It’s Time to Fire Up The Grill!

May 26th, 2021

With temperatures on the rise and long summer days ahead it’s time to fire up the grill. After 15 months of a global pandemic everyone seems more excited than ever for outdoor gatherings with family and friends. If there’s one thing this last year has taught us, it’s that life is better outside—especially when you’re eating a tasty meal. Grilling is a fun and flavorful way to cook and is great for entertaining because it allows the host to chat with their guests while preparing dinner.

One of the great things about grilling is that you can be a novice in the kitchen and still prepare a fabulous meal. Although you don’t have to be a grill master to create great food; you do have to be prepared. Here are a few tips to promise grilling success.

Be Prepared – It’s Time to Fire Up The Grill

It is important to have the proper tools before you grill. A pair of tongs, metal spatula, metal grill grate scraper, and vegetable oil are essential. Check out the latest in grill tools here.
Start grilling season off right by giving your grill a good cleaning. Make sure the grates are clean of any debris or rust. It is key to start with a clean grill grate to prevent food from sticking. A wire-bristled brush and some elbow grease will do the trick. Then be sure to season your grates in order to be prepared for your first cook-out.
Be sure that the exterior of the grill is clean too. Would you be eager to eat food from a dirty restaurant? You want your guests to feel that the grill is clean and looks as good as the food you are preparing. Cleaning the interior and exterior of your grill will also make it last longer.
Be sure to be fueled up before your first barbecue. Propane tanks should be full and check your hoses for any leaks. If your preference is a charcoal grill make sure your charcoal has not gotten wet over the winter.

Now that your grill is back in top form, it’s time to think about your menu. Hamburgers, hot dogs, and bratwurst are always a great choice, especially after a long winter without barbecues. But Secret Ingredient encourages you to consider expanding your menu to include seasonal products and flavors. Be adventurous when planning your outdoor meals and you’ll soon find that there’s hardly anything you can’t cook on the grill!

Secret Ingredient’s Grill Favorites

There are few things better than sinking your teeth into some tender and juicy ribs. So add your favorite rub or marinade and throw them on the grill. We suggest grilling them on low heat over a longer period of time. This low and slow technique will make your ribs more tender.

Most people don’t think of pizza as a grill item but we love it. It’s ideal for entertaining because you can make pies with different toppings to appeal to all of your guest’s dietary preferences. The key is not to go too heavy with the sauce or toppings because it will weight down your crust and make your pizza soggy. Whether you grill your pizza straight on the grates or on a pizza stone you will have your guests convinced that you installed a brick pizza oven in your backyard.

Kebobs are the perfect food for a barbecue. Each guests gets their own skewer and there are so many variations you can prepare. They are easy to assemble, choose a protein (beef, chicken or seafood) and vegetables, cut into bite-size pieces and then alternate the ingredients onto the skewer.