Learning To Grill
Let’s face it, everyone loves grilled food! You probably cannot wait to get started with your own grill. Using one has a learning curve. To really master it takes a lot of practice. This does not mean you cannot make good meals on it quickly, but it takes time to truly understand to work it, no matter if it is propane, natural gas, or charcoal.
Always put safety first. Set up your grill properly on a surface that is fire proof. Keep it far away from bushes, trees, and buildings. Do not ever use your grill indoors, even inside a garage with the door open. The dangers of asphyxiation and fire are too great. No meal is worth risking your life.
Always follow the instructions for using the ignition switch on a gas or propane grill. If you are using charcoal, give yourself enough time for the coals to reach the right cooking temperature. The briquettes will get a light gray coating of ash on the outside when they are ready. Really good charcoal grills let you raise and lower the coals in order to control your heat.
When cooking on a grill, you will be using either direct heat or indirect heat. Placing the food over the coals results in direct heat. Placing the food in an area near, but not over the coals is indirect heat. Indirect heat is perfect for foods like chicken that need to cook for awhile but you do not want it to burn. If you want to use direct heat, it is important to pay attention to the temperature.
Never put your food on the grill and go off to do something else. Flare ups can happen with no warning and burn your food. If you are available to monitor your food, you can control these flare ups before they do any damage to your meal. If you are using sauces that contain fat or sugar, they can contribute to burning. Only apply these sauces near the end of cooking for the best results.
Now on to the best part… what will you cook? Healthy grilled chicken recipes top most people’s lists. Steak, chops, and burgers are also normal grilling fare. Meat and fish turn out well on it. They cook quickly and gain a lot of flavor. Wrap fish in foil and add vegetables for a complete meal in a pouch. Put shrimp on skewers or do a quick stir fry. You can even make an entire turkey on the grill for the holidays.
Vegetables can also be prepared on it. If you want small bite size pieces, use a special pan made for grilling vegetables. It has holes in it that allow the vegetables to sear gently. Larger pieces can be laid directly on the surface. Do not forget about your vegetables or they will easily become overcooked. The smoky flavor imparted by grilling is wonderful with many vegetables.
Did you know you could even do fruit on it? Try some fresh, grilled peaches for a low fat dessert. If you like burgers, a few pineapple rings to add some sweetness. While most people do not think of grilling fruits, they actually turn out very delicious.
Some things just go together perfectly like peanut butter and jelly or spaghetti and chicken. If you want a really good chicken spaghetti recipe see our site for this and many other chicken recipes at the site that is all chicken.
