The word barbecue is used to define a method of cooking, the food that is cooked, and the gathering that eats the food.... its a great verb and noun. People barbecue on the barbecue, while others eat barbecue at a barbecue. One word to describe so many things.
True barbecuing is the act of cooking meat at low temperatures for several hours over indirect heat. This process results in the meat becoming more tender and tasty as the natural juices have time to disperse throughout the meat. Examples of barbequed meat are ribs, roasts, hams, and whole chickens.
Grilling is the act of cooking meat at high temperatures for a short period of time usually directly over the heat. Hamburgers, hotdogs, sausages, and steaks are grilled.
So simply put grilling is "hot and fast" and barbecuing is "low and slow".
