WESTLAND, Mich. - Summer is in full swing, and with the summer heat comes outdoor activities such as BBQs and bon-fires. Whether you're hosting one, or attending one, it's always important to know how to properly use a grill. We have
11 great grilling tips for those summer BBQs that will make your cooking a step above the rest:
1. During the prep stage, it's important to marinate your meat. Not only does it give your meat great flavor, it also keeps it from drying out during the cooking process.
2. Preheat your grill! Grills cook best when they've had time to heat up, so it's recommended you allow it to heat up for about 15-25 minutes before you put your food on. This allows your grill to properly sear your food, keep the insides moist, and it also keeps your food from sticking to the grill rack.
3. Use the hand test to check if your grill has reached temperature. Place your hand about 5 inches above the grill rack - if you can keep your hand there for 2 seconds, it's at high temperature; 5 seconds, it's at medium temp; 10 seconds, it's at low temp.
4. Clean your grill while it's hot. Debris comes off a lot easier when your grill is already hot so use a grill brush to clean off your grill rack. If you don't have a grill brush, simply crumple a piece of aluminum foil and use your tongs to clean the food leftovers off.
5. Oil your grill rack up. Using your tongs, wipe an oil soaked paper towel across the grill rack to
prevent food from sticking to it.
6. Avoid cross-contamination by not basting your meat with the marinade. Since your marinade is used when the meat is raw, you will be spreading bacteria back on your meat when it is cooked. Prepare extra marinade and set it aside to baste with.
7. If you're cooking burgers, here's a little tip to keep your burger completely flat: use your thumb or the back of a spoon to indent the top of each patty. Nothing is more irksome than a patty that won't hold it's toppings because it is rounded - this trick will keep your patty flat.
8. If you are going to make kabobs, don't cram the ingredients tightly together. Keeping them touching, especially if you are making chicken kabobs, will keep the ingredients juicier longer - but only if they aren't crowded on the skewer.
9. Check the temperature of your meat. Using a temperature gauge, you'll be able to tell if your meat is ready to be taken off the grill. If you don't have a temperature gauge, touch the meat with your forefinger - the tougher it is, the more done it will be.
10. If there is a flare up, don't use water! If you spray water on your grill during a flare up, the water could splatter causing burns or even crack the porcelain-enamel finish on your grill. The safest and easiest way to extinguish the flames is to close the lid on your grill. The lid will reduce the amount of oxygen and extinguish the flames.
11. Let your meat sit after cooking. Meat continues to cook after it's been taken off the grill, so wrap your meat in aluminum foil and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. This will let it finish cooking and also allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
We hope you find these
11 great grilling tips for summer BBQs useful and stay safe during the BBQ season. And just in case you need a truck to help tow your grill to a BBQ, we have a great selection of Ford F-150s at our Belleville Area Ford Dealership. So come see us today! North Brothers Ford, located at 33300 Ford Rd Westland, MI 48185, is proud to be one of the premier dealerships in Southeast Michigan committed to exceptional customer service! Stop by or give us a call at (888) 806-7163, our knowledgeable sales team will be happy to help!
Visit our website: www.northbros.com
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