What are you grilling tonight? If you’re like most Americans, you’re probably grilling hamburgers, steaks, hot dogs or chicken. Of course, there’s an endless array of grilling options, but these are the most popular. Here are some helpful pointers to grilling the perfect meat for your family and guests.
First and foremost, the biggest mistake novices make is cutting into the meat to determine if it has been cooked long enough. You just ruined your food. To check if your food is done, use an internal thermometer to prevent releasing the juices keeping your food moist.
Grill your steaks to perfection
If you’re grilling a steak, make sure to pull it out at least 20 minutes before grilling. You don’t want to throw a steak on the grill directly from the refrigerator.
Once the steaks are at room temperature, it’s time to grill. Place your steaks on the grill – and leave them alone! You only want to flip your steak one time. Don’t get flip happy and flip the steaks back and forth, over and over again. You’re preventing the steak from getting a good char.
Now, you need to be focused on how well done you’re trying to cook the steak. If you want a rare steak, it needs to be seared on both sides but there should be minimal resistance when pressed. If you want your steak medium-rare, grill the first side of the steak until little drops of blood run to the surface, then flip the steak and cook until the meat is spongy when pressed. For a medium steak, grill the first side of the steak until drops of juice are visible and then flip the steak. Your steak is medium when there is resistance when pressed. Finally, for a well-done steak, grill the first side of the meat until plenty of juice has surfaced then flip the steak. The meat is well-done when it is firm to the touch. If you are trying to get a well-done steak, make sure to lower the heat on your grill.
Once your steak is cooked the way you want, remove from the grill and cover with tin foil. Let the steaks sit for 8-10 minutes before serving.
Cooking the perfect hamburger
What is the most popular food item to grill? Approximately 85 percent of people say that their favorite food to grill is hamburgers.
“I still love making hamburgers on the grill. I guess whenever I eat them, childhood memories come up for me,” said Bobby Flay. Grilling isn’t just about food, it’s about the memories, which is why a lot of people enjoy grilling hamburgers. It reminds them of happy times.
To cook the perfect hamburger, there are a few tips to remember.
First, make sure to start with the right ingredients. The best ground beef ratio for hamburgers is 80/20. You might be tempted to go with the 90/10 but these don’t have enough fat to keep the burger moist.
When preparing the patties, make sure you don’t overwork the meat – you’ll end up with rubbery hamburgers. Also, to prevent swelling in the middle of the patty, place a dimple in the center using your thumb.
Do not immediately place the hamburgers on the grill once they are ready. Let the burgers rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to placing them on the grill. Then, a few minutes before the hamburgers are ready to come off the grill, place the buns on top of the patties to warm them before eating.
Grilled chicken can be juicy
To grill great chicken, you must start with the right ingredients. Use bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts for best grilled chicken, and you can butterfly the chicken before grilling. You should also pound the chicken with a mallet before grilling to get an even cook.
One of the main complaints about grilled chicken is how dry it can be – but it doesn’t have to be. Soaking chicken breasts and wild game in 50/50 solution of buttermilk and water for 2-4 hours locks in the moisture.
Don’t forget to grill your seafood
Seafood might not be as common on the grill as some others, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t delicious. You can cook a wide variety of seafood dishes on the grill but here are a few tips to help.
First, if you are marinating your seafood before grilling, add some honey to your marinade. It will help herbs and spices bind to it and it will add a hint of sweetness.
If you’re grilling tuna steaks, make sure to soak the steaks in warm water for 10-15 minutes. Then, wipe grill with a little oil before placing tuna. Soaking the tuna allows it to sear faster and oiling the cooking surface will prevent the seafood from sticking – another common problem.
Finally, when you’re selecting the seafood to grill, try to find filets or steaks that are similar in size and thickness so they all have similar cook times. You don’t need to be worried about pulling certain pieces off at different times than others.
So, as you head out to your grill this weekend with a plateful of food, don’t forget these helpful tips. From steaks to seafood, a few simple steps will result in a perfectly cooked meal. Enjoy!
