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    8 Tips To Grill Like A Pro

    April 5, 2013 by G. Stephen Jones 13 Comments


    #4. Get Your Ingredients Ready For The Grill

    r marinated meat

    There will be times when all you have to do is season some steaks with some salt and pepper and throw them on the grill but did you remember to take them out of the refrigerator 15 to 25 minutes before you start grilling? Grilling foods, especially meats, is much more efficient when they start out at room temperature.

    What about brines, marinades and rubs? Are you planning on using any or all of these techniques? Brines are popular now. The idea is to soak poultry and lean meats like pork in a salty solution to help them hold their moisture resulting in juicy, tender food.

    How long you brine your ingredients depend on what you are cooking but remember to rinse off the brine before cooking or you may end up with over salty results.

    Marinades are used for tougher cuts of meat so think of meats you will be grilling on indirect heat. Marinades usually have an acetic element like wine or vinegar along with fresh herbs and spices. Oil is another popular ingredient used in marinades.

    Depending on the cut of meat, marinades can work in as little as 30 minutes but most times you'll do better if you marinate over night in the refrigerator.

    Rubs are blends of spices and herbs that are applied to foods before grilling to give them more flavor. If a liquid is used like an oil, it is called a wet rub otherwise if no liquids are added, it's called a dry rub.

    A good example of a popular rub is Cajun rub that might include pepper, dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper and salt. Like a marinade, rubs can be added 30 minutes prior to cooking or the night before so the spices can permeate the meat.

    So depending on what you are cooking and what you are planning to use to add extra flavor, remember to plan ahead so you're not scrambling at the last minute.

     

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    I'm a work-at-home dad who enjoys cooking, learning everything I can about the culinary world and sharing it with you. To learn more about me... Read More…

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chris

      October 01, 2016 at 3:26 am

      You left out probably the most important thing in grilling like a pro tips. Since nearly everything is done to a stage or (doneness), a thermometer for internal temp is required to ensure tremendous success. With a thermometer a novice can actually cook a 2 lb rib eye to perfection better than a restaurant. I'm finding out at my over middle age that nearly all people that grill get lucky if they happen to cook with success and do not use such a simple tool.

      Reply
    2. LNWeaver

      May 22, 2017 at 5:43 pm

      That's a good point that a gas grill will only get as hot as it's rated in btu's. Charcoal lets you control the heat more directly. You can also take charcoal wherever you go.

      Reply
      • G. Stephen Jones

        May 23, 2017 at 10:12 am

        Good points Larry. Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
    3. Todd

      June 19, 2017 at 2:49 pm

      Some great points - especially "don't play with your food". That was one of the things I had hard time with when I started grilling. I would get worried it was burning so I kept moving it around, flipping, etc. Just leave it be! 🙂

      Reply
    4. Lisa Thompson

      July 05, 2017 at 4:23 pm

      Great points!

      If you haven't ever tried Porter & York Brand Meats, you might want to give it a try. They ship their meat out in special packaging designed to keep the fresh, never frozen, beef that has been raised naturally (grass fed, grain finished). I was able to cut one of their filet mignon's with a fork. Delicious.

      Reply
    5. Ashley Turns

      August 28, 2017 at 6:06 pm

      I'm planning on getting my husband a new grill pro for his birthday. So thanks for the suggestion that he should use some oil or something else to grease up the grill unless what you're cooking has already been using oil for something. I'll be sure that the hamburgers and hot dogs we make on his birthday with his new pro tool are cooked on an oiled up grates.

      Reply
    6. Deb Pearl

      September 22, 2017 at 8:47 am

      I am getting my husband a grill for his birthday and I wanted to include some tips with it so he can learn how to grill like a pro. These are all wonderful tips! I didn't know about grill zones before! That's cool that you can get direct heat and indirect heat to help cook the food. Thanks for the tips! I'm sure these will help my husband cook like a pro!

      Reply
      • G. Stephen Jones

        September 23, 2017 at 7:38 am

        You are welcome. I'm sure he will be thrilled with his new grill.

        Reply
    7. Hilmy M.

      November 04, 2017 at 12:42 pm

      Wonderful points especially on grilling techniques. Surely using charcoal is more convenient in managing the heat transfer, but both have advantages and disadvantages. thanks for sharing.

      Reply
      • G. Stephen Jones

        November 05, 2017 at 8:15 am

        You are welcome Hilmy.

        Reply
    8. william

      February 04, 2018 at 9:11 am

      One reason to not use olive oil is that it smokes/burns at a lower temperature than Canola or Safflower.

      Reply
    9. Adam Golightly

      October 05, 2020 at 4:08 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for your tips about how grease in the middle of the trap can make it a lot harder and making sure that the grill is clean can be really useful in making sure that there is better heat. I have been trying to cook more for my kids and I really want to make a great BBQ and learn how to do it with ribs so that we can have a great dinner. Getting some better equipment from a professional could be really useful and help me understand how to do some better cooking.

      Reply
    10. Zoe Campos

      November 29, 2020 at 8:44 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for letting me know that it is easier to cook barbecue on a gas grill. I've been serving vegetable meals to my kids for the past few weeks and they requested for spicy barbecue for next week. Aside from practicing my grilling skills, it would be a good idea to look for a condiments store that sells good hot sauces that they would love.

      Reply

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