Lesson 1: Stay Safe & Prepare your Grill
With the weather warming up all over the country, it’s about that time to roll out the good ol’ grill. Usually, the first big grilling event occurs on Memorial Day weekend. With that in mind, you still have time to sharpen your skills so you can impress your guests as this summers Master of the Grill.
Our 1st lesson is for the novice griller. I am going to start with the basics in order for your first foray into grilling to be a success. Shall we begin?
S-A-F-E-T-Y
Safety comes first in grilling whether you are using a charcoal or gas grill. When you get the old gas grill out of storage make sure:
- All of the connections are tight
- The gas flows freely
- Check your hoses for leaks and wear
- Make sure that your grill is placed at a safe distance from the house
- Never grill in the garage or carport
You should have disconnected the tank after last season. Since the grill has been sitting all winter, it is a good idea to give it a nice clean. Heat up the grill and clean it with a stiff wire brush, this does a great job of cleaning the grill.
Once finished with that task and you have pulled out your favorite “grill with me” apron, you are ready for the next step.
Preparation and planning
P & P are the keys for a successful barbeque. It is essential that you plan what you are going to make for your guests. As a novice, my advice is to stick with some delicious grilling basics.
- Hot dogs
- Hamburgers
- Chicken
- Pork chops
- Ribs
- Steaks
Once you learn how to grill these items then you can move on to thicker cuts and more difficult grilling tasks.
Over the course of my summer grilling tips, I will continue to stress safety. Some items that you need with you at all times when you are grilling are:
- A working fire extinguisher
- Hand sanitizer
- A bowl of hot soapy water to clean your hands
- Grill tools to avoid cross contamination
Also, if your event includes children, make sure that the grill is away from the children so no one gets burned. If you have pets put them inside the house for the cookout.
Don’t let grilling intimidate you; it is not as hard as it looks. Having a successful grilling event is all about preparation and knowing your grill. What I mean by that is, every grill, charcoal or gas, has hot spots and cool spots. Learning your grill is essential for even grilling and tasty food.
Stay tuned for more grilling fun!
In my next post, I will give you the basics on recipes and how to prepare the food for your BBQ, to be continued…
