Why we're all obsessed with secondary cuts, smoke and fire

There’s something about the smell of ironbark smoke and searing beef that brings people together like nothing else.

If you’ve driven through town on a sunny weekend lately, chances are you’ve caught a smell of a neighbour's smoker running in the backyard. The low-and-slow BBQ movement isn't just a passing food trend anymore, it’s fully taken over Australia's backyards and verandas. But what’s actually driving this obsession with fire, smoke, and big cuts of meat?

At its heart, it comes down to a shift in how we look at the animal and how we gather with the people around us.

Loving the cut

Forget quick-seared steaks on a Tuesday night. The low-and-slow craze is all about turning low-cost, secondary cuts into absolute magic.

Not that long ago, cuts like brisket, beef short ribs, pork shoulder, and even lamb legs were secondary thoughts in the butcher display. Today, they are the stars of the show.
What drove the change was a bit of time, the right internal temperature, and an appreciation for what these traditional cuts can do when given a little patience.

World-renowned BBQ legends point out that as global beef prices rise, home pitmasters are getting smarter. By understanding how muscle fibers break down over an eight-to-twelve-hour cook, everyday Aussie cooks are turning budget-friendly secondary cuts into melt-in-your-mouth feasts.

Plus, the flavour profiles are evolving fast. We’re seeing a massive blend of styles combining classic American wood-smoke with Asian marinades, South American spices, and local Australian woods. It’s making the backyard meat trail more exciting than ever.

More than just dinner, it's also about spending time with people

While the meat is the star of the show, the real secret behind the BBQ boom is what happens around the smoker.

Cooking a brisket isn't something you do in ten minutes alone in the kitchen. It’s an event. It’s an excuse to invite your friends around, stand around the smoker with a cold drink, talk about technique, and share a meal that took real heart to make.

In regional and country communities, that connection matters. A great cook-up breaks up the week, brings friends and families around the same table, and builds a sense of pride in using quality, locally raised Aussie meat from our world-class Wagyu right through to classic grass-fed beef and lamb.

So what are you waiting for, head down to your butcher and for up the slow cooker!