Before Grilling
Thaw food items before grilling.
Preheat grill on high (use all grill burners) 10 minutes. The
hood must be closed during preheating. Preheating
provides the high heat needed to brown and seal the
juices.
Shorten the preheat time when grilling high-fat cuts of
meat or poultry, such as chicken thighs. This will help
reduce flare-ups.
Lightly oil the grill grates or the food when cooking low-fat
cuts of meat, fish or poultry, such as lean hamburger
patties, shrimp or skinless chicken breasts.
Using too much oil can cause gray ash to deposit on food.
Trim excess fat from meats prior to cooking to reduce
flare-ups.
Make vertical cuts at 2" (5 cm) intervals around the fat
edge of meat to avoid curling.
Add seasoning or salt only after the cooking is finished.
During Grilling
Turn foods only once. Juices are lost when meat is turned
several times.
Turn meat just when juices begin to appear on the surface.
Avoid puncturing or cutting the meats to test doneness.
This allows juices to escape.
It may be necessary to lower the heat setting for foods
that cook a long time or are marinated or basted in a
sugary sauce.
If using a high flame, add barbecue sauce only during the
last 10 minutes of cooking to avoid burning the sauce.
The degree of doneness is influenced by the type of meat,
cut of meat (size, shape and thickness), heat setting
selected, and length of time on the grill.
Cooking time will be longer with an open grill cover.
TIPS FOR OUTDOOR GRILLING
Cooking Methods
Direct Heat
Cooking by direct heat means the food is placed on grill grates
directly above lighted burners. Hood position can be up or
down. If hood is in the up position, total cooking times may be
longer.
Direct heat sears the food. Searing is a process that seals
natural juices in food by cooking with intense heat for a short
period of time. While juices stay inside, the outside is browned
with a flavorful grilled coating.
Indirect Heat
For best results, do not select the indirect heat cooking
method when it is windy.
Cooking by indirect heat means the food is placed on the grill
grate above an unheated burner, allowing heat from lighted
burner(s) on either side to cook the food.
If possible, turn on 2 burners. Cook with the hood down. This
will shorten the cooking time.
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