My 12 grilling tips to help you get great results

by Joe Davis Consultant

Let’s be honest, most of the time outdoor grilling doesn’t bring the results we long for. This shouldn’t be a surprise though, given the fact that grilling requires skill, practice, patience, and knowledge. But, if you want to commit and become better at grilling, well, it doesn’t hurt to learn some tips and tricks. Check out my top 12 grilling tips to help you head in the right direction and eventually master a grilling technique.

1. Get a charcoal grill

Getting that perfect smoky flavored food can be done only with a charcoal grill. So, if you strive to make great food, invest in a charcoal grill. Sure, you can buy a gas grill but you’ll have to sacrifice that smoky flavor. In addition, make sure you also buy a lid for the grill. It will help preserve juiciness and flavors and keep the temperature easier to control.

If the weather is not good or you simply cannot grill in the yard for some reason, do not forget that there are smokeless grills. You can safely use them indoors. Of course, the taste of the cooked food will not be as exquisite as from the charcoal grill, but it is still a good option for grilling even at home. I personally own a Philips indoor grill.

2. Use aluminum foil

One of the best grilling tips I can give to you is to make things as simple as possible. One way of doing so is to lay down aluminum foil at the bottom of the grill. Then add briquettes or wood. Thanks to this clever step, cleaning will be much easier once you’re done the grilling.

3. Preheat the grill

If you’re new to grilling, you’re probably wondering “What temperature kills germs on a grill?”

Food safety is the most important. So, be sure to preheat the grill 20-25 minutes before you start grilling. This way, it will reach the right temperature and kill any germs. Speaking of the right temperature, here’s what temperature you need to aim for:

· 250-300°F for low heat

· 300-350°F for medium

· 350-400°F for medium-high

· 400-450°F for high

4. Create both direct and indirect heat zones

Direct grilling means grilling food directly over the fire. This grilling method is used for cooking small or thin pieces of food over high heat and quickly. Typical foods grilled on direct heat are steaks, burgers, chicken breasts, fish fillets, chops, veggies, and bread.

Indirect grilling refers to grilling the food that is placed next to the fire, not directly over the fire. Indirect grilling is used for cooking larger and tougher foods that would quickly burn on direct heat. This method is used to cook ribs, briskets, whole chickens and turkeys, pork shoulders, etc.

One of the best charcoal grilling tips and techniques is to create different heat zones on the grill. This will allow you to cook different types of food simultaneously and control the temperature more easily. The easiest way to do this is to put the coals to one side of a grill.

5. Prepare the grill

How do you keep food from sticking to the grill? By preparing your grill for barbecuing. Whether you have cleaned the grill last time you were grilling or you’ve skipped this step, you should brush off the grates again after preheating the grill. Clean the grates with a grill brush. You can also brush food with oil to prevent sticking. This will set the tone for successful barbecuing.

6. Enhance the flavor

If you want to enhance the flavor of the food, you can add wood chips to the charcoal. Hickory and oak work amazing with fish and pork whereas cherry and applewood will work great for most meats (if you want to sweeten food).

7. The power of a marinade

The marinade is what gives the food that extra flavor and juiciness. The marinade is especially great to prepare meat for grilling. Be sure to make enough of it so that you can also save some for grilling. When grilling food, brush meat with the marinade approximately every 10 minutes. This will prevent the meat from becoming dry.

8. Use tongs

The right grilling technique is not enough. You also need to have the right tool. Buy a pair of tongs – as this tool will make turning food a whole lot easier. Forks should not be your number one choice because making holes in your food can make it dry.

9. Add sauce just in time for the perfect taste

The sweet sauce brings flavor to a whole another level. However, you should be careful with it. One of the bbq tips you’d want to follow is not to add sauce on food too early because the sugar will burn. And trust us, this won’t give a nice flavor to the food. Instead, sauce the food a few minutes before removing it from the grill.

10. Don’t rush

Once the meat is removed from the grill, don’t slice it right away. Instead, wait for 15-20 minutes to allow juices to settle. Also, place the meat on a cooling rack rather than on a plate. This way, the air can circulate underneath the meat.

11. Clean the grates one more time

After you have finished grilling, don’t walk away. Rather, use the chance while the grill is still warm to clean it and remove burned food from the grates. I know, you just enjoyed that delicious food you had made and you’re full. But, there is no room for excuses. Show some respect for your grill and it will serve you for years to come. As mentioned above, use a grill brush to remove all the food from the grates and leave the grill clean for the next time. Oh and don’t forget the next step. After cleaning the grate, pour a few drops of vegetable oil on a paper towel and wipe the oil evenly over the grate. This will keep the grill grates free from corrosion.

12. Never stop grilling

Steak is everyone’s favorite BBQ food! There’s a variety of BBQ steak recipes, from those simple ones to those more interesting. Be sure to look for those and try what seems most delicious to you. If you haven’t grilled steak before, perhaps you would like to look for some steak grilling tips.

Next to steak is chicken. Chicken in a sweet’n’sour sauce, a hot sauce, chicken served with fries or baked potatoes, possibilities are endless. I don’t need to explain why people love all these recipes. The chicken just tastes great. Plus, it’s easy to grill…That is, once you learn what to focus on (hint: read grilling tips for the chicken to find out some secrets to grilling juicy and tender meat).

Of course, there are all kinds of foods you can grill. You don’t have to stop here. I just mentioned these two because they are among popular grill food. I want to encourage you to wake up a cook in you and see what the grilling world has in store for you. Be curious, creative, and hungry!