Grilling is a social event in American families nowadays, where everyone comes together to make healthy, delicious food and spend time outdoors. It has become even more popular after the pandemic since folks were looking for ways to spend time outside without having to leave their home.
But grilling isn’t as easy as slapping some meat on a grill and calling it a day. There are many nuances to grilling that you need to learn after buying a grill. Keep reading for some grilling tips that should help a beginner like you grill better.
1. Manage Your Heat Better
If you believe that the higher the heat on your grill, the better your meat will cook, think again. That’s a common rookie mistake and we want to disavow you of that notion asap.
Firstly, you should always be preheating your grill at least for 10-15 minutes before cooking. This is a must. Do not throw your food on a cold grill and start there.
Secondly, you should be using high heat only for searing and that only for a short time. The rest of the time, you should be using medium heat, which cooks your food hot and fast, and low heat if you wish to cook slowly or to hold finished foods.
If you are cooking foods that are thicker than 3/4 inches, then you will want to close the lid, so you can build up that heat and cook them fully from the inside out. With foods that are less than 3/4 inch thick, you can leave the lid open and also when you are searing.
Remember these additional tips when learning to grill:
- If you are cooking dry meat, you will find it easier to brown
- Do not pack your food too tightly on the grill, leave enough space in between
- If you don’t want your food burnt, flip it frequently – don’t get distracted
- Avoid the diamond sear marks, as even though they look pretty, they leave a lot of the meat unseared
- Mild wood flavors are alder and cherry
- Strong wood flavors are apple, hickory, and mesquite
- Infuse your food with flavors by placing bunches of herbs directly on the grill and cooking your food on top
2. You Can Grill Fruits and Vegetables
Don’t get stuck in the mindset that grilling is only for meat. Many vegetables and fruits can be made even tastier by putting them on the grill. But you need to know certain grilling tips so you don’t end up burning them.
Always brush your vegetables with oil before you place them on the grill. When you have thin or tender produce, make sure to cook it over medium heat and cook it quickly.
Thicker, tougher produce needs lower indirect heat as it cooks much slower.
Cut up potatoes and other root veggies into disks or chunks before placing them on the grill as that cooks them best. And don’t overdo it with grilling fruits and veggies – they just need a bit of searing to give them that crunch.
The best fruits to place on the grill are apples, pears, figs, and peaches. Try it out and see for yourself. This doesn’t mean that you can’t try grilling other fruits to experiment.
3. Key Temperatures to Keep In Mind
If you don’t want your guests to deal with food poisoning from uncooked meat, then make sure to keep a food thermometer on hand and check temperatures, particularly for meat, before deeming it done.
Some key temperatures are:
- Fish – 145° F
- Ground meats (including burgers) – 160° F
- Poultry – 165° F
Also, keep these temperature ranges in mind for beef:
- Rare – 120-130° F
- Medium-rare – 130-135° F
- Medium – 135-145° F
- Medium-well – 145-155° F
- Well-done – 155° F
This way, you can give your guests a perfectly cooked steak or burger. Don’t just guesstimate it as that can lead to disaster.
4. Cleaning Your Grill Well Is Key
When grilling, your most important equipment is your grill. No matter if you spent a fortune on buying a grill after researching all the types of grills out there or if you just bought a cheap one from Walmart, you need to clean your grill properly each time.
Here are some tips to keep in mind when cleaning your grill.
- Always clean your grill grates before each use (yes before)
- Leave the grease and food on your grill grates after cooking, since this will provide a protective layer between cooks
When cleaning before you cook, heat the grill for 15 minutes until it stops smoking with the lid closed and on medium. Then scrape the grates using a grill brush or a grooved spatula.
Make sure to dip the brush in the water. The steam will loosen up stubborn food bits.
Also, try not to use any cleaning products on your grill that hasn’t been approved by your grill’s manufacturer. Make sure to read the owner’s manual for your grill, especially if you spent a fortune on it or it’s one of those high-end grills that is built for grilling aficionados.
Don’t have a grill yet? Click for grills and smokers to buy one for your family asap.
Use These Grilling Tips to Grill Perfectly Every Time
Ready to bowl over your family and friends by grilling a perfectly cooked meal for them at your next BBQ party? The grilling tips above will help you do exactly that.
But don’t get too stuck in the mold, either. Make sure to experiment a bit and see what works for you and your taste buds. You might end up discovering a tip or two that you can share with experts out there.
Want to read more articles on Foods & Culinary? Then check out that section on our website and keep grillin’!
