The Secrets to Grilling Pork Chops
By Mike Cobb
Now we have all probably had moms who got those real thin ones (less than ¾ of an inch thick) when we were younger and we can all also remember just how tough they were too. Thin chops have to be cooked so much faster because they are so much thinner that they tend to dry out faster.
But the thicker ones, oh, yes, we want them to cook all the way through so it will require a little bit of more time. But first, let’s talk about keeping what moisture there is in the pork chop itself while it cooks. We do not want them to dry out and this could be a problem to begin with since pork chops normally have less fat than other cuts of meat. So we need to work with this.
We want to keep the moisture in, thereby, keeping in the tenderness and the flavor. We can do this by many methods. My favorite is by brining. We won’t go into that here since I have covered it in other posts.
Marinades work well but they do not penetrate as good as a brine does. A real good basic, easy one is just to pick up a bottle of good Italian dressing at the store. It already has all of the oil, vinegar, herbs and spices that you need - and there you go. It does not get any easier than that when you are grilling pork chops.
Look, if you are in a hurry, then this would be the way to go. Throw them in a plastic bag and in the fridge for up to an hour. By marinating them, it will tenderize the meat and protect them from the high heat. Just remember that if you want to get those good grill marks, dry them off after you take them out of the plastic bag.
Directions:
Thin chops - Grill them quickly over a high heat. You want a real good high heat, place them on there and then place the lid down on the grill. Wait about a minute and then rotate them to that you can get those good grill marks. Wait about another minute and then lift the lid up and flip them over and repeat the process. The whole thing should not take more than five minutes.
For the thicker chops when you are grilling pork chops, you are going to need a lower heat. You want to cook them, but you do not want to dry them out. If you are using the indirect heat method, then you would place the thicker chops over the very hottest part of the grill to sear the meat and get those good grill marks, but after that then move them over to a cooler part of the grill to finish them off.
Now if you adding a barbecue sauce, always make sure that you do it at the end so that the sugar in it does not burn and then you would wind up serving ‘blackened pork chops’, which would not be bad if you had all of your cajun friends over and was having a xydeco party. So just remember to finish up the thick chops over a cooler part of the grill.
And then finally when you are grilling pork chops to remember that the ‘resting’ period is the most important part of the process. After they are finished, place them on a plate, pie tin, whatever and cover them with aluminum foil and just let them rest for awhile.
For more great information and tips for barbeque check out my blog at: Grilling Pork Chops
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How to Grill the Perfect Filet Mignon
Step 1 - Seasoning
The first step is to season your filet. It doesn’t take much. Just a little salt and pepper. Some chefs recommend that you do not add salt until after the steak is done as it can dry the steak out. I don’t like to take any chances, so I choose to salt the steak after it comes off the grill. I recommend using a coarse salt like kosher. After you season the filet mignon, just leave it out on the counter and allow it to come to room temperature, about 45 minutes or so.
Step 2 - Heat the Grill
While your filet is coming to room temperature, preheat your grill. The best way to cook a tender steak like filet mignon is searing it by direct heat. So you want to get a really hot flame going on your grill. You can tell if the grill is ready by using the hand test. Hold your hand a couple of inches above the grill. If you can’t hold it above the grill for 2 seconds, then it is ready!
Step 3 - Start Cooking
When your grill comes to temperature you are ready to cook. When placing your filet mignon on the grill, use tender care. Do not pierce the filet with a fork or anything sharp. This will cause the juices to run out of the filet while you are cooking it. Instead, use tongs to grab the filet.
How Long do you Grill Filet Mignon?
Sear the filet for 4 minutes on both sides and flip the steak only once during the grilling process.
There are two techniques that I am aware of, that will accurately tell you the doneness of your steak. The first choice is to use an instant read thermometer, which is the most accurate method. The only downside of this method is that when you pierce the meat, all of those wonderful juices that give you that great flavor can leak out. So I avoid the instant read thermometer and use the touch method, which does take practice.
Here is a great technique that I learned on a cooking show and it is the only method I use now.
Take your index finger and gently touch it to your thumb. Don’t push your fingers together hard. Now push down on the fleshy part of your hand. It should feel soft and mushy. That is a close representation of how a rare steak feels when you push down on it. Now do the same thing with your middle finger and you have medium rare. The same with your index finger and you have medium . Lastly, the same with your pinky finger and you have well-done.
Step 4 - Let it Rest!
After the steak has cooked to your desired doneness, remove it to a plate and let it sit for 10 minutes. Resist the urge to cut or poke the meat to check it! If you do, your meat will be ruined. By letting it rest for 10 minutes, you are allowing the juices to become evenly distributed throughout the entire steak. Enjoy!
Video on Grilling a Filet Mignon
Below is an excellent video from Grilling Master Steven Raichlen.
BBQ Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
By Mike Gerardy
Brisket Tips
Cook your brisket under your butt for better flavor
Marinade overnight in Moore’s marinade.
Keep the cooking temp constant at 235.
Allow up to 2 hours per pound to cook.
No two briskets are alike in the way they cook.
Adding beef flavoring is good, you want the result to taste like prime rib.
Use only the flat for your slices.
Lay the pieces in the box “shingle” style, exposing the smoke ring.
Cook the point and flat separately
Use the point for your chopped portions, it has more fat and is move flavorful.
Cut your slices ¼ inch thick
If the texture is too chewy when sliced, cut it thinner than ¼ inch thick
If the texture is too dry, or crumbly, cut the slices thicker.
Do not let the sauce pool in the bottom of the turn in box.
Use a silicone basting brush to apply the sauce.
Be sure all slices are completely cut from one another, you can be disqualified if not.
Put a minimum of 7 slices and some chopped brisket in the box.
Use only KCBS approved garnish.
Do not mark the box, break the clasp or damage it in any way.
When applying the rub, lay it on there, the more the better.
If injecting, do it often and evenly to equally distribute the marinade and prevent areas of discoloring.
Cook fat side down, period!
Buy packer cut briskets and trim them yourself.
Buy briskets 12 lbs and under, the slices will fit better in your turn in box.
Pork Tips
Keep the cooking temp constant at 235.
Cook the butt over the brisket to add flavor to the brisket
When injecting an 8 lb butt, use one cup of the injection recipe, piercing the pork in about 30 places.
Pull the butt off at 200 degrees and wrap it in foil, then a towel and place it in an empty cooler.
Trim the excess surface fat, there will no bark where the rub is attached to fat.
Use a LOT of mustard in your slather, work it in.
Use both pulled pieces and bark in your turn in box.
Watch for pooling of your sauce in the bottom of the turn in box, the judges will.
Fill your box up; be sure you have plenty for all the judges
Use bone in butts.
Cook no more than 6 lb butts, too big will take longer.
Chicken Tips
Use scissors to trim your pieces, expect to lose up to 50% of the meat when trimming.
Use thighs only.
Make them small, you want at least 7 in the box.
Get the rub under the skin.
Be sure the skin is crisp and does not pull off all at once when bitten into. If so, put it skin side down over high heat to crisp it up.
Marinate in Italian salad dressing overnight
Cook at 235 indirect.
Cook at least 18 so you have several to choose from for your entry.
Chicken can absorb a lot of smoke, do not overdo it.
At 180 degrees, pull the chicken off right away.
Rib Tips
Do not open the cooker for the first two hours.
Cook bone side down at all times unless foiled.
You MUST maintain 135 degrees for the entire cook
When trimming them, try to get an even cut, you want a rectangle of ribs to slice through
Use an electric knife for slicing the ribs.
Be careful handling the ribs, do not disturb the rub.
Apply the sauce with a silicone brush, do not let it pool in the bottom of your turn in box.
Cook at least three slabs, that way you will have more to choose from.
Red is good brown is bad, do not burn your sauce.
The rib meat must cleanly pull away from the bone, not all of the meat at one time or have to fight it off with your teeth.
Mix the juices from the foil with the sauce before basting the ribs.
Stand the ribs on end when slicing; it is easier to avoid getting into the bone.
Mike Gerardy
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How Long do you Cook Chicken Legs on the Grill
A frequently asked question amongst home cooks and barbeque enthusiasts is: 
how long do you cook chicken legs on the grill?
It really isn’t possible to give an exact answer to this question as it really depends on the type of grill you are using, the grilling method and how big the chicken legs are.
It really is an excellent idea to invest in a good quality cooking thermometer. I personally own a voice alert electronic thermometer. It really is a fantastic little cooking gadget and I would be lost without it. It is extremely accurate and eliminates all guessing, and guessing is not an option when cooking meat, especially chicken.
Methods to Cook Chicken Legs on the Grill
Boil the Chicken Legs First
The goal with boiling the chicken first is so that it is cooked all the way through before it even goes on the grill. This eliminates the risk of food born illnesses and also cuts down the grilling time significantly. The downside to this method is a serious lack of flavor. Since you will be cooking the meat on the grill for a much shorter period of time, the meat will not have a chance to pick up that delicious grilled flavor.
Marinate Then Grill:
Marinating your chicken legs first is always a good idea. Not only does it impart an excellent flavor, but it also keeps the meat moist during the cooking process. For the best results, marinate the chicken over night. Below is an excellent marinade that I use often and it is quite versatile. It works well with seafood also.
CITRUS HERB MARINADE
INGREDIENTS
4 Chicken Legs
1/4 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 1/2 Tablespoons of Fresh Lemon Juice
1 1/2 Tablespoons Fresh Orange Juice
1/3 Cup of Freshly Chopped Parsley
1/3 Cup Freshly Chopped Cilantro
2 Cloves of Garlic Minced
1 Teaspoon of Salt
1/4 Teaspoon of Freshly Cracked Black Pepper
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, mix together all ingredients except the chicken legs. Add chicken to the bowl with the marinade and toss to coat. Refrigerate for several hours, over night if possible.
Let’s Get Grilling
I have found that the best method for cooking chicken legs on the grill is to first sear the meat and then finish the cooking process over indirect heat. The result is a nice moist chicken leg with a delightfully crispy skin.
Step 1: Remove chicken from marinade and rinse. This will remove any ingredients from the marinade that are stuck to the chicken. If left on, this can burn. Coat the chicken with some oil to prevent it from sticking to the grill.
Step 2: Clean the grill. The best method for cleaning a grill is to turn the grill up high and allow the heat to burn off any grease and grime. Use your grill brush to scrape the grates clean. For charcoal grills, just light up the charcoal and allow the fire to heat up the grates and scrape the grates clean.
Step 3: Heat the Grill. We are going to set up our grill for a searing/indirect cooking method. For gas grills, this is pretty easy. All you do is turn one burner up high and leave the other off. For charcoal grills, it is a little more involved, but not rocket science. All you do once your charcoal is ready, is push all of your charcoal over to one side leaving half of the grill without charcoal. The side with charcoal is for searing and the other side is for the indirect cooking.
Step 4: Begin Cooking. Once your grill is good and hot, go ahead and put your chicken legs on the hot part of the grill and sear on all sides. Only sear your legs for a few minutes per side. You are looking for a nice sear, so avoid burning the skin. After you sear them, go ahead and move them on over to the cool side of the grill and cover.
Let them cook for a good 20 minutes and then get out your basting sauce. If you used the citrus herb marinade from above, try and find a thick basting sauce that compliments the citrus flavors . Baste the legs on all sides and then cover. After another 20 minutes or so, using your thermometer, go ahead and check for doneness. You are looking for an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Once the legs are done, If they aren’t as crispy as you like, go ahead and put them on the hot side of the grill again for a few minutes before removing them from the grill.
Enjoy!
Cooking Competition Quality Ribs in your Backyard
Prepping your grill…
Just about everybody has a Weber kettle charcoal grill in their back yard. You can smoke some pretty good ribs on these things. Here’s how to set it up so that you are “offset smoking” and not grilling… I simply start it up by making two piles of charcoal briquettes on opposite sides of the grill (away from the center). Make sure your vents on the bottom of the grill are open and not clogged with ashes. I then squirt my lighter fluid on the briquettes and light them.
Start soaking your wood chips at least an hour before you will need them. I make sure the charcoal is white before I start smoking so that all the lighter fluid has burnt up and does not give your meat a lighter fluid taste. If you want to use a charcoal chimney to start your charcoal, that’s OK too - some people hate using lighter fluid. Just dump your “white” charcoal from the chimney on opposite sides of the grill when they are ready. You can place a disposable aluminum pan between your charcoal piles and fill it with about an inch of warm water or beer if you want.
Prepping your ribs…
You can either buy spareribs or what is called loin back ribs. Spareribs are much cheaper than the loin backs. If you buy the big spareribs, cut the brisket end off the ribs at the joint. This will give you what is called the St Louis style of ribs. Then trim the skirt meat off. Don’t throw this away - you can cook it separately and eat it too. You also want to pull the membrane off the back side of the ribs. If you want, you can put your favorite dry rub on both sides of your ribs at this time. I prefer the more natural taste of the smoked meat with a little BBQ sauce, so I do not apply any rub or any other seasonings before smoking.
Let’s start smoking…
When you are ready to start smoking, place your grate on the grill so that the holes near the handles are over your charcoal piles. This way, you can add charcoal as needed to maintain your heat. Some newer models have hinged grates for this purpose.
Now all you do is place your meat in the center of the grate - away from the charcoal piles. When I smoke ribs, I use a rib rack on top of the grate. Weber makes a good rib rack and you can get one at any good store that sells Weber grills. Place your trimmed pieces anywhere not directly over the coals. Throw some soaked mesquite chips directly on the charcoal and close the lid (don’t overdo the mesquite chips - mesquite imparts a strong smoke taste so a little goes a long way). Feel free to used soaked hickory, pecan, oak, apple, or any other “flavor” of wood chips that suits your taste buds. I personally like mesquite as I feel it is the only smoke flavor that will not get covered up by your sauce. If done right, it’s not overpowering, but you can still taste that delicious smoke flavor.
Open the vents on the lid all the way and insert a thermometer through one of the vent holes. This is important! I use one of those confection/deep fry style thermometers with the clip and long stem on it. It’s important to measure the temperature as close to the meat as possible. Smoke your ribs at 230 - 240 deg F. If the temperature is too high (around 300 deg) for the first 30 minutes, don’t worry about it too much. If it gets any hotter than 300 deg then crack the lid a little to let some heat escape. When the temperature gets too low, just open the lid and toss in a few new briquettes and/or soaked wood chips. Try to stay “ahead of the game” as far as heat is concerned because it’s easier to cool down a hot smoker than it is to get it back up to temperature if your fire goes out.
Cook the ribs for 3 hours. Don’t open the lid unless absolutely necessary -remember, “if you’re looking, you ain’t cooking”. While you are adding charcoal,you can also spray the ribs with apple juice to keep them moist. After 3 hours, take your ribs off and wrap tightly in foil and return to the grill for one more hour.
Ready for glazing…
After one hour in the foil, take your ribs out of the foil and place back on the grill. You’ll know your ribs are getting done when the meat is pulling away from the bone - this is a sure sign that your ribs are getting done. Maybe gently tug on one of the bones to see if it is “loose”. Also… if you pick up one end of a slab with a pair of tongs and your slab bends down 90°, then that is another sign that your ribs are getting done.
After removing from the foil, apply your favorite BBQ sauce and glaze the ribs for one more hour. You can cut your BBQ Sauce with honey to make a sweet glaze if that is what you like. Apply your glaze to both sides and flip after 15 minutes and reapply glaze after each 15 minutes. After one hour of glazing, let your ribs rest for at least 15 minutes and then slice between each bone. You are now ready to sink your teeth into some of the best ribs you have ever tasted! Mouth watering, tender, and falling off the bone good!
Hope you enjoy them!
Bill Anderson
The Chatham Artillery BBQ Team
co-author of “Competition BBQ Secrets”
http://www.bbq-book.com
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How Long do you Cook Hamburgers on a Grill
How Long do you Cook Hamburgers on a Grill?
Cooking hamburgers on the grill is probably the tastiest method for making these yummy summer treats. Of course many of us find ourselves asking the same question, time and time again: How Long do you Cook Hamburgers on a Grill?
This is a fantastic question. After all, an undercooked hamburger can make one very sick, so it pays to be safe and educate yourself. The time it takes for your hamburgers to fully cook really depends on the thickness of your burger and how hot your grill is. So the most accurate method for testing when your hamburgers are fully cooked, is by using an instant read thermometer.
Really folks, you need to invest in one of these. Head over to your local home goods store and pick one up. You will be very glad that you did. They are not expensive and it will make grilling a whole lot easier and enjoyable.
Whatever you do, NEVER cut your burger in half to see if it is done. I see a handful of sites recommending you do this and it is a big no no! Nothing will dry your buger out quicker than cutting it on the grill. Resist the urge to cut!
The optimal temperature to grill your hamburger to is 160 degrees fahrenheit. This temperature will kill off dangerous bacteria and make your burger safe to eat.
So there you have it, the answer to your question: How Long do you Cook Hamburgers on a Grill?
Enjoy and happy grilling!
Steak Grilling Instructions - How to Grill the Perfect Steak
Steak grilling enthusiasts all over the world have searched long and hard for the answer to the question: “How do you 
grill the perfect steak?”
This is a wonderful question and deserves a wonderful answer. After all, a good, quality steak does not come cheap these days. My hopes with this article are to give you all the necessary instructions and techniques possible so that your investment in a is not wasted. This guide will work equally well for both gas and charcoal grills and is in my opinion, the best way to grill a steak.
Grilling the Perfect Steak - Step 1
The first step is to choose the right piece of meat for grilling.
A great steak starts with a quality piece of meat. The problem for many beginners when they go to the supermarket or local butcher is choosing the good meat from the bad. There are a variety of steaks to choose from and it can be very confusing. If you have a butcher shop nearby, you should definitely buy your meat there as opposed to the supermarket. Supermarket steaks have been sitting on a shelf for God knows how long whereas the steak from a butcher shop is cut fresh.
Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing the perfect steak for grilling:
Grade
There are generally three different grades of beef in the United States: Prime Grade, Choice Grade and Select Grade. Prime is at the top of the grading scale and only makes up for a very small percentage of beef produced in this country. Prime Grade beef is usually reserved for restaurants. Choice and Select are usually the grades that are available to today’s consumer at supermarkets or butcher shops. So when going to your local butcher or supermarket, be sure to choose the best quality you can find. If it is not labeled on the package, be sure to ask for help.
Marbling
Marbling is the visible lines of fat that you see on the meats surface. Marbling is what gives your steak its great flavor. Now of course the more fat you have on your beef, the less healthy it will be. But I think many of us would rather enjoy a flavorful steak once in a while than the healthier alternative. The marbling should be thin lines of fat and should be evenly distributed throughout your steak. Stay away from thick marbling as this will give you a tougher steak. If you visit a butcher shop, they will definitely be able to help you.
Cut of Steak
The last factor I would like to talk about is the cut of steak. There are a variety of different cuts available today and it can be quite confusing. The best cuts for grilling in my opinion are the Rib-Eye, T-bone, Porterhouse, Strip Steak & Sirloin. There is of course the Tenderloin cuts which give you your filet mignon and Chateaubriand. These cuts are very tender but contain very little fat and are not very flavorful. I recommend avoiding these cuts for grilling. The Rib-Eye probably contains the most fat out of the bunch, but is definitely one of the more flavorful cuts. My recommendation would be test out a rib-eye, T-bone, Porterhouse and Strip to see which one you like the best, as we all have different preferences.
Step 2
Now that you know how to choose a good steak, let us talk about how to grill it to perfection. Now this is more of a craft than anything else, so it will take some practice to get things just right. This guide is catered to a steak with a thickness of about 3/4 - 1 inch, which is a descent size.
Bring Your Steak to Room Temperature
Never grill a frozen or cold steak. Your steak needs to be brought up to room temperature before you grill it so that the inside can cook properly without the outside becoming burnt. If your steak is frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator first then sit it on the counter top for around 30 minutes or so.
Season
The best way to season a steak is with salt and pepper. This really allows the true flavor to shine through. If you over season your steak with other spices or marinades, then you really aren’t going to taste that wonderful beef flavor.
Get your Grill Nice and Hot
One of the reasons why restaurant steaks are so tasty is because of the heat of their grills. The high heat sears the outside and produces a much tastier steak. Now you probably won’t be able to get your grill to the temperatures that restaurants have them, but you can still get your grill hot enough to cook a very tasty piece of meat. Here is how you know if your grill is hot enough. Carefully place your hand about 2 inches above the grill grate and start counting. If you can only keep your hand there for two seconds, then your grill is hot enough.
Time to Start Cooking
Now take a deep breath, grab your room temperature steak and throw that bad boy on the grill (Don’t literally throw it. Its a figure of speech). You may want to oil the grates of the grill lightly before you start grilling to prevent sticking.
Now here comes the tricky part: how long do you cook the steak? This is not an exact science unfortunately. It really depends on the thickness and how you like it cooked.
As indicated in the beginning of this article, this guide was written for a normal size steak of about 3/4 - 1 inches. For this thickness I usually grill it for about 4 minutes per side and then check for doneness using the touch technique (explained further below).
There are two techniques that I am aware of, that will accurately tell you the doneness of your steak. The first choice is to use an instant read thermometer, which is the most accurate method. The only downside of this method is that when you pierce the meat, all of those wonderful juices that give you that great flavor can leak out. So I avoid the instant read thermometer and use the touch method, which does take practice.
Here is a great technique that I learned on a cooking show and it is the only method I use now.
Take your index finger and gently touch it to your thumb. Don’t push your fingers together hard. Now push down on the fleshy part of your hand. It should feel soft and mushy. That is a close representation of how a rare steak feels when you push down on it. Now do the same thing with your middle finger and you have medium rare. The same with your index finger and you have medium . Lastly, the same with your pinky finger and you have well-done.
Let it Rest
When your steak has reached its desired doneness, take it off the grill and transfer it to a plate and let it rest for about 5 - 10 minutes. This allows the juices in the meat to settle and evenly distribute throughout .
That’s it! You are done. Now Dig In!
Videos on Choosing the Right Steak
Videos on Grilling the Perfect Steak
Five Tips to Improve Your Grill Cooking
By Josh Dusick
Just about everyone loves great grilled food. Cooking in the outdoors and the smokey, rich flavors of food cooked over a hot fire make for both great food and great times. However, most people know very little about how to really get the most out of their grill. Sure, we can all fire it up and cook up a mean hot dog or burger, but grilling is capable of so much more! To really make the most of your barbecue, you need to be comfortable both with the operation of your grill as well as basic grill cooking principles which help to ensure the best results.
The purpose of this article is not to teach you everything there is to know about 
grilling. Instead, I have chosen five things that seem to be missing from many grillers’ repertoire. There are also misconceptions and misinformation that gets perpetuated about grilling which I want to help correct. With these tips, you can hopefully start to take your grilling to a new level.
Get Your Grill Hot Enough
A basic mistake I see grillers make is not knowing how to manage their grill heat. I’ve seen so many people struggle to get their food to cook right and all they needed was more heat in the first place. Whether you use a charcoal chimney, charcoal iron or even lighter fluid to get your fuel going, make sure you start out with enough briquettes. How much do you need? That all depends on the size of your grill. However, people seem to often underestimate the amount of charcoal they need. Once your coals are glowing red and covered with ash, spread them out on the charcoal grate.
After putting the grilling grate on, your coals should be giving off enough heat that it is very uncomfortable to hold your hand about four inches over the grill for more than a few seconds. If it is not hot enough, simply add more briquettes and wait a bit for them to get started. It is much easier to adjust your heat at this early stage before adding any food to the grill. Later on, you will be struggling with food that simply will not cook or is not developing that nice caramelized surface you are looking for. If you are using a gas grill, many take a while to warm up, particularly those that have lava rocks or ceramic briquettes in them to hold heat. Start your fire early and let it warm up a while with the lid closed before throwing on your food. You should hear a nice sizzle when your food is added. If not, your grill was probably not hot enough yet.
Use Good Fuel
People with nice cars are willing to spend a bit extra for higher octane gasoline. If you are serious about your grilled food, and you have bought some nice meat and other ingredients to cook, you should take the same viewpoint! Don’t skimp on your fuel, it is what is cooking your food and is almost as important to good cooking as is the raw ingredients! Most charcoal grillers use the basic briquette charcoal you can find in huge bags in any grocery store. Sure, they supply heat and light easily, but do you really want that cooking your food? Most of them are not made from real hardwoods so there is no natural wood aroma and flavor imparted to your food.
Also, most of them use chemical binders and kerosene-like petroleum products. All those chemicals can have weird aromas and who knows what they do to your health! Instead, use real, natural, lump hardwood charcoals. The pieces look like real chunks of wood which have been charcoalized. They have no additives and are made only from real hardwoods like mesquite, hickory and oak. They give off good, intense heat. They tend to be more expensive than the cheap briquette charcoal, but it is worth it! Also, for added smoke flavor, consider adding smoking wood chips or chunks to your grill. In either a charcoal grill or a gas grill, smoking woods add aromatic smoke that helps to flavor your meat. Many types such as mesquite, hickory, pecan and apple wood are available in most grilling supply stores.
Use Your Grill Lid
Many grill owners treat their grill lid as if it is just a cover to protect the grill between uses. Rather, the lid is one of the most important parts to the functioning of your grill! For high-heat searing of meats, your grill lid does not need to be on. But for cooking foods thoroughly, leaving your grill open causes several problems. With the grill open, the only significant heat your food is exposed to is the direct radiant heat coming up from the heat source. While this high, direct heat is good for searing the surface of the meat, it is not good for cooking the center.
By the time the middle of your food is done, the undersurface will be charred into oblivion! By closing the lid on your grill, you retain ambient heat and smoke, which swirls around inside your grill, surrounding your cooking food, much like convection heat does in your oven. This allows for more even roasting of larger cuts of meat that you want to cook through. So for everything but the thinnest cuts that you just want to sear briefly, close that lid! Check your food and move it minimally, allowing all that great ambient heat to roast your food to its succulent best!
Indirect Heat Cooking
A similar concept to the using of your grill lid to roast foods is the use of indirect heat. Direct heat is the high heat that foods are subjected to from the direct radiant heat from the heat source just below. But as I’ve said already, this high heat can burn food quickly. Foods that need time to cook through completely, like chicken, turkey or pork roasts, can take quite some time to cook. By the time the middle is cooked, the outside is charcoal! Rather than using direct heat, create a spot on your grill that does not have charcoal (or a burner) directly beneath it. Some people push the charcoal into two piles on either side of the grill, others simply push it all to one side. Your food is then placed in the area that does not have heat directly below it.
Rather than the direct radiant heat cooking your food, the ambient heat which builds up in your barbecue slowly roasts the food without exposing the surface to high direct heat that could burn it. Again, remember to close your lid! You wouldn’t roast a chicken in your oven with the door open would you? With this method, you can cook larger roasts for extended periods of time without burning them. Not only do you avoid burning the surface, you also get more succulent, tender and juicy roasts that don’t dry out as easily! I strongly recommend this method for any larger roasts that you want to cook through to the middle at least somewhat. This includes whole poultry, ribs, pork roasts, leg of lamb and others.
Let Your Meat Rest (Before and After)
This tip is really two in one! Before cooking most meats, particularly beef steaks, it is best to take the meat out of the refrigerator a while before you are going to start cooking. The goal is for the meat to come up to about room temperature before throwing it on the grill. Why? These types of cuts are usually served only slightly done in the middle, as for a rare, medium-rare or medium done steak. If you throw a cold steak on the grill, the middle will take quite a long time to warm up. In the meantime you may burn the surface. A good thick steak only needs a few minutes per side to get a nice sear with grill marks. But you don’t want the center of your meat to still be cold! By making sure that the meat is up to room temperature first, you can more quickly hit the desired interior temperature (and thus doneness) so that the outside and inside of your steak are perfectly done at the same time. That brings us to the second part of this tip.
After your meat is cooked to your liking, don’t just drop it on a plate and serve! Most cuts of meat will benefit from a rest period, sitting on a serving tray, covered by foil in a warm spot, after taking it off the grill. The larger the piece of meat, the longer the rest it needs. The reason for this is that when you take meat off the grill, the surface is the most hot with the center a bit cooler. For this reason, moisture in the meat is moving toward the surface. Serving right away leads to an inhomogeneous piece of meat, with the texture and temperature varying from surface to middle.
After resting, the moisture and temperature equilibrate so that you have a uniform, succulent piece of meat that is ready to serve and enjoy. The interior will even continue to cook a bit while resting as the heat equilibrates throughout the meat. While small steaks may only need 5 to 10 minutes of rest, a large roast, like a leg of lamb, can benefit from a half hour or more!
I hope these tips help to improve your grill cooking. Try them out next time you fire up your barbecue! Enjoy!
Josh Dusick is the editor of the Fire Pit and Grilling Guru website at http://www.firepit-and-grilling-guru.com where you can get information about grills, barbecues, fire pits, indoor grills, firewood, charcoal, grill and fire pit cooking, cooking in your fireplace, grill food and wine pairing and even how to build an outdoor fire pit. Take your cooking with fire to the next level!
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Steak Recipe - The Backyard Grill - An American Experience
By Lee Griffith
Hey folks, it’s time to fire up that grill! One of the most common activities in American recreation is grilling that nice, big, juicy steak in the backyard. Here is my favorite steak recipe, along with a great grilled side to accompany it:
Griff’s American Grilled Black Pepper & Garlic Steak
Ingredients:
4 lbs. (approximate) thick cut rib eye steak (four steaks)
2&2/3 cups Italian dressing (cheap is good!)
8 tbsp. butter
4 large cloves minced garlic
2 tbsp. freshly ground black pepper (or more, if you love black pepper!)
Instructions:
Marinate the steak in the Italian dressing for at least 1/2 hour. In a small pan, melt the butter and add the garlic, heating slowly until the garlic is golden brown. Place steaks on hot grill (preferably a charcoal grill), sprinkling half of the pepper on steaks. When the first side is done, turn the steaks over and sprinkle the rest of pepper on steaks. With a spoon, pour the butter and garlic mixture over the top of steaks while they are still on grill.
Griff’s American Grilled Potato & Pepper Pouches
Ingredients:
3 cups unpeeled, sliced potatoes
2/3 cup green bell pepper (with membrane & seeds removed), diced
2/3 red bell pepper (with membrane & seeds removed), diced
2/3 orange bell pepper (with membrane & seeds removed), diced
2/3 cup onion, cut in long, diced
2 tbsp. jalapeno pepper (with membrane & seeds removed), finely chopped
2 large cloves minced garlic
1 tsp. Lawry’s® seasoned pepper (or just black pepper)
1/2 tsp. salt
4 tbsp. butter
Instructions:
Combine everything except the butter in a large mixing bowl—really mix everything well. Cut 4 18” x 12” sheets of aluminum foil. Lay the foil flat (dull side up) and put 1/4 of the mixture on each sheet in a mound that is at the center of one end of the foil. Make sure there is space between the mound and all of the edges of the foil. Put 1 tablespoon of butter on the top of each mound. Fold the other end of the foil over the top of the mound and fold the side edges up over the top so that when you are done you have four neat pouches. Put the pouches (butter on top) on a very hot grill for about ten minutes, then flip over and grill another 10 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Take off grill and allow to stand a few minutes, then empty each pouch on four dinner plates.
Copyright © 2007 Lee Griffith. All rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lee Griffith, a.k.a. “Griff” is the author of several blogs. Griff describes himself as a “former kitchen klutz” who now has a passion for cooking and developing great recipes. Griff would like to send you a FREE E-BOOK with 32 great chili recipes, along with a free recipe every week via email.
To receive, simply click on http://optin2.griffsrecipes.com
Check out “Griff’s Recipe Report” at http://GriffsRecipeReport.com
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