12 Grilling Tips to Master the Grill
We all know that it is so daunting to use the grill and cook the food in the right way, it is not that silly at all! Being an expert in grilling will turn the raw meat into a masterpiece, but you can’t do that unless you follow some tips for a perfect grill and appetizing food. To prevent you from getting embarrassed on a Sunday lunch at your home, we’ve brought to you some grilling tips and tricks for a perfect barbeque. Lets start.
Know the grill that you are using
Before starting the grilling process, you need to know many details about the grill that you are going to use. For example, if you just buy it you should go over the manual to know all the specific characteristics of this grill and how to deal with every single step so you don’t start your lunch by burning your eyelashes! Many grills might be dangerous so you should also read about all the precautions out there in the manual.
Choose the grill that is best for you
Having different kinds of grills will make you think twice before choosing because it all depends on what are your preferences and grilling goals. Different grills mean different characteristics and different details that you should take into consideration before choosing. For example, if you want a fast grilling you go for the gas grill but if you want a crispy and smoky taste you go for the charcoal grill and so on. You can check the difference between gas and charcoal grills on the website following this link:
Clean the surface before cooking
Use a brush to clean the surface of your grill because you might have residues from a previous time that will first affect the taste of your meat and block the heat and second because of food safety. You can use a paper towel after brushing so you remove all the remaining residue on top
Preheat the grill
When it comes to cooking you should be very patient to get the best out of your work. The grill is like the oven; it needs to be preheated before using it in order to get the best taste out of your food. Imagine you just fired up your charcoal and put your meat on, believe it or not, you will have the worst food ever that is still raw with a gassy smell. So, for example, if you are using a charcoal grill you should wait until you have a layer of ash on your coals to be able to start the process and get a slice of crispy meat!
Choose the right meat
Did you know that for every goal you have a specific kind of meat, but what do we mean by goals? Is it that complicated to cook a piece of meat and that’s it? In fact, it is not complicated as much as specific, because at the end of the day you want to be comfortable with the whole process from A to Z. Some of the goals might be as follows:
- If you want to lose weight it is better to choose chicken over meat and the boneless breast in specific because breasts are usually the least in calories compared to thighs and wings. So you can add whatever seasoning you want and still enjoy the good taste of a grilled breast without gaining too much weight
- If you are on a certain budget go for chicken wings because they are the cheapest in price yet they have very good taste when grilled.
- If you want a unique flavor go for the ribs (the kind that you want) because usually the meat that is found on bones have a sharp and deeper taste than any other meat, and the good thing is that the more you keep it on the grill the better the taste you will get.
Use a grill lid and keep it down
Many people don’t give attention to the lid because they think that the meat will be cooked on the grates either way but this is wrong. When you use the lid you will:
- Keep the grates hot so the meat will be cooked in a very good way
- Keep all the smokiness that develops within the meat so it doesn’t evaporate
- Keep your food juicy and delightful
Know how to use the fire
You can cook the meat directly and indirectly on the fire and there is a huge difference between both. For example, if you have small cuts that don’t require time it is better to use the direct heat that is directly under your food, but if you want to cook tough meat that requires more time it’s better to use the indirect heat
Monitor your time
Experts all over the world in all domains have their time as precious as gold because they deeply know how much their time affects their work. Managing your time and monitoring it while grilling is very essential to avoid overcooking your food, and remember that also the weather plays a big role in grilling time because for example if the weather is cold, the grilling time will be longer.
Keep the grill non-stick
Many people tend to use oil to have non-stick grates however you can have a better way to do that with less amount of oil and fat, you can rub the surface of the grate with w piece of potato so you will have those droplets of starch that will prevent your meat from sticking and losing its flavor.
Pick out the meat earlier from the fridge
One of the main mistakes that people do while grilling is that they pick up the meat directly from the fridge and throw it on the grill and this is totally wrong. You should pick it up at least before 30 minutes of grilling to have it cooked well and to avoid dryness of the meat after a short period of time
Add more flavor to the meat
You can marinate your meat with whatever seasonings and spices you want, this will make the meat absorb more spices and become even more tasty and juicy.
Sear your meat well
If you are wondering what is “searing” it is cooking the meat surface at a high temperature until it becomes brown and juicy. By searing your meat or chicken you will have a deeper flavor and a better taste, some people use the word “caramelization” this step requires patience as we said before to enjoy the juicy and crispy flavor.
