Heat Up Your Grill Game

Get grilling with these tips to take your skills to the next level

From the LifeMinute.TV Team

June 7, 2021

Summer is here, and nothing is better than cooking outdoors on the grill. Whether you are new to the grill or looking to learn some new skills, we have the scoop to take your grill game to the next level.

Fresh Start
Before firing up the grill make sure it’s clean. Use a wire brush to clean the grate, but make sure to wipe it down afterwards with a cloth dipped in vegetable oil to remove any char or lose wire.

Meat Prep
When creating the perfect marinade, there are a few crucial ingredients to incorporate. You can use any spices you want to add flavor, but make sure to use oil, which helps bring out the aroma. Once mixed with spices, salt can be added to enhance flavor too. Instead of the traditional method of marinating meats by soaking them for hours or even overnight, opt for the "dunk method." Keep marinade the consistency of soy sauce, and while grilling, dip the meat in the thinned-out marinade every couple of minutes.

Don’t Get Stuck
You never want what you're grilling to go to waste because it's stuck to the grate. To create a non-stick surface, all you need is a potato. Take half of one and rub it on the heated grill. The starch from the potato will form a layer between the food and the grate.

Don’t Rush It
Take the meat out of the fridge and let it sit for about 30 minutes before cooking. If you grill cold meat, you risk drying it out and cooking it unevenly. Once the meat is cooked and taken off the grill, let it rest for about 5 minutes before cutting.

Just the Right Temp
Make sure to heat the grill to the right temperature. Before you start cooking, preheat it for 15 to 25 minutes. To ensure your meats are cooked properly, invest in a meat thermometer. If you are cooking different things on the grill at once, create zones by keeping one section at a lower temperature. As things cook through, you can move them to a cooler area of the grill. And keep the grill covered to cook everything evenly.

Technique
Don’t move your food around on the grill too often. Allowing it to sit will help it cook more evenly and produce grill marks. Never press down on meat or pierce it with a skewer or knife in order to flip it or check the temperature. This will cause the meat to lose its juiciness as well as stick to the grill. The fatty juices hitting the grill could also cause the grill to flare up. When it comes time to flip the food, use a stainless steel spatula and/or tongs. Serve everything on warm plates.