It happens from time to time. We're only human, and we do make mistakes. We make mistakes in all areas in our lives, even in grilling. Sometimes, we are not even aware that we've made a mistake. When we are grilling, our mistakes may mean minor consequences, such as overcooked food. Our mistakes may also be disastrous, meaning a visit to the emergency, or a visit from the fire department. No matter what the consequences, though, we should take steps to avoid mistakes.
Grilling mistakes are usually made in one of three areas, food preparation and safety, cooking, and grill maintainence and safety.
Food Preparation And Safety Food safety and preparation are important. Food safety to prevent the spread of foodborne illness, preparation to make the cooking process go more quickly and efficiently.
Be sure to properly thaw your meat before grilling. At least 24 hours before cooking, move the meat from the freezer to the refrigerator to allow it to thaw. If you have to, you can use your microwave to thaw meat, but be sure to use it right away.
Avoid cross contamination. Never use the same cutting board for raw and cooked meat, or raw meat and vegetables. The cutting board that you use for raw meat should be used only for raw meat. Be sure to properly clean and sanitize it between uses.
If you marinate your meat, do not use the marinade for basting during cooking. If you want to use some of the marinade as a baste, then set a portion of it aside, and use the rest for marinating. You can also pour the marinade into a saucepan, and bring it to a boil for several minutes, to kill off any harmful bacteria.
After cooking the meat, use a fresh plate to serve it. Never put the cooked meat on the plate that you used to carry the raw meat with.
Cooking
Get all of your ingredients, utensils, and cookware ready before you start. The cooking will go a lot smoother if you have everything ready to go before you start. If you have to take time to find something you need in the middle of cooking, you could end up with overcooked food.
If you're using a recipe, read through the recipe completely, and make sure you understand all of the instructions. You don't want to start cooking for tonights dinner, and find out that the meat should be marinated overnight.
Do not use a fork to turn the meat on the grill, use a pair of tongs instead. Poking holes in the meat will allow the juices to drain out, causing the food to come out dry. The juices will also drip into the bottom of the grill, making cleanup harder, and causing a possible fire hazard.
Cook the meat at the proper temperature. Some meats should be cooked quickly over high heat. Others will become dry or burn if the temperature is too high.
Safety
Never leave the grill unattended when it is being used. Fires can occur on the grill, and they can spread quickly. Keeping an eye on your grill, you can take care of small fires quickly. If you aren't paying attention, the fire could spread, requiring a visit from the those people in the big red truck.
Do not grill too close to a wall or wooden fence. The grill is hot enough to cause a fire. Move your grill away from the wall before you light it. If you store the grill next to a wall, be sure it is completely cool before moving it back to the wall. Don't put your grill cover on, either, until the grill has completely cooled.
Your grill should be cleaned after every use. Run a grill brush over the grate while it is still hot, to loosen any food that may have stuck. Let the grill cool down completely before spraying any cleaning solution or oil, otherwise it could cause a fire.
These are all simple precautions, but they could mean the difference between a successful great barbeque, and a trip to the hospital.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Transporting Your BBQ Grill
Portable barbecue grills are lots of fun, but you need to know how to transport them safely. You don’t want a fun event to end in tragedy. There is a growing demand for portable grills. A portable grill can be transported to a campsite or to a picnic and be up and running in a matter of minutes. Having a portable grill for use at home has its advantages as well. You can move it into the garden or set it up in the garage. To meet this demand, grill manufacturers have come up with several models. These grills are light, easy to transport, and can be set up easily. They are also budget-friendly – they range in price from $50 to $200. They should, however, be handled with care -- especially the propane grills. No one should take chances with natural gas or liquid propane -- it is highly inflammable and can cause an explosion if handled improperly or in a careless manner. Make sure that your portable gas grill has no holes or leaks. Though it may seem tedious, you should always check any type of gas grill for leaks. You should not light cigarettes or candles around the grill, as even a small gas leak could trigger an explosion. Also, never tamper with the safety valve fixed on the propane tank. Similarly, the propane tank should be kept immobile when transporting the grill to another location. It should not be allowed to roll around in the trunk of the car or in the back of a pick-up truck, because that much motion increases the gas pressure inside the tank, and the tank could explode. Charcoal grills don't suffer from these disadvantages. They are less delicate and can be transported with ease. Their only negative point is that they can take hours to light and warm up in damp or rainy weather. On such occasions, it is better to carry a propane grill despite its disadvantages. Also, use caution when transporting any kind of portable grill after using it, as it could be hot. Portable grills are fun and easy to use. Take one to your next BBQ or cookout!
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
How To Choose The Right BBQ
No matter what kind of food you want to barbeque, there is a barbecue out there that is perfect for your needs and budget. When it comes to outdoor entertaining, or just enjoying a hot summer’s day, the barbeque is an important part of the whole experience. Whether you’re looking for portable and disposable models, or a stainless steal, state-of-the-art appliance with all of the latest gadgets, there are always a swath of different barbeques for your perusal. Remember, it isn’t just your cooking skills that will dictate the success of your barbequed meals, but also choosing the proper barbeque to cater to your outdoor cooking needs and desires.
fter all, little is more wasteful than paying good money for added features that you’ll never use, or having to try to make dinner for fifteen people on a one square foot grill. Therefore, before heading out to the barbeque store, or even before shopping around online, you will need to consider the different elements that should dictate your final BBQ decision. Among the most important factors to remember are: a. How much you want to spend b. How many people you’ll usually be cooking for c. How much space you have in your garden for cooking d. How (and if) you’ll be storing it in the winter
Once you have these answers figured out, you’ll be able to start thinking about the different barbeque types that are available to you. If you’ll only be cooking occasionally, and on a smaller scale, disposable barbecues – foil trays with their own charcoal and lighter paper – may be exactly what you’re looking for. These are very simple to light, and will burn well for enough time to cook any reasonable meal. These are ideal for cooking in small spaces, or cooking on a picnic (where fires are permitted), but should not be your selection if you are looking into serious outdoor cookery. Charcoal and gas barbeques come in many different shapes and sizes and are frequently collapsible for easy storage. Some are on casters, and while others require around 5 feet of patio space, others need less than half of that. Though some have side burners, rotisseries, griddles, hot plates, and other food warming gadgets, it’s important to consider the basics first, and build from there. First, check out the cooking space. Will the space be large enough to handle what you’ll likely be cooking? Next, have a look at the size of the entire barbeque. Remember that you’ll not only need to have enough room for it, but also for yourself to work around it, as well as tables for holding your accessories, marinades, sauces, uncooked food, and naturally, for the people who will be eating your masterpieces. Remember that you’ll also need enough space in your garage or shed to store the barbeque during the winter. Your barbeque should be tough enough to handle the great outdoors, as well as the wear and tear that you’ll inflict upon it. This means sturdy construction, metal work, and corrosion resistant paint and fittings. A cover is often very beneficial to keep out a spurt of rain, so you might consider that a good investment.
Lastly, have a look at the ease of lighting, cleaning, and charcoal removal. After that, all you need to consider is the color and overall appearance of the barbeque, and how it will compliment your garden
Monday, February 17, 2014
Great Grillin
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