BBQ 101 - Easy Grilling Tips

It’s finally that time of year again! Everyone is rolling out their grills and dusting off the patio furniture. Summertime is meant for backyard gatherings with great food and drink. Whether its steak, chicken, ribs or veggies, barbecuing is a fun and easy way to make a meal. We all can’t be Bobby Flay on the grill, but if you follow these tips, you can create a delicious meal and keep your friends and family coming back for more!

BBQ Grills Tips – Safety First

• Always read the owners manual before using your grill and follow specific usage, assembly, and safety procedures. Contact the grill manufacturer if you have specific questions. Be sure to locate your model number and the manufacturer’s consumer inquiry phone number and write them on the front page of your manual.
• Barbecue grills are designed for outdoor use only. Never barbecue in your trailer, tent, house, garage, or any enclosed area because harmful carbon monoxide may accumulate and could be deadly.
• When using a barbecue grill, be sure that all parts of the unit are firmly in place and that the grill cannot be tipped over.
• Use barbecue utensils with long handles (forks, tongs, etc.) to avoid burns and splatters.
• Raise the grid that the food is on, spread the coals out evenly, or adjust the controls to lower the temperature to put out flare-ups. If you must douse the flames with a light spritz of water, first remove the food from the grill.
• Use baking soda to control a grease fire and have a fire extinguisher handy. A bucket of sand or a garden hose should be near if you don’t have a commercial extinguisher.
• Never leave a grill unattended once lit.
• Do not allow anyone to conduct activity near the grill when in use or immediately following its use. The grill body remains hot up to an hour after being used.

BBQ Basics- Cooking techniques

• Brush your grill with olive oil or use a non-stick spray before lighting the grill to prevent food from sticking
• In order to achieve those beautiful grill marks, turn the meat a 1/4 turn before flipping.
• Use long handled tongs to avoid piercing the meat when flipping. It is best to only turn meat once.
• Use an instant-read meat thermometer or the “poke” test to check for doneness. An instant-read thermometer gives you the internal temperature immediately.
  DO NOT cut into the meat! All the juices will run out which can lead to chewy meat with less flavor. Let the meat rest for a few minutes before cutting in.
• Always brush your grill grate with a stiff wire brush to clean it. (If you don’t have a brush, use a piece of crumpled foil.) Clean the grate after preheating, and again, after grilling. Oil the grate with a folded paper towel dipped in oil and rubbed over the bars of the grate.
• Use rubs, marinades, and sauces to enhance the flavor of the meat. When using sauces or glazes, brush on just before the meat is done. When applied too early in the process, the sugars often burn and char the meat.

Now that you are on your way to becoming a grilling guru, you’ll need some inspiration for your next barbeque menu. Try these fun and fruity cocktail recipes that will compliment any grill item as well as these tasty grill recipe ideas. Happy Grilling!