Grilling this weekend? Here are some tips from the experts

It is Memorial Day Weekend, which means there will be a lot of grilling and a lot of hunger inviting aromas will start filling the air.

So, for those who are trying their hand at grilling for the first time, we have some grilling tips for you, courtesy of foodnetwork.

• Clean your grill.  Using a wire brush when the grill is hot would be the easiest way to clean off excess meats and grease and prep your area for new foods.  Aside from just the grating, be sure to clean out excess ash that builds up, as it can cause vents to become blocked and make it more difficult to control your grilling temperatures.

Ensure your grill is clean. (Pixabay)

• Don’t move your food around too often. For meats, one flip is ideal. If you find your meat is sticking to the grill, let it cook a bit longer. It will become unstuck when it is ready for flipping. Make sure you are timing everything so you get an even cook on each side. Ensure that you aren’t moving your foods from a high temp section to a lower temp section unless your specific cuisine calls for it. Moving from a higher temp area to a lower temp area can cause foods to cook unevenly.

Don’t move your food around the grill too often. (Pixabay)

• Don’t flatten your meats. Fat adds juice and flavor to your meats. Pressing on the meat during the cooking process will rob your delicacies of rich flavor which your taste buds may not forgive you for. Aside from the taste, flattening the meats can cause a fire plume on the grill as the grease ignites.  This can burn your other foods and possibly yourself.

Avoid pressing on your meat to reduce grease flare ups. (Pixabay)

• Keep water handy. This should be the first thing one should have at the ready when grilling. Sometimes things may get a bit too hot in the grill and having a spray bottle nearby can help quench the hot areas to help you achieve a better end product. Aside from cooking, having water at the ready also helps ensure your area stays safe from any potential flare ups around your cooking area.

Keep water handy at all times when around flames. (Pixabay)

• Use a thermometer. This will ensure that your food is thoroughly cooked and avoid any stomach unpleasantries associated with undercooked food. The USDA recommends an internal temperature of 145º for steaks and 160º for ground beef.

Use a thermometer to ensure your meat is cooked thoroughly. (Pixabay)

• Don’t cook cold food. Allowing food to reach room temperature will help ensure an even cook throughout. Having it sit out on a counter for half an hour should suffice.

For an even cook, don’t start with cold product. (Pixabay)

• Undercook a tad. It is important to make sure the food gets to the proper temperature. It is also important to note that food can go up about five degrees after leaving the grill. If you want perfection at the picnic table, keep this tidbit of information in mind.

Undercook a tad to account for temperature rises after removing from the grill. (Pixabay)

• Let your meat rest. Allowing the meat to rest for about 15 minutes after coming off the grill will help ensure the temperature rise subsides and allow for your foods juices to redistribute themselves.

Let your food rest a bit after being off the grill to allow the juices to redistribute. (Big Bee’s)

• Meat with bones? No problem. For meat that has bones, such as chicken, start on a high heated area to get your initial crust, then move to a lower temp area to get that nice, even cook. Ribs and chicken can even be partially cooked in the oven before throwing them on the grill.

Cooking meat with bones is easy if you start off hot and move to indirect heat. (Big Bee’s)

• Don’t cook too much. It is easy to go haywire, as the “eyes are bigger than the stomach”. Don’t try to cook too many different things at once. Everything cooks differently and trying to manage all the cook times can lead to overcooked or undercooked servings. Keep it simple.

Keep it simple. Don’t cook too many different things at once. (Big Bee’s)

With all that being said, we hope everyone enjoys their holiday weekend. If you are still nervous about your first time grilling, you could always leave it to a pro and visit Big Bee’s Barbecue & Grill.