Posted on May 9th, 2008 by LB
A clean grill is not only safer, it makes food taste better. While you can get away with not cleaning the entire grill after each use, you should clean the grates after each use.
As you know, food gets stuck on grates while it’s cooking. The build-up is inevitable. Some experts recommend keeping the grill hot to burn off food. Others say you should allow the grill to cool (but still warm) and clear away particles with a wire brush.
You can get away with cleaning the entire grill less often, but you should clean it at least once a season. Before cleaning burners on a gas grill, make sure there’s no food blocking the flow of gas. For most grills, use either a brush or cloth and warm soapy water to clean the inside and outside. Some users coat the inside with cooking oil or spray after it’s dry.
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Posted on May 8th, 2008 by LB
Skip the crowded restaurant this year and grill your Mom a meal she’ll remember for a long time.
Salmon is delicious and healthy, and it’s an ideal food to grill. With its firm texture, there’s little chance it will break up or fall apart on the grill. The steaks stay intact. And fish is healthier, generally speaking, than red meat.
If you want to grill salmon for Mother’s Day, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Barbecues.com provides a salmon grilling guide. The first step is buying the right spices for the salmon. These can include salt, pepper, and garlic. You might also want to marinate the salmon before cooking to give it extra flavor.
To smoke salmon properly, the grill’s heat needs to be intense. “Pre-heat” the grill so that it reaches 500 degrees Fahrenheit. It doesn’t matter if you use gas, electricity, or charcoal to heat it. Next, place the salmon skin side up on the grill. Close the grill’s hood and cook for about two minutes. Turn it over and cooked for two more minutes.
If you prefer your smoked salmon “well done,” leave it on the grill for another minute or two, and enjoy!
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Posted on May 7th, 2008 by LB
Did you know that May was National Barbecue Month?
According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association (HPBA), about 17.4 million grills were sold in 2007. May marks the unofficial beginning of the summer grilling season, and there are literally millions of grills to choose from.
About 76 percent of consumers prefer to cook outside on the grill than inside a hot kitchen. Makes sense. Cooking outdoors keeps the house cooler and energy bills lower. Cooking outdoors also provides a change of scenery and perspective. Cooped up indoors all winter, people are more than ready to enjoy the fresh air.
Leslie Wheeler, HPBA Communications Director, said, “Throughout the warmer months, and really all year long, consumers love to take their meals outside to prepare on the grill. From pizzas and quesadillas, to veggies, meats and even biscuits, the possibilities are endless for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even dessert. State-of-the-art and out-of-this world grills and accessories are more innovative and advanced than ever before to meet every outdoor chef’s need.”
About 68 percent of households that own grills use gas grills. A third of grill owners use charcoal grills, and 2 percent prefer electric grills. Most grill owners use their grills all year. And meat’s not the only thing cooking. Grillers prepare vegetable dishes on the grill, too.
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Posted on May 1st, 2008 by LB
Cook out season is here! Do you know what it takes to make the perfect [well, a really great] hamburger? Professional chef Bobby Flay will show you the way!
Via Consumer Reports’ Home and Garden blog, we found these helpful tips from the hamburger connoisseur. This may seem counterintuitive, but Flay recommends against using beef that’s too lean. What does that mean? If you’re using ground chuck, for example, make sure it contains 20 percent fat, 80 percent lean meat. Why?
“A burger has to be juicy to be good and you can’t get juicy without fat,” Flay said.
Basic seasoning like salt and ground pepper is good. Sprinkle these on each six-ounce patty. Cook the patties over high heat to get them juicy inside. Allow the outside to brown and char slightly, and flip it over and do the other side. Put the finished burger between soft bread and top with fixings like lettuce, tomato, onions, cheese, and whatever else suits your fancy.
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Posted on May 1st, 2008 by LB
Remember the old food pyramid chart with food intake recommendations? Food groups were represented horizontally, and the emphasis was on eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and fewer fats and sugar. Today’s food pyramid still emphasizes fruits and veggies over fats and sugar, but the chart is represented horizontally, with wide and slim sections to recommend intake.
We all should consume fewer saturated fats and more high-protein foods. What can grillers do to make sure they’re preparing healthy meals? One way is to grill leaner portions of meat, and remove the skin. Additionally, remove all visible fat from meat before grilling. To compensate for the removed skin, marinate meat to add more flavor. You can also use lemon juice and other sauces for added flavor. Grill more lean, protein packed-foods like fish and vegetables. When you can, avoid cooking with oils.
Another healthy eating and grilling tip is to avoid charring meat. Direct flame on food produces a substance called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which has been linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Follow these and other tips for healthy eating and grilling.
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Posted on April 29th, 2008 by LB
Consumer Reports (CR) has released its latest report on gas grills. Three factors are involved when choosing a gas grill: safety, performance, and style, in that order. According to CR, consumers are choosing stainless steel over other materials, but alternatives include porcelain-coated stainless steel.
CR’s testers tried 37 different gas grills and concluded that high-priced models doesn’t always equal the best. Lower-cost grills can and do outperform costlier models. The testers also found that high BTU output doesn’t mean faster or better cooking. Based on the report, a modestly priced gas grill with a standard amount of BTUs, and perhaps a few added features, sounds like the way to go.
At Barbecues.com, you’ll find a variety of modestly priced gas grills, such as Weber’s Q 300 Gas Grill with 21,700 BTUs and a 393-square-inch cooking area. The gas grill features push-button ignition, two burners, removable work tables, and operates on a 20-pound propane tank. This grill retails for $329.
On-the-go or tailgating grillers will love Weber’s Go-Anywhere Portable Gas Grill. Priced at $54.70, this grill uses a disposable one-pound LP cylinder. For added convenience, the legs fold up and lock the lid.
Source: Consumer Reports
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Posted on April 24th, 2008 by LB
Grilling outdoors is a popular American pastime. Many grillers go so far as to create outdoor kitchens, so they can spend as much quality time outside as possible. Some stock their outdoor kitchens with refrigerators and sinks, as well as dining sets and furniture suites.
If you’re going to go all out investing in the perfect outdoor kitchen, you ought to make sure you have the most feature-packed outdoor grill you can afford. The Echelon Cabinet Cart Barbecue w/ Power Burner & Rotisserie Backburner by Fire Magic may fit the bill.
The Echelon is ideal for preparing meals for a large number of people, but it’s worth the investment when preparing cozy family meals, too. Available in natural gas and propane fuel styles, the gas grill features a wide 1,056-square inch cooking surface and Exclusive Fire Magic motorized hood. It’s also equipped with a digital thermometer with an internal meat probe for accurate and healthy grilling, and internal halogen lamps inside the hood for easier cooking.
This gas grill is great for rotisserie lovers. Prepare chicken and turkey to tender perfection on the 30,000 BTU rotisserie backburner. The Echelon Cabinet Cart Barbecue w/ Power Burner & Rotisserie Backburner even has a wood chip smoker drawer for users who love smoke grilled food.
The Echelon gas grill, packed with other features, retails for $11,068.65, down $2,596.35 from the list price.
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Posted on April 23rd, 2008 by LB
As outdoor grilling season heats up, no doubt you’re stocking up on must-have grilling accessories like long-handled tongs and forks, serveware, and grill cleaning brushes. Add two more must-have accessories to your shopping list.
If you avoid grilling corn on the cob because of uneven cooking and general inconvenience, invest in the Corn Grilling Basket. The non-stick basket holds up to four cobs of corn and allows for even heating with no burnt sides. You can even adjust the dishwasher-safe basket for various sized cobs. Just put the corn in the basket, secure, and place the basket on the grill.
A meat thermometer definitely is a must-have grilling accessory. Proper meat temperature varies, depending on the kind of meat and cut. For instance, poultry should reach an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and ground meat 165 degrees. (Source) Stay on the safe side and prevent a mess with the Sure Grip Digital Meat Fork. Use the fork./thermometer to check internal temperature and turn meat at the same time. The waterproof Sure Grip Digital Meat Fork runs on batteries, which are included, and displays temperature ranges of -50 degrees to 392 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Posted on April 22nd, 2008 by LB
Grilling isn’t the only way to prepare meals outdoors and use the indoor oven less often. Summer is a great time to experiment with solar cooking. Use the sun’s heat to prepare meals and consume less electricity or gas inside the home.
A unit like the Hot Pot Solar Cooker harnesses the sun’s power to cook food. The sun heats up the metal reflectors, which in turn heats up the tempered-glass bowl and black steel pot. The cooker holds up to 5 ½ quarts and can withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Posted on April 18th, 2008 by LB
Store your power tools safely with a Power Center by Garden Brand.
The Power Center conveniently stores everything from weeders to chainsaws to trimmers (curved or straight shaft!) and keeps them well away from the damaging effects of dirt and moisture on the ground.
The mount is equipped with specialty hooks for securely holding up to 130 pounds, and it has a removable wire bin. The heavy-duty Power Center, which requires assembly, retails for $52.62.
While you’re surfing at Barbecues.com, be sure to stop by the Gardening Tools virtual aisle to stock up on tools to fill the Power Center. You’ll find some of the lowest online prices for aerators, rakes, clippers, trowels, and more.
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