Home Grilling Tips for Your Best Barbecued Meats and Vegetables Contributed by BBQ Island
W
ho doesn’t love a good barbecue? Here are six tips to help you grill your meats and veggies to perfection.
1. PREP FOOD BEFOREHAND AND PREHEAT YOUR GRILL. This is one of the biggest mistakes grillers make when organizing BBQs. Prepare your food and grill before your guests arrive. Don’t forget to preheat your griller for almost 10-15 minutes before adding your food. With all your burners on high, the temperature under the lid should reach 500 degrees Fahrenheit to loosen any food previously stuck onto the grill and later brush it off with ease. 2. SEASONING AND MARINATING IS THE KEY. Whether you are grilling veggies or meat, seasoning and marinating form the crux of the grilled foods. Big, thick
meats need almost double the seasoning as you think they would need. And marinating the meat keeps it moist and tender while it is still being grilled. The same goes for veggies as well. 3. DON’T SQUEEZE OR FLATTEN YOUR MEATS. We know that the sound of that sizzling flame when pressing your burger patties or chicken is tempting. But on squeezing, you’re squeezing the flavor and moisture out of it as it’s the juicy flavor of the fat that causes that flame to burst! 4. DON’T UNCOVER THE LID TO CHECK TEMPERATURE REPEATEDLY. Grilling on a backyard griller means going low and slow. Check at least after an hour or so to mop your meat with a sauce and check temperature via the thermometer. Food continues to cook in the heat even after removing from the flame off the grill. So remove it before it has reached its stage of complete done-
ness. This will help it cook in its own heat without being over-cooked. This also lets the juices redistribute themselves through the meat. 5. A SPARE SPRAY BOTTLE FOR FLARE-UPS. Flames from your backyard griller’s grate can charge your food unpleasantly. So keep a water-filled spray bottle handy with you to dampen those flareups without interfering with the heat. 6. GO EASY ON VEGGIES. BBQ nights are not just about meats, but veggies as well. Lightly coat your veggies with olive oil before grilling to avoid them drying out or sticking to the grate. You could also marinate your veggies in the same marinade as that of your meats for that added saucy and rustic flavor. Learn more tips at bbqislandinc.com or come in to any of our three Valley locations and talk to an expert.
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Locations
BBQ Island offers three locations across the Valley and is always open online at www.BBQIsland.com
Tempe | 480-632-9227
1715 W. Ruby Dr, #105, Tempe, AZ 85284
Arrowhead | 480-500-5154
8155 W. Bell Rd, #111, Peoria, AZ 85382
Scottsdale | 480-503-1110 14987 N. Northsight Boulevard Scottsdale, AZ 85260
16 • March 2021 • NORTH TATUM TIMES
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