This Is The Season For Grilling And Chilling

This may come as a shock to you, but I absolutely love summer.  One of the best things about being outdoors is grilling!  There are so many foods to make and so little time to try them all!  Summertime is the season for grilling and chilling!

Grilling Steak

Steak is by far my most favorite meat to cook on the grill.  It’s the only way we cook a good steak.  There’s just no other option, in my humble opinion.  How to cook the perfect steak is a matter of preference, but a few things are certain:

1. Remove the steak from the refrigerator when completely thawed and season both sides.  You can use a steak seasoning, but I simply use Lawry’s Garlic Salt and pepper most of the time.  Let it sit out on the counter while you fire up the gas grill.
2. Steak needs to be grilled at a high temperature (450-500 degrees).  This allows a nice sear to the outside of the meat while sealing the juices and flavor inside.  Do not poke the steak with a fork, as juices will escape.
3. Grilling time depends on how you like to eat your steak.  We prefer it medium (pink in the center).  Typically, an average steak is about an inch thick.  Times vary for thinner or thicker steaks.  A steak takes 10-12 minutes to cook, depending on thickness.  Resist the urge to turn the steak more than once.  I set a timer for five minutes and turn it over.  You should have a nice grill pattern on the steak.  Cook another five minutes, then rotate the steak 90 degrees.  Cook another minute or two. This gives you a nice pattern and adds to the presentation.   Note:  Keep an eye on the grill.  You don’t want to burn the steak!
4. Know your cuts of beef.  The best grilling steaks for this method are Sirloin, T-bone, Delmonico, Ribeye, and New York Strip.  London Broil is delicious but requires marinating to tenderize the meat as well as longer cooking times at lower temperatures.  A good steak that is properly cooked can literally melt in your mouth.

Grilling Meats (Other Than Steak)

• Chicken.  One of the most versatile meats known to man, chicken is an affordable, readily available option.  There are so many possibilities when it comes to grilling chicken!  Citrus chicken, lemon-garlic chicken, honey chicken, BBQ chicken, chicken kabobs, drunken chicken…I could write an entire month’s worth of articles on this meat.  No matter what you decide to do with chicken, the key is to make sure it’s cooked to the recommended 180 degrees inside so you don’t get sick.  That being said, bone-in chicken takes a lot longer to cook that boned, so keep that in mind when cooking.  I like to keep the grill temp at around 350-425 degrees when I cook chicken.  Rotate and turn often for even cooking.
• Ribs.  My family loves ribs.  Clean the ribs and apply the rub of your choice to both sides.  Ribs require slow cooking, so I use the slow cooker or Instant Pot for this step, then finish them off on the grill to caramelize the BBQ sauce (We love Sweet Baby Ray’s).  YUMMY!

• Burgers.  We use 80/20 ground beef for the juiciest burgers.  Make patties about 1/4 lb each and season to taste.  Place on a preheated grill leaving the fire off on one side.  Cook at 400 degrees for five minutes. Flip burgers.  Cook five more minutes.  Transfer to the side of the grill with no flame.  Cook five minutes and flip burgers.  Cook five more minutes.  Add the cheese of your choice.  Burgers are medium well at this point and ready to serve.  Have you ever tried gouda cheese on a burger?  It is truly amazing!
• Pork Chops.  I love grilled pork.  We recently used a Chili Lime Rub that gave the pork a nice flavor.  The key to pork chops is keeping them moist inside, and with so many cuts of pork chops, it is difficult to advise on cooking times.  Most chops I grill are boneless and are at least 1/2 – 3/4 inch thick.  On average, I cook pork chops about 20 minutes on medium-high heat.

For a chart on safe temperatures for meat, click here.

Grilling Vegetables

I love experimenting with grilled vegetables.  From asparagus to zucchini, the possibilities are endless!  Here’s what you need:

• Grill Basket.  You don’t want your vegetables to escape through the grates of the grill!
• Grill Pan.  I love my stainless steel grill pan.  It’s great for vegetables and fish.
• Olive Oil.  You can never have enough olive oil.
• Garlic.  Fresh is best.
• Seasoning.  Sometimes salt and pepper are all you need.
• Aluminum foil.  Heavy duty is best.  Lining grates or the grill pan with foil makes clean up easy.

Fresh asparagus is a real treat.  Toss with olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper.  Place on a grill pan (foil optional).  Cook on high heat for about five minutes, until desired tenderness is reached.  So tasty!

I like to try new combinations.  One year I made foil packs of freshly picked green beans and grape tomatoes.  Take advantage of the herbs that are available.  Rosemary works well in many dishes.  There isn’t anything I’ve tried on the grill that I would not do again.  I may change the seasoning from one time to the next, but anything is game for grilling!

Note: You have to watch the grill so your food doesn’t catch on fire.  Keep a spray bottle of water handy to douse flames if necessary.  This is where the “chilling” comes in.  Grab a tall glass of iced tea or an ice cold beer.  Relax on the deck or patio while you cook.

6 Reasons To Start Grilling

• Healthy cooking!  I slow cook seasoned wings on the grill for an hour, turning frequently.  When they are done, they are crunchy and moist.  Since they aren’t fried, they are so much less fattening!
• Less Mess!  Grilling season = easy clean-up.  We eat a lot of salads and don’t use the stove or oven as much, so the after-dinner dishes are minimal.  Yay!
• More time outside. Yes!
• Fresh ingredients.  Summertime is the best time to buy (and grow) fresh produce.  Vegetables are inexpensive and readily available.
• Get creative.  My good friend made a tasty pizza on the grill a few weeks ago.  Yum!
• Variety.  Adding new twists on old favorites is a fun way to keep your family anticipating different flavors every day.

With so many foods to try, I hope you are inspired to get out the grill and start cooking!  Please share your favorite grilling recipes and tips with me!

Until Next Time,

April

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