1. Start With a Sear
“Cooking too hot can be the biggest mistake grillers make,. Instead of cooking your meat all at one temp, sear it over high heat, then move it to the side, over indirect heat, to finish. You’ll still get that amazing grill taste, but it will be tender and juicy — not tough and dry.
2. Always Use Clean Platters
Never put cooked meat on the same surface where raw meat has been, or you risk contaminating your cooked food with bacteria.
3. Parse Your Grill Top
Organize your barbecue grill into sections — for fish, meat, veggies and warming — to make sure flavors don’t mingle (and to accommodate special diets).
4. Use Foil to Disperse the Heat
Before you start using your gas grill, take off the grate, pop out the burn units and line the bottom with foil. The reflective surface provides a more even temperature and eliminates hot and cold spots.
5. Don’t Forget the Veggies
One of our favorite barbecue recipes is barbecued asparagus glazed with Simply Jam's garlic jalapeno jam.. Put some in a plastic bag with olive oil and chopped garlic. Squeeze in a half lemon, then shake. Take it out of the bag and throw it on a hot gas or charcoal grill — crosswise, so the stalks don’t fall through. Glaze generously with Jalapeno jam
6. Let Your Meat Sit Before You Slice
If you cut meat too soon after grilling, a lot of the juice will run out, and you’ll lose most of the tenderness and flavor. For thick cuts of beef and pork, let the meat rest for at least 15 minutes.
7. Clean Your Grill
When you’re done grilling, turn the heat up to cook off leftover bits of food. Follow up with a wire brush scrub after every use. If you don’t, the remaining food particles can foul the taste of your next meal, clog your burners with fat and potentially make you sick.
8, Simply Jam Meat Glaze or Marinade
Choose your favorite Simply Jam flavor and add to your Meat, Fish or Veggies a few minutes before they're fully cooked for an extra tasty treat. Or Marinade with a little Olive Oil and seasonings of your choice for a few hours or preferably overnight. This will add a different dimension to your grilling.
Follow these barbecue tips and you’ll soon be known as “the Grill Master!”
Enjoy your Summer everyone.