Barbequing: An American Tradition

No matter if it is the 4th of July, or just another day in the summer, chances are someone in your area is barbequing. Barbequing has become a standard American tradition for families. The reason as clear as to why, not only does the food that comes from barbequing have a taste that is unmatched by other cooking methods, but barbequing presents a reason for families to gather together. Some on my most memorial experiences happened outdoors at one of my families many get-togethers.

Planning A Barbeque

First, no barbeque would be complete without guests and proper outdoors weather. Plan ahead of time, checking with your potential guests for scheduling conflicts and issues. Finding a date and time that is suitable for everyone should not be to hard as long as you everyone enough advanced notice. Alternatively, be sure to check the weather for that type of year. If you live in a climate that cannot be predicted, then you may want to have a backup plan just incase unusual weather comes. You cannot predict things like rain and thunderstorms ahead of time, but you can make sure that you hold you barbeque during the time of year that will be pleasant to your guests. A barbeque in cold weather may hold more negative memories of trying to keep warm rather then good memories of family and friends.

Barbequing has been around since early cavemen figured out that food tasted great after being cooked on an open fire. Perhaps one of the main memories attached to a family barbeque is what was on the menu that day. Barbequing opens a whole array of types of foods available. The type of foods you serve should largely depend on your crowd and the event in which you are celebrating. With the wide range of possibilities, you are sure to find at least a few items that will please your crowd.

Make sure that you prepare ahead for your barbeque. 12 to 24 hours before you plan on beginning the party, make sure to thaw, prepare, and marinate the meat you will be cooking. Once you have the meat stored away, soaking up the marinate, then you must start thinking about what types of side dishes you will be having. If you want a completely tradition barbeque, you may want to stick with traditional sizes. Traditional barbeque sides include potatoes and potato salad, baked beans, and coleslaw. Your traditional condiment bar should include pickles, relish, and onions. These foods are typically severed at barbeques because they are easy to prepare and store until the event happens. You may want to cook other items, but any barbeque is complete with just the items listed above.

A themed barbeque may present more opportunities to hold a festive event. With a themed event, you can splurge on the atmosphere and decorations. Matching tablecloths, napkins, and plates can be found at any local store. You can also match your décor to the party. For example, a luau could simply be creative colored utensils, leis, and Tiki torches, all of which are extremely cheap. You can even reuse the Tiki torches later!

Your party area should be set up before guest arrive. It only takes a few minutes to get everything ready, but the reaction you get from your arriving guests may make you feel like you were preparing and decorating all day. Depending on the situation, you may or may not want to have the food already cooking on the grill. The smell will surely be inviting if you start cooking ahead!

Properly Cleaning Your Grill

When purchasing your barbeque grill, think of it as an investment rather then just another item for your outdoor entertainment. You should expect this item to become a large part of your outdoor activities for many years to come. But like any other investments, proper maintenance and care is needed to ensure that your barbeque grill will work for you for many years to come.

Leaving you grill messy after each use will not only make it harder on you when you finally do clean the grill, but it will also drastically decrease the lifespan of your grill. If you grill sits dirty, you increase the risk of rust.

While some maintenance and cleaning is specific to the type of barbeque grill your own (gas, electric, charcoal or smoke barbecue grill), the majority of maintenance that should be carried on does not change from grill to grill.


Step 1- Gathering The Necessary Items

You will need some common household items on hand when it comes time to clean your barbeque grill.

Brass wire grill brush
Steel wool pads, preferably that contains soap already.
Mild dish soap
Sponge or dishcloth
Spray cooking oil
Dry baking soda
Aluminum foil

Step 2- Brushing Your Grill Off

The first thing that should always be done to your grill is a routine brushing. Using your brass wire grill brush (or other brush suitable to your type of grill) you should brush off all the surfaces. By routinely brushing your barbeque grill, you will prevent any type of buildup. If buildup from food is left to long, it can become increasingly difficult to remove, and can end up causing problems such as rust.

Step 3- Spray Cooking Oil

Once you are sure that your grill is free of all buildup and debris, and that your grill is completely cooled off, you will want to spray it down with a light layer of cooking oil. Spraying it down with cooking oil will prevent your barbeque grill from rusting. It is especially important to make sure you barbeque grill is completely cold, as spraying cooking oil on a hot surface may cause the oil to heat up and ignite, which could be potentially dangerous to you and your barbeque grill.

Step 4- Use Baking Soda and Aluminum Foil on Your Grill

Baking soda is a very nice cleaning and polishing agent. Once you have removed any extra debris and buildup, lightly scrubbing your barbeque grill with baking soda will give it that extra shine, similar to the day that you brought it home from the store. This can also be used on handles and knobs to remove any extra buildup tat cannot be taken off with a wire brush.

Aluminum foil can also be used to keep your grill looking nice. Gently rub the aluminum foil on your grill, and you will notice that it removes grim and buildup. This is a cheap and inexpensive way to clean your grill.

Step 5- Clean Your Racks

The racks in your grill are especially important as this is where the food touches when it is cooking. You will have to use the wire brush to remove as much buildup as possible. Once you remove as much as possible, start washing the racks with dish soap. If the racks are really dirty, you may also want to use the steel wool pads. Be sure to completely rinse off all soap and residue before cooking on these racks again.

Stainless Steel Gas Grills

Once you decide that you are more then just your average griller, you may want to consider investing in a gas grills. Gas grills give an array of features and options that other types of grills simply do not have. If you are looking for a grill that will be beautiful, reliable, and will last for many years to come, you may want to consider looking into stainless steel gas grills.

Gas grills, unlike some of the other grills types, have the ability to come with many different types of cooking surfaces. These different cooking surfaces include a BBQ surface, a flat grill, and a ribbed grill. Some grills even offer these types of surfaces as none stick, which allow you to cook a whole array of foods that you would not be able to cook on a grill otherwise. You will be able to cook your whole meal, including side dishes if you plan correctly. Some gas grills even contain a Wok type surface for cooking pasta and rise dishes, or a full rotisserie set that allows you to cook rotisserie chicken.

A feature that comes with different cooking surfaces is the ability to cook different foods, at different temperatures, at the same time. This feature is available if your gas grill have separate burners. This allows you to cook your meals much more quickly. Some gas grills even come with a warming feature, which will keep your food warm while the rest of it finishes cooking.

Gas grills usually contain a built in thermometer, which will aide you in cooking. You will know the exact temperature you are cooking at. Charcoal and Smoker grills do not typically contain this feature, which either leaves you guessing what temperatures you are cooking at, or requires you to buy extra equipment in order to find out what temperature your food is.

Gas grills have safely concerns all of its own, but they are unmatched by other types of grills. Propane gas is extremely flammable if not used correctly. Other grills however, present higher opportunities for fire as they cook with an open flame. Gas grills are typical built much sturdier then their more simpler counterparts.

Popular Stainless Steel Gas Grills

Broilmaster- One of the most popular brands of natural gas grills is the Broilmasters. This company has been around for a long time and prides itself by creating great grills, even in its companies early years. If you are looking for a reliable name, Broilmaster would be the way to go. One of the most popular Broilmaster grills is the Super Premium Series, which puts out 40,000 BTU’s of cooking power, and has a cooking surface area of over 695 square inches.

Brinkman- These simple natural gas grills put out a lot of power, and can be purchased for much less then it’s competition. The Brinkmans, like the Broilmasters, are built of solid construction and meant to last a long time. Typical power output is around 45,000 BTU’s. Smaller units can range from 12,000 to 15,00 BTU’s.

Lynx- Lynx natural gas grills were specially designed for cooking higher end meats such as steaks and ribs. This grill have a patent design that is suppose to lock in flavor and juices. The Lynx run on the higher end of the price range, anywhere from $500 to $3000. The typical cooking power is about 50,000 BTU and has a cooking surface area of 840 square inches.

Hulk Hogan Grill

It's "Hulkamania" all over again! Hulk Hogan is famous for ripping his yellow shirt off in the ring and no one will be able to top his career, but he is back and this time ripping the wrapper off of some steaks. Since he has already did the wrestling thing he's now trying to dominate grilling. The Hulk Hogan Grill is going to be the best selling product of the year. My wife went at me for at least two weeks for the Hulk Hogan Grill until I finally got it for her.

When it came to our door about 3 days later I have to admit I was really ready to try it out myself and I have got to say that the Hulk Hogan Grill really does a great job! Over the next 7 days after we got it we cooked everything on it, from grilled sandwiches, fresh fish, hamburgers, and steaks. My wife even baked me some perfect cookies on it and waffles for breakfast. It's great! I think the ability to cook cookies on the Hulk Hogan Grill is what sold her in the first place.

I have to say the that the George Foreman has been in the cabinet since we got the Hulk Hogan Grill. A nice feature on the Hulk Hogan Grill is the hidden grease catcher that doesn't create a big mess when cooking fatty foods, unlike the trap that's in front of the Foreman that is so prone to tip over. I can't speak for everyone, but I don't like looking at all of that fat seeping out of my food. I like to try and eat as healthy as I can and the Hulk Hogan Grill really makes it possible. I noticed too, that the Hulk Hogan Grill takes way more fat out of food than the Foreman.

When the grill came to our house it had a few extras like: the "Hogan Knows Grilling Cookbook", one skillet plate, two grill plates, and a 60 day money back refund ( I say that like I am special, but they give that to everyone). We love ours and use it everyday so we won't be sending ours back. It's so easy to use, just throw a steak or two on it and in 20-25 minutes they are done! The Hulk Hogan Grill can do so much. You can use it as a grill(obviously), cook pizzas, bake cookies, waffles, and grilled sandwiches.

A couple of other nice features that the Hulk Hogan Grill has are the fold out double top cooking surface that you can cook a few of different items on. You can set the grill plates to different temperatures from 210 degrees to 450. Also, clean up for the Hulk Hogan Grill is a breeze. Just put the cook plates into the dishwasher and walk away, it take less than a minute.

If you like easy convenient cooking I would suggest you pick one of these grills up. It will eliminate most of the cooking appliances in your home. If you are craving something just fire up the Hulk Hogan Grill and "BOOM" it's cooked to perfection in just a few minutes, the thing I love the most is this grill is affordable. This grill is just great!

Grill Baskets

You just had one of the most delicious grilled fish in one of the best restaurants of your city. Don’t you feel like trying the dish at home? But the very idea of trying something so elaborate puts you off. We have a solution to your problem-try the grill basket. Yes, grill baskets are easy to handle metallic baskets which are available in different sizes.

A grill basket is especially used for foods which fall through the grill bars and even for small dices of meat as well as veggies. There are different varieties of grill baskets which depends on the type of food you want to grill i.e. they are food specific. There is a grill basket which is perforated, allowing the nicely cut vegetables to be grilled properly; the perforations or holes allows the excess oil to be drained out. There is also a flat variant which is ideal for hot dogs and corn. Fish baskets come with a handle, making it simple to cook an entire fish and turning it over.

The stainless-steel ones with handles are available in sizes that would suit you; it’s just right for vegetables, prawns and meat. The soft grip for the handle makes it easier to hold over fire. These baskets are also found in different shapes like for examples the round and square or rectangular shaped ones. The material with which the grill basket is made speaks volumes of its functionality. A non-stick and silicone based ones are more durable than the rest and being non-stick, the food items can be easily stirred without it sticking to the body of the basket. A copper basket can take extreme temperatures.

Grill baskets are not expensive and are quite readily available. The size and material of a grill basket decide its price. While buying compare the prices of different manufacturers and their ratings. Consider the various cooking surface options in which they are available. Obviously a basket with a non-stick coating will be more expensive and so will be the one with a huge size. You even have the baskets with rigged, special BBQ, flat and Wok type (ideal for rice) type surfaces. The size is a big factor to know for how many people’s food can be made in single grill basket.

Grill baskets use different type of fuels. The charcoal gas one is the most common one. The other types include natural gas and propane. There are various advantages of grill baskets. The food cooked on a grill basket has a better taste owing to the strong aroma and flavor of the food that it retains. Moreover the food is cooked very slowly owing to which the food is cooked better and no wonder it’s simply delicious.

These grill baskets can be easily washed and cleaned and doesn’t require any additional maintenance. It can easily fit into your dishwasher. On a bright sunny day, arrange a small picnic in your gardens with freshly grilled fish, hot dog and hamburgers, can it get any better than this? All you need is the right grill basket!

BBQ Grilling Tips - Best Grilling

Tips Never use more charcoal then you need to, start off with a small amount and add as you need. Use approximately 20 to 25 briquettes for every kilogram of meat you cooking.

Make sure there is enough ventilation when lighting the charcoal.

The closer the food rack is to the charcoal the faster the food will cook and if the heat is too intense you may burn the food.

When the charcoal turns 50% gray you can start cooking.

Keep your charcoal dry, always store in a place where it can't get wet, damp charcoal causes a lot of smoke.

Never leave grill unattended, flare ups and food burning can happen really quickly.

In cooler weather you might find you need more briquettes to get to ideal cooking temperature.

Wind can make the fire hotter. On humid days coal tends to burn slower.

Oil dripping from your meat onto charcoal can cause flare-ups.

Never use gasoline to light your charcoal. Never use lighter fluid on already lit charcoal.

These charcoal grill tips should give you peace of mind and confidence when you are grilling. Not all these charcoal grilling tips are suitable for gas grills.

Barbecue Tips - BBQ Grilling Tips

Trim meat of excess fat for healthier meals.

When cooking chicken or turkey do not use utensils that can pierce the skin as you will loose flavour.

Your grill should be clear of anything that can catch a light and cause a fire.

Always try marinate your meat before grilling, some recipes will require you to marinate the meat while you grill.

Do not put cooked food back onto the same plate as the raw food was to prevent food poisoning.

Try to grill with oven gloves to prevent burns.

Use wire hinges for cooking vegetables & fish.

Use grill brushes to brush away any left over food and oil on the grid.

Turn meat over readily to prevent burning.

Use direct heat cooking when making hot dogs or burgers.

Use in-direct heat when making whole chickens and large steaks.

On a hot day do not let food stand outside for longer then an hour especially if food is in direct sunlight.

Wash all utensils and containers before using them.

Some dishes will require you to precook the meat to ensure it gets cooked properly.

Grilling Safety Tips - Tips On Grilling

Food illnesses are caused by bacteria or viruses in the food you eat. Please follow these simple steps of precaution to ensure your families health.

Bacteria thrive in warm temperatures keeping food at temperatures between 40°F and 140°F is dangerous as bacteria multiply rapidly in warm temperatures. This is not just for charcoal grill tips, but also in your everyday lives.

Always try keeping your food in the fridge,leaving it at room temperature for longer then two hours becomes unsafe. Make sure your refrigerator is set below 40°F. Make sure your food is properly cooked, food needs to be cooked at a hot enough temperature and for a sustained period

of time. Your temperature needs to be at least 145°F or higher. Always wash your hands thoroughly before preparing food, make sure all your utensils are not only clean but clean from bacteria. Use a cleaning liquid that will destroy bacteria and make all your utensils safe to use.

To prevent cross-contamination, bacteria can travel from one food product to the other. As we have said before never place cooked food in the same dish as you placed raw food.

Clean your utensils after every use, do not cut chicken with a knife then use it on steak without cleaning it.

Do not defrost your meat by leaving it on the counter rather use warm running water or the microwave.

Maintain cooked food above 145°F.

Keep your hot foods hot and your cold foods cold.

Put left over food in the fridge or freezer straight after you have eaten.

Do not leave food to marinate at room temperature always place it in the fridge.

Keep left over food in small containers and ensure there is space between them so it cools quickly.

Use low fat marinates.

Use alternatives to oils as much as you can like spray and cook for example.

Your first priority should always be health and safety for your family.


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The Benefits of Barbeque Gas Grills

Gas grills work by a spark igniting the gas within the grill. Gas grills typically have a knob or button in which you push, which in turn activates a small hammer. The hammer hit’s the top of an ignition crystal. Then the burner mixes the gas with oxygen and spreads it all over the cooking surface.

Barbequing is typically thought of as a summer event, but some diehard fans of barbeque will not think twice about breaking out their barbeque grills right in the middle of winter. Grillers in the southern states may not face the problem, but if you live past the lower states, then chances are your Winter includes a large amount of snow. Smokers and charcoal grills present a problem as you must set the grill up properly, and then wait for the grill to get ready. This can take hours, so the idea of standing outside waiting on the grill may not sound appealing in 3 foot of snow. Gas grills give you the opportunity of quickly cooking barbeque.

Another issue found with out types of grills is the cleanup involved. Once you are done grilling with a smoker or charcoal grill, you are then required to clean out the burned remains. In 3 feet of snow, chances are that you do not have a place readily available for disposal. Fire hazards come with the burnt coals and wood chips. Gas grills will simply need a wipe down before it can be stored away for the next time.

Gas grills, unlike some of the other grills types, have the ability to come with many different types of cooking surfaces. These different cooking surfaces include a BBQ surface, a flat grill, and a ribbed grill. Some grills even offer these types of surfaces as none stick, which allow you to cook a whole array of foods that you would not be able to cook on a grill otherwise. You will be able to cook your whole meal, including side dishes if you plan correctly. Some gas grills even contain a Wok type surface for cooking pasta and rise dishes, or a full rotisserie set that allows you to cook rotisserie chicken.

A feature that comes with different cooking surfaces is the ability to cook different foods, at different temperatures, at the same time. This feature is available if your gas grill have separate burners. This allows you to cook your meals much more quickly. Some gas grills even come with a warming feature, which will keep your food warm while the rest of it finishes cooking.

Gas grills usually contain a built in thermometer, which will aide you in cooking. You will know the exact temperature you are cooking at. Charcoal and Smoker grills do not typically contain this feature, which either leaves you guessing what temperatures you are cooking at, or requires you to buy extra equipment in order to find out what temperature your food is.

Gas grills have safely concerns all of its own, but they are unmatched by other types of grills. Propane gas is extremely flammable if not used correctly. Other grills however, present higher opportunities for fire as they cook with an open flame. Gas grills are typical built much sturdier then their more simpler counterparts.

If you are considering traveling with your barbeque grill, a gas grill may be the best option. Gas grills come in small sizes which are perfect for traveling. Small size gas containers are available at your local grocery store or department store, which allows you to easily transport the fuel source as well.

Tips for Better Barbequing

If you are new to barbequing, chances are you have run into some problems when it comes to barbequing. Barbequing, like anything else, takes practice. Learning from your mistakes, as well as the mistakes of other will help you learn quickly.

Before you begin cooking, spray your cooking area with a nonstick cooking spray. This will prevent your meat from sticking when you are rotating or removing it. If your meat sticks and tears, you will lose a large amount of juice, and your meat may dry out.

Never place food on the grill until the temperature is correct. The fluctuation in temperatures will cause your food to dry out or burn. If you are using a charcoal grill, make sure that the coals are completely gray before putting the meat on the grill. This will allow the temperatures to level out, and the majority of the lighter fluid to burn off.

Cooking with charcoal lighter fluid can be good or bad. The lighter fluid will cause the food you are cooking to taste different then with other types of grills. Alternatively, attempting to not use lighter fluid may cause a lot of frustration due to the fact that charcoal can be difficult if not impossible to light without lighter fluid.

You must properly prepare the meat you are cooking, before cooking it. You should never attempt to cook meat on a grill when it is still frozen, or even partially frozen. Thaw your meat by sitting it out about 12 to 24 hours before you plan on cooking it, or by thawing it in a microwave. If you meat is thawed, but in the refrigerator, set it out long enough for the meat to get to room temperature.

Once meat is cooked, never put it back in on the same plate you had it on when it was raw. This could cause the spread of many unwanted illnesses. Do not handle cooked meat with the same utensils that you used when it was raw.

Never poke you meat while it is cooking. Poking holes in meat will cause the juice inside to leak out into the bottom of the grill. Not only will this make your food dry and unappealing in the end, but it also could potentially ruin your barbeque grill. At the very least, it will cause a buildup of unwanted grease and juices on your girll, which will make cleanup harder.

Once the meat is on the grill, try not to open the lid to many times. Each time you open the lid, you change the temperature in the grill. The constant change in temperature and the air flow will cause your meat to dry up quickly.

Remember that the higher the heat is not always the better. While it is ok to quickly cook food, turning the heat up will just cause the meat to dry up and potentially burn.

While using tin foil or aluminum foil will make cleaning easier, it will cause your food to have more of a fried taste then a grilled taste.

If you are planning on using your favorite barbeque sauce, be sure to wait as long as possible to put it on the meat. Putting barbeque sauce on to early will not only potentially cause your meat to dry out, but it could also burn.