Want to step up your grilling game? Here are four tips for taking your grill skills to the next level. With these tips, you’ll be a grill master in no time.
Whether you're a beginner griller or someone with years under your belt, there's always room for improvement. If you're wondering how to impress your friends and family with your grill game next BBQ season, here are four tips for leveling up your grill skills.
Upgrade Your Equipment
What kind of grill are you cooking on? If your grill is cheap or past its prime, you may want to consider upgrading your equipment. Ideally, you'll want to look at durable stainless-steel grills with good BTU ratings for their size and plenty of features.
If you have a decent amount of money to spend, you may even want to consider investing in an infrared grill.Infrared grills can reach temperatures of up to 1500°F and grill more evenly than traditional grills.
Choose the Right Charcoal
The next tip for leveling up your grill skills is to try a new kind of charcoal. Using the right kind of charcoal can make all the difference. Charcoal can have a huge impact on the flavor of your meats and other grilled foods. If flavor matters to you, stay away from charcoal briquettes—while convenient, they don't provide the best flavor—and opt for more flavorful options, like smoky lump hardwood charcoal instead.
Invest in a Thermometer
If you don't already have a thermometer, you may want to get one. While there's nothing wrong with guesstimating, using a thermometer makes grilling easier by taking out the guesswork. Cooking at the right temperature for the right amount of time ensures your food is grilled to perfection.
Regularly Clean Your Grill
You'd be surprised how many grill owners never clean their grill. Some claim that the black and shriveled-up gunk on the grates gives their food flavor, but unless you like acrid, bitter flavors, don't listen to this! The gunk on your grill will make your food taste worse. It could also make you sick—dirty grills are often laden with bacteria. Food is also more likely to stick to uncleaned grates.
In an ideal world, all grill owners would clean their grills after each use. It doesn't have to be a deep clean. Just use a grill brush or a scrunched-up ball of foil to scrub food particles off the grates, and viola, you’ll have a beautiful and hygienic grill.