New To Gas Grilling? Follow These Tips
If you've been a charcoal grill enthusiast for some time and have recently switched to gas grilling, you may not be sure how to get the best results. Gas grilling can and does result in delicious meats, veggies, and other foods. But you will want to follow these tips to ensure success.
Keep temperatures low when cooking with sugar.
If you're using a barbecue sauce or rub that contains sugar, do not cook on a temperature higher than 350 degrees F. At this temperature, sugar burns, and your food will develop an unwanted, bitter flavor.
Let it heat up.
Just because there are no coals to burn down does not mean you don't need to give the grill time to warm up. Plan on turning on the grill about 15 or 20 minutes before you begin grilling. Keep an eye on the thermostat, and only put your food on the grill once it reaches the temperature you plan to cook at.
Start high, and then finish low.
One of the great things about cooking on a gas grill is that you can adjust the temperature quickly. Get into the habit of starting meats over high heat (around 400 degrees) so that the outsides get seared, and then finishing them at a lower temperature (around 300 degrees) so they don't become overcooked.
Make use of that top rack.
Most grills have a lower cooking rack as well as an upper cooking rack. Don't ignore that top rack. There are a few ways to use it to your advantage:
- Use it to warm buns for a minute or two without worrying so much about them burning.
- Put food up there as it finishes cooking to keep it warm while you finish cooking the rest of your meal.
Stock up on fuel.
You don't want to run out of propane in the middle of cooking a meal. Keep an extra tank on hand just in case. Store it far away from the grill so that you're not risking a fire or explosion.
Clean the burner once a year.
In a gas grill, the drippings often make their way down into the burners. If you don't clean them out from time to time, they'll flare up while you're cooking, leading to scorched food and uneven cooking. To clean your burners, simply wait until the grill is cool. With the gas turned off, use a toothbrush dipped in water with a little dishsoap added to scrub the burner areas. Then, pour some plain water over the burners to rinse away the soap. Let the grill air dry before using it again.
For more information, talk with a sales associate at a store that specializes in gas grills, such as Fire Disc Grills.