Barbecue, $22 on Amazon
The Secrets to Great Charcoal Grilling on the Weber by Bill Gillespie
Here's a cookbook designed specifically for grilling with your Weber kettle grill. In addition to recipes, author and barbecue competition champ Bill Gillespie gives comprehensive guides and tips for both beginners and experienced barbecuers about starting the coals, cooking to the perfect level of doneness, and more.
BUY IT: The Secrets to Great Charcoal Grilling on the Weber, $17 on Amazon
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