Simple Tips for Expert Grilling

How To Use A Grill

It's spring and time to get those grills cleaned up. Grilling is easy but if you're new to the game, these tips might be of help to you.. Keeping your grill clean should be your first priority. Read on to learn the best way to do it. . Happy grilling.

First of all start with a clean grill. Here's how to keep the grill clean with absolutely no gunk forming on the grill.  Each time you preheat your grill, cover the grate with heavy duty aluminum foil. After 10 minutes use tongs to crumple the foil into a ball, and scrubbing hard, wipe away all the old char. Turn the ball over and add about two tablespoons cooking oil, and brush the grates with the oil. This keeps your food from sticking to the grill.

Cooking directly over the flame is called direct heat. It's very hot and usually for only a short time.

Under one hour in any case.  Indirect heat is cooking off to the side of the flame. It's kind of like roasting in an oven with the meat surrounded by heat.You'll need a meat grill lid to make it work to grill your meat perfectly. It will take longer to cook your food with indirect heat. A little more  than an hour. Knowing how and when to use direct or indirect heat is the key to keeping your chicken or steak tender while crisping the outside layer.

Try using a chimney starter if you are  really serious about grilling. These odd looking cylinders are inexpensive and reliable. It's the best way to get charcoal hot without using lighter fluid.

Here's how to do it: Fill the space under the chimney's wire rack with crumpled newspaper. Fill the space on top of the wire rack with charcoal. Use a match to light the newspaper and set the starter ( with coals on top of the grill.) Wait and watch while heat goes evenly through the coals. When coals are lightly covered with gray ashe, about 20 to 30 minutes. Slide on a heavy duty oven mitt and dump the hot coals into the bottom of your grill.If you need indirect heat, place the coals to just one side. Pop on the grill grate and you're ready to grill. You don't need a lot of tools to grill, but it's a good idea to have two thermometers. One to find the temperature of your grill and another to find the temperature of your meat.

You really don't need a meat fork and spatula if you have meat tongs. When food is ready to be flipped it will lift off the grate easily, and tongs wont pierce the meat and let out the juice. Enjoy your grilling this summer with family and friends. Have fun and happy times.