The Evolution of BBQ Pits: From Traditional Designs to Modern Masterpieces

Humans have been cooking over fire for almost as long as there have been humans, and, until the invention of refrigeration, smoking meat has been a reliable method of preserving meat that dates all the way back to the Paleolithic era.

Of course, modern grillmasters enjoy far more amenities and tools than our ancestors did. We also enjoy access to a variety of herbs and spices that our forefathers might well have gone to war to obtain. Nevertheless, the principle remains the same.

Of course, cooking food over an open flame isn't quite the same as today's Texan BBQ tradition. 

BBQ: A Product of the Melting Pot

Indigenous people cooking meat in pits. African transplants bringing babbake cooking methods to North America. Europeans adopted, adapted, learned, and sent these traditions back home to Europe.

So it was that the word "barbecue" would first appear in English in 1688, and would appear in an English cookbook in 1707. 

By 1793, George Washington would celebrate the laying of the U.S. Capital cornerstone with an ox barbeque. 

Of course, barbeque wasn't all about glamor and glitz. It remained a tradition for slaves, Indigenous people, and poor whites, all of whom had to find a way to turn less desirable cuts of meat into tender, juicy, tasty treats. By the 1920s, the Ford Motor Company was selling charcoal briquettes. George Stephen invented the Weber kettle grill in 1952. Together, they ensured cars wouldn't be the only thing associated with American life.

The backyard BBQ would become a cornerstone of our culture, especially here in Texas.

Technology Marches On

The mid-20th century brought new innovations to the BBQ scene. In the 1940s, the Chicago Combustion corporation began producing gas grills for restaurants. Eventually, those grills became the propane grills of today.

The late 90s and early 2000s brought infrared grills.

And while the basic design of today's grills haven't changed much, they do come with some innovations. 

For example, bluetooth enabled temperature control allows you to cook meat to perfection, while advancements in craftsmanship allow us to create BBQ pits with thick walls capable of retaining heat for the perfect cook. Adjustable grates, excellent temperature gauges, and other innovations make BBQing easier and more fun than ever before.

Want to experience the latest and greatest in BBQ technology?

We have the perfect pit for your next evolution in barbeque bliss. Each of our custom-created pits was built to last right here in Texas, and has all the features and craftsmanship you'll need to enjoy the very best of this timeless culinary tradition.

Ready to start shopping? Visit our catalog to get started today!