BBQ with Franklin
Do you ever wonder how true BBQ Pitmasters create their magic? Want to know the difference between the Flat and the Point on a beef brisket? Aaron Franklin, owner and Chief Firestarter of his namesake Franklin BBQ, and KLRU TV Austin have moved Aaron's YouTube show to PBS, where Aaron takes the average person through the elements of being a Pitmaster. From picking the right wood to trimming and seasoning the meat, Aaron gives the viewer insights to how they can always make their best barbecue (he even has an episode dedicated to the process of turning a abandoned 250-gallon propane tank into a "cooker"). As a great bonus, he takes us around Austin and select other locations in Texas to see how other people are using wood, smoke, and fire to make delicious food and great times.
- 2015-2015
- 1 season
- PBS
- Reality
- TV-G
Do you ever wonder how true BBQ Pitmasters create their magic? Want to know the difference between the Flat and the Point on a beef brisket? Aaron Franklin, owner and Chief Firestarter of his namesake Franklin BBQ, and KLRU TV Austin have moved Aaron's YouTube show to PBS, where Aaron takes the average person through the elements of being a Pitmaster. From picking the right wood to trimming and seasoning the meat, Aaron gives the viewer insights to how they can always make their best barbecue (he even has an episode dedicated to the process of turning a abandoned 250-gallon propane tank into a "cooker"). As a great bonus, he takes us around Austin and select other locations in Texas to see how other people are using wood, smoke, and fire to make delicious food and great times.
Season 1 Episode Guide
10 Episodes 2015
Episode 1
Brisket
Thu, May 21, 2015 24 mins
Learn how the brisket became a popular centerpiece of Central Texas BBQ. Hear from legends of Texas BBQ plus be guided through a step-by-step brisket cook experiment using three different methods.
Episode 2
Sausage
Thu, May 28, 2015 24 mins
Sausage, often a BBQ afterthought is now finding reason to take center plate. Aaron makes sausage from scratch and visits some folks who are pushing the boundaries of artisan sausage making.
Episode 3
Whole Hog
Thu, Jun 4, 2015 24 mins
Learn the steps that go into a whole hog cook from beginning to end. Aaron walks us through the process of building a cinder block pit, learns about pig breeds and throws a party in his backyard.
Episode 4
The Pits
Thu, Jun 11, 2015 24 mins
Aaron takes a deep-dive into the realm of BBQ pits, as personal as they are functional. Explore different types of smokers from those at the roots of Texas BBQ to the store-bough kind. Aaron builds a smoker out of a 250 gallon propane tank.
Episode 5
Fire & Smoke
Thu, Jun 18, 2015 24 mins
When you're cooking with fire, you'd better have good wood. Aaron covers the major types of wood used in Texas BBQ, gives some tips on building a fire, and shows a twist on using smoke for more than cooking meat.
Episode 6
Poultry & Sauce
Thu, Jun 25, 2015 24 mins
Aaron takes us to a Texas BBQ joint where they cook their chicken in a unique way and then teaches us how to make sauce from scratch. Meanwhile, John Markus takes us on a whirlwind tour of the regional sauces of America.
Episode 7
Direct Heat & Mesquite
Wed, Jul 1, 2015 24 mins
Aaron gets a lesson in cooking "cowboy style", in a way that combines traditional BBQ skills with the grill. Then go behind the scenes at a big city BBQ joint in Dallas and learn their unique take on Texas traditions.
Episode 8
Competition
Thu, Jul 9, 2015 24 mins
Aaron travels to a BBQ cook-off competition in Kansas with his father-in-law, going way outside his comfort zone.
Episode 9
Pickin' Beef
Thu, Jul 16, 2015 24 mins
Aaron tours Texas to research and then cook some beef ribs. After a butchering and anatomy class in College Station, Texas, he receives some tips from a legendary Central Texas BBQ family.
Episode 10
Leftovers
Thu, Jul 23, 2015 24 mins
Aaron sends out a little leftover brisket to some chefs around Austin to see how they are inspired by brisket. We end with a taste test that turns into a party.
