Do you love grilling on the barbecue? Or maybe you haven’t gotten much practice in yet, but you still want to become the grill master in your home? If you dream of being able to grill up some of the most tasty meals you and your family have ever had, here are some important tips.
Learn to use different grills
Most of the time, you’ll probably be using your own grill, but there may be times when you’ll have to use someone else’s grill. Most people start learning how to grill with charcoal and then move to gas, like propane, and while some are easier to use than others, it’s useful to know how to use them all.
For your personal use, it’s worth considering a pellet grill because of the simplicity and ease. The hoppers generally have between a 5-20 pound capacity, which should work great for most outdoor barbecues, as long as you aren’t grilling overnight.
Pellets used for fuel come in large bags that you can easily stack outside near your grill or in a nearby shed. They are the same pellets you’d use for a wood stove, so if you already have one of those, you can use your pellets for both.
Practice often
The first and most important tip is to practice often. If you can grill every single night, do it because the more practice you get in, the better. When you’re just learning, it helps to have people in your house taste-test your food to get their honest feedback. Chances are, you’ve got at least one person in the house who will be honest with you and not try to make you feel better.
Learn vegetarian dishes
Any grill master worth their seasoning knows how to make amazing vegetarian dishes for people who either love veggies or don’t eat meat. It might be hard to believe, but you can dress up vegetables with some incredible marinades and grill them to perfection, just like meat. The best part is that people who don’t eat meat will thoroughly enjoy the grilled veggies and won’t say they’re inferior. To them, vegetables are the main dish.
Since some people don’t ever have real vegetarian options at barbecues, other than grilled onions and peppers, and maybe some potatoes, if you can learn to grill all sorts of vegetables, you’ll always be appreciated.
Find a way to entertain people while you grill
If you’re going to host barbecues in your own backyard, try to find ways to entertain your guests. Whether it’s your friends, family, or neighbors, don’t let them get bored while you cook. Tell some stories to liven up the party or get a routine going where you start some lawn games, like ring toss, bean bag tic-tac-toe, or frisbee.
If you know you’re going to be cooking for a lot of people, try to plan entertainment ahead of time, especially if your guests will bring children. Maybe you know a local band that might want to play for some exposure, or if it’s a birthday party, you can rent a bouncy house for the kids to play.
Read Also: What are Smokeless BBQ Grills?
Master the art of marinating
Marinating vegetables and meat prior to grilling them makes a huge difference. Marinated food tastes better, and grilling it brings out all the flavor. However, you can’t just toss the food in a bag and let it soak in the refrigerator overnight. There are strategies along with recipes for marinating different foods, and it’s worth learning from other masters.
There are three basic elements to a marinade: an acid to infuse flavor that also helps tenderize the meat, a fat that retains moisture and binds ingredients, and a seasoning to add more flavor.
Acids are ingredients like vinegar or citrus, fats include olive oil and butter, and seasoning can be anything, from your favorite packaged seasoning to a mix of herbs and spices you create yourself.
There is an art to pairing seasoning mixtures to marinade liquids, so while you experiment, also look for recipes to find out what works well. Then test everything out on your friends and family.
Don’t stop grilling
Most importantly, if you want to be the grill master in your family, don’t stop grilling. Take every opportunity to practice new techniques and try out new recipes. From fish and beef to chicken, steak, and meat substitutes, once you get good at your craft, you’ll be able to make any food taste amazing off the grill.
