Making Better Dinners With Less

Using a gas barbecue grill is definitely easier and more straightforward than using a charcoal one. However, first-time and new gas grill users do tend to make a few predictable mistakes while they are learning the ropes of this cooking method. You want to avoid mistakes, of course, and if you take the time to read about them below, you certainly can.

Mistake: Putting the food on a cold grill.

If you put the food on the grill and then turn it on, you're doing things in the wrong order. Gas grills do not take as long to heat up as charcoal grills because you don't have to wait for the coals to burn down. However, gas grills do need to preheat. Turn the grill on, leave it for at least 10 minutes while you prep your food, and then put the food on the preheated grill. You'll get a much better sear and your food will cook more evenly.

Mistake: Not oiling your food.

Either your food or the grill grate needs to be oiled to prevent sticking. There are no-stick grill sprays you can just spray on the grates before grilling. Most importantly, do not use a nonstick spray that's not specifically made for the grill. The traditional way to do this process is simply to lightly oil your food. Just rub a small spoonful of olive oil onto the steak or chicken before you season it. If you used oil in your marinade, you're already set to go. In any case, the oil will get you better grill marks and will keep your food from sticking when you try to flip it.

Mistake: Cooking food at too high a temperature.

If you're excited to eat, you may crank up the grill temperature in an effort to get things done faster. But unfortunately, grilling at too high a temperature will result in food that is overcooked on the outside and undercooked on the inside. A better method is to sear your food on both sides with the grill on high heat, and then turn the temperature down to let the food finish cooking. This works well for steaks, chicken, and most any cut of meat.

If you avoid the beginner mistakes above, you'll get much better results from your gas barbecue grill. You'll be a grilling pro in no time, and all of your friends will love the food. Contact a company, such as Thompson's Gas Inc, for more information.