By Julie Tomascik
Editor

As summer kicks off, Texans are firing up their grills, and a new YouTube series is turning up the heat with the sights, sounds and flavors of beef.

Seasoned pitmaster and grill master Jerry McPherson is the host of Beef Loving Texans’ series, Sizzle and Smoke with Jerry. The videos serve up flavorful, easy-to-follow recipes with a side of expert advice.

“Consumers are always looking for new ways to cook things, and they’re looking for help on learning the different cuts,” McPherson said in an interview with the Texas Farm Bureau Radio Network. “They’re craving that information, and we can explain a little more about the different cuts in the YouTube series.”

So far, McPherson has featured smoked tri-tip, Thai burgers, grilled picanha skewers with chimichurri sauce and how to reverse sear a Tomahawk steak.

The series aims to take the guesswork out of grilling, offering step-by-step guidance and inspiration for backyard barbecues.

“We wanted to make it pretty simple and an educational format, but also we want them to have a good eating experience,” McPherson said. “We want beef to be top of mind when they’re going into stores during these holidays. Our goal is to bring Texans to the table over a shared love of beef.”

Each episode also includes safe food handling reminders like clean utensils, proper marinating and storage.

But as grills heat up, so do prices at the meat counter.

Retail beef prices have climbed comparted to this time last year, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Factors like drought, declining cattle inventory and higher input costs are driving up the tab for consumers.

“Certain meat cuts peak around the holidays, but demand during grilling season can influence prices across most everything beef, poultry and pork,” said Dr. David Anderson, AgriLife Extension economist.

Watch the full Sizzle and Smoke with Jerry series on the Beef Loving Texans YouTube channel.