Grilling

Grilling is a world wide phenomenon, but in the U.S. it’s a national past time. According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association http://www.hpba.org/consumers/barbecue/grilling-facts-and-figures , 82 percent of American households have a grill, and most use it year-round. And why not? Grilling makes enjoying the outdoors easier and is a simple and quick cooking technique. Grilled food tastes great. What’s not to love?

Grilling vs. Barbecue

In some parts of the globe, the terms “grill” and “barbecue” are used interchangeably. Technically, however, barbecues use only indirect heat, taking many hours (or even days) to cook the food. Grilling, on the other hand, frequently uses direct heat and cooks food quickly – usually in less than an hour.

Types of Grills

The grill itself can range from an open pit with a grate laid over it to a cheap manufactured open grill without a lid. Most American grillers use a kettle or grilling oven, however. Which you select depends upon your budget and personal preferences.

Grills can be fired with charcoal, wood, or gas, and there is much debate about which is best. Certainly wood and charcoal add flavor to food, whereas gas does not. Again, this comes down to a matter of personal preference.

Grilling Tools

Tongs are essential. Avoid grilling forks, which pierce holes in food, allowing juices to escape. A sturdy spatula is handy, as is a basting brush. In addition, an electric starter will save you a lot of frustration when using a charcoal or wood grill.

Always use a good thermometer if you don’t want over- or under-cook meat. For best results, choose the type with an insta-read panel you can see without opening a covered grill.

Grilling Success

“When you go about grilling,” writes A. Cort Sinnes in The Grilling Encyclopedia, “make yourself comfortable, take your time and feel free to experiment…Grilling is a notoriously inexact process, a fact that confounds some, and pleases others.” In other words, practice makes perfect.

But there are some general guidelines:

• Let the food come to room temperature before putting it on the grill.
• If using a coal grill, don’t put food on until the coals are coated with fine, gray ash. Preheating a grill is even more important than preheating an oven.
• Put the grate in place about 5 minutes before putting the food on it. To keep food from sticking to the grill, it’s fine to brush oil on the grate.
• Always use a thermometer when cooking meat.
• When you’re done cooking, scrape the grill. It’s not necessary – or even desirable – to get it spotless, but if you don’t clean it fairly well, the next batch of food may stick to the grill.

Meat

Apple Cider Grilled Baby Back Ribs

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/apple-cider-grilled-baby-back-ribs

Gherkin Burgers

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/gherkin-burgers

Spinach Burgers

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/spinach-burgers

Grilled Rack of Lamb

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-rack-of-lamb

Chicken

BBQ Chicken

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/bbq-chicken

Grilled Buttermilk Chicken

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-buttermilk-chicken

Grilled Mustard Chicken Breasts

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-mustard-chicken-breats

Grilled Whole Chicken

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-whole-chicken

Fish & Seafood

Flounder Fillets with Mushrooms

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/flounder-fillets-with-mushrooms

Grilled Candied Garlic Salmon

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-candied-garlic-salmon

Grilled Shrimp

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-shrimp

Grilled Trout

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-trout

Fruit

Fresh Fruit Kebobs

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/fresh-fruit-kebabs

Grilled Tomatoes

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-tomatoess

Grilled Apples

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-apples

Grilled Bananas

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-bananass

Vegetables

Grilled Eggplant

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-eggplant

Grilled Romaine Hearts

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-romaine-heartss

Grilled Spicy Corn

http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/grilled-spicy-corn

Want to see a different cooking technique, or recipes for a specific diet choice? See all the gourmet recipes and recipe videos at GourmetRecipe.com.