After another long winter and a beautiful springtime, summer is now upon us. A laid-back time of year, summer is the perfect time for relaxing with friends and family as much as possible. There’s no better way to end a hectic work day than having friends over for some beer and barbecue. If you absolutely love having friends over to grill with, then consider honing in on your grilling techniques this summer. Today, we would like to provide some Grill Master techniques to take your outdoor cooking skills to the next level:

Start With A Clean Grill

You wouldn’t cook in your kitchen if it were covered in grease and charred bits of food, so hold yourself to the same standards for your propane grill. Also, caked-on grease could catch on fire, which would really put a damper on your outdoor event. The easiest way to clean your grill is to heat it up and pour some vegetable oil on it and scrub it deeply with a grill brush.

Do Prep Work Ahead of Time

If you plan on grilling steak, chicken, or pork, will you need to marinate your meats first? Marinating takes time, so make sure that you have properly marinated your food beforehand. If you forgot marinate the meat hours in advance, don’t fret: some marinades work in as little as half an hour. Another option is to apply a dry rub to your meats, such as a spicy and delicious Cajun rub. Dry rubs can be added to your meats about 30 minutes before you start grilling.

Don’t forget your side dishes! Barbecuing isn’t all about meat, and you can spruce up your dinner with a variety of delicious vegetable side dishes. In fact, you could barbecue nothing but side dishes if you are a vegetarian and want to provide a savory smorgasbord of healthy food.

The final consideration in prep work is preparing any sauces or dressings that you might need for your main dish as well as side dishes. By having all of this taken care of in advance, you can better focus on your grilling skills while engaging in some great conversation as well.

Grease The Grill

For some of you, this advice could be a no-brainer, but we wanted to address this for any new grillers out there. Before you even begin grilling, grease the grill with canola, grapeseed, or safflower oil. Once your grill is greased, make sure that it is nice and hot before throwing any food on it.

Refrain From Overcrowding The Grill

We know that you are hungry and excited about all the delicious food that you want to cook, but avoid placing too many food items on the grill. When the grill is crowded, you are more likely to have a flare up, which would be such a bummer.

Stop Messing With The Food!

Although you will need to poke and rotate the food occasionally, don’t overdo it when you are grilling. The beauty of grilled food derives from the caramelization that occurs when food is left alone to be seared. You may be hovering over the grill, but put your grilling tools down for a bit and sip on that refreshing ice-cold cocktail instead.

Stay By The Grill

Although we don’t want you constantly poking at your food on the grill, don’t leave it unattended either. Most grillers have made this mistake in the past by running to the bathroom or grabbing a beer, only to come back to their food going up in flames. If you must step away from the grill, task your most trusted friend with holding down the grill until you return.

Take Food Off The Grill When It’s Completely Cooked

Grills could have hot spots, so some foods will be ready before others. Avoid drying out your food or burning it by taking it off the grill even if other food needs to cook longer.

Don’t Forget Your Veggies!

Some people, men in particular, overlook cooking vegetables entirely when grilling. Remember that the grill is not just great for searing meat, but it can cook up some delicious veggie dishes as well. Corn on the cob is always a go-to for delicious grill fare, but try grilling some spicy pickled okra. You could also cook some fantastic cheese-stuffed jalapenos as well as a variety of other veggies.

Create Heat Zones

In your propane grill, turn up the heat higher on one side than the other. You could sear your food on the hotter side and then push it to the other side to finish. With a couple of different heat levels, you could really hone your cooking skills.

With these grilling tips, you can grow into a truly honorable Grill Master. For your home propane services in upstate New York, contact DiSanto Propane today.