Light ‘Em if You’ve Got ‘Em

Gas or briquettes, it doesn’t matter, if you’ve got ’em, light ’em.

So what do you do when you have a Saturday in February with temperatures above 50°?  Grill here; grill now.  As much as I love the soups and comfort foods of winter, it is so good to enjoy the reminiscent flavors of summer when there is a break in the weather.  Yes, it is even worth a special trip to the store to select whatever suits your grilling jones—burgers, thick meaty steaks, barbecue chicken, fish, lamb chops, or vegetables—for us it will be a porterhouse steak cooked over natural wood briquettes. Gas or briquettes, it doesn’t matter, if you’ve got ’em, light ’em, and enjoy this respite from the cold which is not quite done.

A few tips for great grilling:

1 ) Marinade is key. There are a number of marinades on the market, but there is nothing like homemade. Here are a few suggestions and links to find something that is just right for you. Remember to use a non-reactive pans or bowls for marinating.

This is one of our favorite marinades for chicken:

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Beef marinades

Fish marinades, Teriyaki and some with wine or beer.
Vegetable marinades

2) Let the marinade work its magic before and during grilling. Once the marinade is prepared, reserve 1/2 cup to use for basting the meat when grilling.  If you forget to reserve some, most marinades can be heated on the stove once the meat is removed to make it usable and safe for basting. Some can even be used as the base for a dipping sauce to be served at the table. Just remember to boil any marinade that has had raw meat in it for at least 5 minutes before using it for anything else.

3) Use direct and indirect heat. Boneless and skinless meats can dry out and overcook when kept over direct heat. Start meats over direct heat to sear and create the familiar grill marks, but finish over indirect heat to retain moisture yet capture all the flavor of the grill.

4) When is it done? The trip to the store, food costs, lighting the charcoal, and special care to marinate is all for not if it ends up over or under-cooked. Of course there’s nothing like a good thermometer to be the most accurate and here are some safe minimum cooking temps for pork, chicken, and burgers. If you’re cooking a steak and don’t want to mess with gadgets, practice the technique in this video using your hand as a guide to know when it is ready for the table.

5) Give it a rest. Vegetables should be served immediately after grilling so they do not get cold and unappetizing.  Meats, on the other hand, need to rest for a few minutes to optimize flavor and texture. This also allows the cook to finish sides or sauces, set the table, or pour the wine.