At our house, Memorial Day always means Dad's fantastic baby back ribs on the grill! But whether it's ribs, hamburgers or hot dogs, our 10 Commandments of Grilling will have you grilling and barbecuing like a pro all summer!
1. Be prepared and organized. Before you start, make sure you have everything you need – food, marinade, basting sauce, seasonings at grill-side.
2. Gauge the fuel. When using charcoal, light enough to form a bed of glowing coals three inches larger on all sides than the surface area of the food you're planning to cook. When cooking on a gas grill, make sure the tank is at least one-third full.
3. Preheat to the correct temperature. Grilling is a high-heat cooking method. To get the perfect seared crust, charcoal flavor and grill marks, you must cook over a high heat of at least 500 degrees.
4. Always keep it clean. Clean the grate twice: once after you've preheated the grill and again when you've finished cooking. Use the edge of a metal spatula to scrape off food debris and a stiff, long-handled wire brush to finish scrubbing the grate.
5. Grease the grate. Lubricate the grate just before placing the food on top, but only if necessary (some foods don't require it). Using a pair of tongs, rub the grate evenly with a folded paper towel soaked in oil to help eliminate sticking.
6. Marinade at the right time. Bastes and marinades based from oil and vinegar, citrus or yogurt can be brushed on the meat throughout the cooking period. When using a sugar-based barbecue sauce, apply it toward the end of the cooking time to protect the sauce from burning.
7. Never stab. Stabbing the meat can drain its juices and dry it out. The proper way to turn meat on a grill is with the appropriate equipment, such as tongs or a spatula.
8. Keep it covered. When cooking larger cuts of meat and poultry, such as a whole chicken, leg of lamb or prime rib, use the indirect method of grilling and keep the grill tightly covered. Every time the lid is lifted, you add five to 10 minutes to the overall cooking time.
9. Let it sit. Remove the meal from the grill and let it sit for a few minutes before serving. This allows the meat juices, which have been driven to the center of a roast or steak by the blazing heat, to settle and return to the surface.
10. Stay with the grill. It's easy to cook on a grill, but it demands your undivided attention. Once you start grilling something, stay with it until it's cooked.
