Best Grilling/BBQing tips

[MichelleandCraig 1]

I'm in dire need...hehe.. I don't think I'm going to grill today, but would possibly like to try Tuesday. Tomorrow's a no go, as we're busy for Corey's bday...Anywooooooooo

The part I have the most trouble with is getting the thing LIT so the coals are burning and going gray..no matter how much (or little) lighter fluid I dump on them, they don't seem to stay going for me. I don't really get the drafts, etc etc..when should it be open, when should it be shut??? AHHHH!

Anyway....best tips here if you wouldn't mind helping, and also....grilled food faves... Thanks! M.

Oh yeah..forgot to add..got a really nice new grill on clearance last year....places to set things on each side,etc..it's nice..but it's only charcoal..no gas.

Edited June 4, 2006 by MichelleandCraig

[gimygirl 0]

ok mich ... first you need to get this charcoal. this will eliminate the need for a heating coil or lighter fluid. this charcoal lights right up!!!

now ... remember that keeping the heat going is a circulation issue! fire (charcoal) needs oxygen!! make sure that your vents on the bottom of the grill remain open as well as the one on top. especially when you close the lid! you need to keep that air flow. when you're done grilling - that's when you close all the vents to smother the heat and make the charcoal 'die'.

i also like to cook my veggies on the top shelf while i'm grilling my meat!! put veggies in foil wrap with some butter, salt and whatever spices you like ... they are deeeeeeeee-lish!!!

another point is to remember not to cross-contaminate. use separate plates and utensils for handling the raw meat and then new plates and utensils for cooked meat!!

i think that's it for now!! happy grilling!!!!

[Reba 2]

Get Kingsford charcoal, it lights the easiest. Plus, I usually use some fire sticks, (I use Coghlans ) break 'em up to small bits and stuff 'em under the coals. Stack the coals into a pyramid, and use a long handled lighter to start the fire. I never use lighter fluid, it leaves a funny taste on the food, and I hate the smell when its burning

DO NOT close the lid until the fire has gone out! If you close the lid then the fire cannot breathe and it won't light your coals. This can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. I usually light it then go back into the house to chop up salad or prepare the meats.

Once the fire has gone out and the coals are glowing, THEN you can close the lid. If you can't tell if the coals are hot, blow on 'em, you'll see it.

If you're meat eaters, season the meat before you put it on the grill and don't put BBQ sauce on until its almost done. This will prevent burning and charring the sauce. Use a sauce that does not have a high sugar content. I use Watkins of course

If you're doing kebabs and using wooden skewers, soak them in water before you put the stuff on and put it on the grill. this will help prevent burning.

If you want to smoke your food for a nice hickory taste, get some hickory wood chips and soak them in water for about half an hour. If you have a coal grill, you can put the wood chips right in the coals. If you have a gas grill, put the wood chips in some heavy duty aluminum foil and just set that on the grill next to the food.

Have fun!

[MichelleandCraig 1]

aH HA!!! Thanks you two...gave me a great start with that!!

I DO use Kingsford...my Dad is a great grill master and wouldn't let me use anything else! but he never really tells me how or WHY about lighting the grill..just teases me about how uncomplicated it is!!

Now that I'm understanding it a bit more..dur...I'll HOPE I'll be able to get it going... on the cross-contamination thing..oh nooooooo.

I didn't think of the charring the bbq thing either..I prolly woulda slathered it right on there from the get-go.

Mmmm Gimy, those veggies sound good..come to think of it, I never have done veggies like that...I need to next time!! I have done potatoes and onions like that tho and yummmmmmmmmm. Usually when my brother was here to get the grill going...hehehe.. thanks both of you..keep em comin...and also your favorite things to grill! M.

Edited June 4, 2006 by MichelleandCraig

[ladyspotthedog 0]

Try this steak marinade it's just great and easy....marinade your meat fro 6-24 hours prior to cooking.

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons raspberry jam

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons tomato sauce

2 tablespoons malt vinegar

5 drops hot pepper sauce

salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIRECTIONS:

In a saucepan over high heat, blend raspberry jam, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, malt vinegar, hot pepper sauce, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes, or until thickened.

Just don't tell anyone on the vegetarian thread lol

Edited June 4, 2006 by ladyspotthedog

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

when you spray the lighter fluid on the charcoal....wait about 5 min or more before lighting it. that allows the charcoal to absorb the fluid. if you light it right after spraying, the fluid burns off and nothing happens.

[Angel7422 0]

Well shoot I should have come here and ask the same question before we barbequed for memorial day. I mean no matter how much we lighted that charcoal it wouldn't burn until i read the instruction about using lighter fluid I thought the charcoal we had didn't require it (yes we used kingsford but not the one in the red bag).

And by this being the first time my hubby cooked on a charcoal grill he started to get impatient (Michelle my dad teased us too, oh its easy he said he just forgot to mention the specifics)

Well you should have saw my eyes when i glanced at my hubby trying to pour rubbing alcohol on the charcoal i was like whoaaaa baby whoaaaa . Anywho, long story short i was able to get to the store to buy a bottle of lighter fluid and an extra bag of charcoal that didnt require the fluid now i know better. The first set of meat did get burned but the second set was great and yummy. Now we know what to do and what not to do . Lucky me I had a fire extinguisher nearby, not that i didnt trust my hubby to do a good job . I just didnt want to look like one frankenstein's bride either with torched hair.

Can't wait to see how 4th of July barbeque will turn out.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Thanks everyone...all of you have given me really good tips, and I'll be sure to reread this thread before I start Tues or by the weekend at very least..wooo hoooo...I feel much more informed now... Cheers all!! M.

Edited June 4, 2006 by MichelleandCraig

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

Thanks everyone...all of you have given me really good tips, and I'll be sure to reread this thread before I start Tues or by the weekend at very least..wooo hoooo...I feel much more informed now... Cheers all!! M.

remember the cook must drink beer while bbq'ing

[MichelleandCraig 1]

Or, in my case wine or mudslides...no beer here Thanks for the tip Charles, I had nearly forgotten! hehehe PS ladyspot, I'll try that sauce...sounds yummy..thanks! M.

[Baileyj96 0]

Oh and if your doing hamburgers...............get lean. It doesn't drip down into the coals and you won't have to call the fire department to put it out.

Geezzzzzzzzzzz now I have to go cook on the grill.

Baileyj

[Ban Hammer 13,333]

Oh and if your doing hamburgers...............get lean. It doesn't drip down into the coals and you won't have to call the fire department to put it out.

Geezzzzzzzzzzz now I have to go cook on the grill.

Baileyj

have a squirt bottle of water for hamburgers handy

[MichelleandCraig 1]

:lol:

Well, it's a small town with a volunteer fire department..pretty much everyone knows everyone...so, if I had to call them..one of em would probably end up relighting it after with fresh coals, and we'd sit around and have a cookout. Ok, not really, but hey..that's what it's like around here...kinda nice, actually.

So...favorite recipes, things to cook on the grill peeps? How do you do your skewers? I want to try that...my brother does them all the time, but I haven't. The only no-no for ME is mushrooms...otherwise...MOST things go! What do you put on yours?

I dunno...just, in general, grilled food makes nearly everything taste better IMO!!! :) M.

[babybunny 2]

go to foodnetwork.com

for excellent grilling tips..

see what G. dubya sayes

[MichelleandCraig 1]

heheheheh I don't care about anything G Dubya says Shonnie...