Among many traditions that we can see across the world, there is one similar for most nations, and that is family lunch in the backyard, where people are preparing barbecue. This tradition is especially popular in the United States, where we can see that many families are enjoying while preparing barbecue every Sunday. There are many types of food that you can prepare on the grill, and burgers and stakes are the most popular choice. The ultimate guide to grilling finds here ownthegrill.com.
While the process of making food on the grill seems quite simple, there are some important things that everyone should know, because of some small details that could make a huge difference and help you to make delicious food. Also, choosing a proper grill is necessary, and the market is full of all kinds of devices that you can choose. When we look at the recently updated comparison, some of the best grills that you should choose are Pit Boss and Traeger. Also, there are several versions of these grills with some different features.
Furthermore, no matter which type of grill you choose, the most important things are related to your skills in preparing food. There are many recipes that you can use, but knowing how to operate the grill in the best way is crucial for making delicious meals. Operating the grill in the right way requires some experience. In that matter, we are going to introduce you to some of the most important tips that will help you to become better at grilling.
Table of Contents
1. Keep Your Grill Clean
When you are preparing food on a grill, there are always some strains left on it, and the best way to get rid of those parts is by using a steel brush. Also, you can use the same brush from preventing the food to get stick to the grill. However, be sure that the brush is clean as well because you will use it to turn over the meat. Make sure that each part of the grill is clean before you start making food because dirt could affect its taste and quality. For the best performance you should talk with experts at grill cleaning service and you should definitely use professional cleaning services at least from time to time for a deep clean of your barbeque.
2. Time and Temperature
Pay attention to the temperature and the time to prevent your food from being burnt or overcooked. If you don’t have enough experience, we advise you to use a timer and check how much time each sort of food requires for preparing. Also, you should know that the weather conditions can affect the time, along with the height. If you live in an area of higher altitude, lower temperature, or stronger wind, you will need more time until the meal is finished.
3. Maintain the Temperature of the Grill
In case you are using some traditional method for making a barbeque, like using charcoal, make sure that the temperature is the same all the time. In that matter, you might need to make some short pauses for maintaining the temperature by adding more charcoals into the fire. On the other hand, most of the modern devices for barbeques are using electricity or gas, and maintaining the temperature is a simple process. Each type of grill has different methods for keeping steady heat on them.
4. Caramelization is Important
The main reason why so many people love barbeque is the unique taste of seared food. If you want to create such a taste, you have to learn about the right temperature and the right period for cooking the food on the grill. Also, you can adjust the taste by your preferences by leaving food a little longer, or removing it sooner from the flame.
5. Preheat the Grill
The period for preheating should last between 10 and 15 minutes. OF you are using charcoal, wait until every piece is red. In case you are using a modern device, most of them have a thermometer where you can see when the temperature is around 500F, which is the perfect heat for a barbeque. Preheating can also help by preventing the meat from sticking to the steel bars.
6. Grill Lid Should Be Down
There are several reasons why you should keep the lid closed. It will help you to get a more seared taste of meat with a rich sense of smoke, which brings a delicious flavor. Also, you will need less time to finish with your barbeque. On the other hand, if you are using gas or charcoal, it will get much easier to control the temperature with a lid nearly closed.
7. The Difference Between Direct and Indirect Heating
Different type of food requires different preparation methods. For example, if you want to cook smaller pieces of meat, you should place them over the direct heat, and shorter the period for less than 20 minutes. However, in case that you want to cook stakes or some other bigger pieces of meat, you should place them on an indirect fire and wait a longer time until they are finished.
8. Control The Flame
While there are modern electric devices for barbeque, most of us would agree that a traditional method of grilling with charcoal can provide the food with the best flavor. However, you should know how to control the fire, and prevent it to become stronger than it should, and burn some pieces of the meat. In case that the flame is too strong, remove the food from the bars, and wait until the fire is under control again.
9. Do Not Use Lighter Fluid
While it might seem as an easier option to control the fire, since you don’ have to deal with the charcoal, you should know that liquid products are full of chemicals that can leave traces on your food. If you are interested in some products that could help you with fire, you should consider using cubes and chimney, rather than chemical fluids.
Last Words
Having a barbeque with your family represents a great way for all of you to have a great time over the weekend. Grilling is a simple process, but some important parts of it are crucial for making the food that is delicious.