Grilling 101: How To Cook Outdoors
No matter how much experience you have with grilling, there are a few simple tricks that will make cooking outdoors a breeze. With these tips, you’ll be able to grill anything from chicken legs to juicy steaks in no time. So, without further ado, here are ten quick and easy ways to up your grilling game:
1. Understand how to use the grill.
Whether you’re using a gas or electric grill, there are a few things you need to know so that you can cook the dish the way it’s meant to be cooked. Gas grills are more versatile than their electric counterparts, but the key to cooking outdoors is understanding the basics of grilling.
3. Add smoke flavor using some dry rub every now and then.
Instead of adding liquid smoke to your food, dry rubs work just as well and give you a greater degree of control. You can easily add dry rubs to your recipes so that you can achieve just the right amount of flavor.
4. Use a lid to cook foods.
A barbecue grill really isn’t complete without a lid. There are some food items that should be covered while they cook on the grill, like briskets, potatoes, and meatloaves. These foods are covered because they need to cook quickly and need a barrier to the heat. This will make it easier for them to cook evenly.
5. Let the meat rest after cooking and before slicing it.
This will ensure that your steak, hamburger, or whatever else you’re grilling doesn’t fall apart on you when you try to slice it. In fact, this also helps to keep juices in the meat and gives you a juicier piece of meat.
6. Clean your grill after every use.
It’s an easy task, but you should keep your grill clean so that it will properly work in the future. Just make sure you remove all the leftover food and grease from your grill so that it doesn’t accumulate and cause a fire hazard. You should also wipe it down with a paper towel to remove excess oil and dirt particles.
7. When cooking steaks, always let them sit out for a bit before grilling.
You should let steaks sit out for at least 30 minutes to an hour before you start grilling them. In fact, you can also consider marinating your meat for up to a few hours before grilling it. Marinating meat is recommended because it keeps the meat tender and moist when cooked.
8. Use only enough charcoal to get the coals started.
When lighting your charcoal grill, you should use only a small amount of lit charcoal to start your fire. You can put on more pieces once the fire is established, but if you use too much, it could burn out in a hurry.
9. Don’t leave your grill unattended when you’re cooking.
You should always be present at the grill if you’re cooking, even if you’re just waiting for it to reach the right temperature. Even after your food is fully cooked, there are still other things that could go wrong that could result in a fire breaking out.
10. Invest in a good and sturdy grill.
You shouldn’t spend too much money on a grill, and you should pay attention to the quality of your grill. You want to be able to make sure that it’s sturdy enough so that it won’t collapse or break while you’re cooking. You’ll also want a grill that has its air vents in the right place so that your food can cook evenly.
Grilling outdoors is a great way to cook food. With these tips under your belt, you should be able to master one of the best summertime traditions ever. And if you’re anything like us at Ancestral Bites, it’ll definitely become a summer ritual.