There’s more to grilling than just adding the meat to the flames.
Instead, you must understand the heat properties of the grill. Slight mistakes can lead to fluctuation in the temperature, which will result in unevenly cooked food.
Here are a couple of grilling tips and tricks to help you elevate your outdoor cooking game:
1 – Preheat the Grill
Preheating the grill is the most crucial part of grilling. Just like you would preheat an oven, you should turn on the grill for 10 to 15 minutes before grilling.
Make sure the gas burners are on high while preheating, or the coals are burning red, and the lid is closed.
This way, the grates will heat up evenly, and burn hot enough for proper searing. Additionally, if any bits of food are stuck to the grates, they’ll melt off, making it easy to clean the grill.
2 – Maintain the Grilling Temperature
A consistent grilling temperature ensures optimal cooking. Typically, grills lose heat over time. So, you need to monitor the heat using a thermometer constantly.
If you’re using a gas grill, you can regulate the different grilling zones. Alternatively, using air dampers to control the airflow will stabilize the coal’s temperature.
3 – Keep the Grill Clean
Cleaning the grill isn’t only an essential part of food safety, but it also makes for mouth-watering creations and easier grilling.
The reason is that leftover food on the grates can cause the flames to flare. In turn, this will result in unevenly cooked meats. The residues can also impart unappetizing flavors into the food.
Every grilling manual emphasizes the importance of a clean grill for optimal performance.
Clogged grates will hinder the airflow and disrupt the grilling temperature. As if that wasn’t enough, food residue will cause the grates to rust over time.
4 – Keep off the Meat
It can be incredibly tempting to check on the meat as you’re grilling. However, this causes the meat to cook unevenly as the temperature fluctuates.
The best part about grilling is getting the signature sear and grill lines. Well, the more you check on the meat, the less it will contact the grates.
While grilling is a great way to cook meat in minutes, the cooking time will significantly increase if you frequently flip the food.
Instead, it’s best to leave the meat undisturbed on the grill for a few minutes. If you’re worried about the degree of doneness, a meat thermometer should do the trick.
What’s more, allowing the meat to be in contact with the hot grates is how it develops the delicious caramelized flavor. So, turning the meat just once will ensure the best taste!
5 – Trim the Fat
If you’re a health-conscious person, grilling is probably your go-to meat cooking method.
That’s only natural as there’s no extra oil or butter added to the meat. Furthermore, grilling often requires lean meat cuts.
If this option is unavailable, trimming the fat might take some extra time and effort. Yet, the result will be evenly cooked meat that looks and tastes magnificent.
To explain, one of the main culprits of flames flaring is excess fat dripping into the grill. So, this will also prevent the meat from charring and improve the flavor.
6 – Try Indirect Grilling
If you’re new to grilling, indirect flames can be a lifesaver.
Regardless of your grilling technique, you’ll end up with evenly cooked meat every time. There are fewer flare-ups and charring as well.
Indirect grilling is also incredibly versatile. You can grill any cut of meat using this technique.
Moreover, you won’t need to pay much attention to the grill. Just let the heat do its thing slowly to get the most tender, mouthwatering meat you’ve ever tried.
7 – Invest in Grilling Tools
Grilling equipment is paramount to enhancing your grilling experience. For starters, you need to have a high-quality grill, so you’ll be able to regulate the temperature.
Then, there are gloves, tongs, and spatulas for handling the food. These might seem insignificant. However, the right ones make grilling much easier.
Many grills come with a built-in thermometer too, but a meat thermometer will work wonders for larger meat cuts, ensuring your food is grilled to perfection.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree in construction engineering. When not constructing or remodeling X-Ray Rooms, Cardiovascular Labs, and Pharmacies, you can find him at home with wife and two daughters. Outside of family, He loves grilling and barbequing on his Big Green Egg and Blackstone Griddle, as well as working on projects around the house.
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