Warm weather and fresh summer produce make me so excited for the summer grilling season! Born and raised in the South, I’m most excited about hot weather (no more snow)—and coming from a household with two professional chefs, "What’s for dinner?" is a common question in our house. The next question is inevitably "Who’s cooking?" and "Who’s doing the dishes?" But magically, this conversation subsides when grilling season is upon us, as flavouring, prep, cooking, and cleanup suddenly become super easy! We divide and conquer: I do the flavouring and prep and "Babe" perfects the heating of the grill and finishes the cooking. We tend to like traditional favourites such as beer can chicken, burgers (uh, Juicy Lucy, anyone?), cheesy potatoes, and veggies, but occasionally we try something new on the grill like a Grilled Romaine Salad with Lemon Mustard Vinaigrette. It’s a delicious and light starter, and it's sure to convert a non-salad-eater… it’s that good!
With these tips you can become the master of your grill, with minimal cleanup. Grab a frosty beverage and say cheers to summer-long grilling!
Mix up a spice blend
Have a plentiful spice rack. Variety and unique seasoning blends are a must for me. Might be a no-brainer, but spices are a quick way to impart bold flavour on your grilled meats and veggies. Don’t be afraid to season!
Use a marinade
Marinate, if you have time. Allow your meat (or veggies) to marinate for better flavour in the end. Plan ahead and marinate overnight or over a lazy weekend.
Add a little smoke
Invest in a grill basket. It’s great to experience smoky flavour on summer produce when it’s cooked over an open flame. Using a grill basket allows veggies to soak in this yumminess, while not falling through the grill grates.
Cook with wood
Experiment with wood chips, cedar planks, or flavoured wooden skewers to help flavour your food. They work wonders with fish and veggies. Many are sold in variety packs so you can experiment and decide what kind of "wood flavour" you like best imparted in your grilled food. Just be sure to soak wood planks and skewers in water at least one hour before grilling.
Always think of cleanup
Use grilling spray. Be sure to spray your grill with PAM® Grilling Spray BEFORE heating for no mess and easy cleanup.
Turn up the heat
Make sure your grill is hot. This makes for an easier cooking experience. Chances are if you're experiencing sticking, this is the culprit. Create hot and warm zones to make sure food doesn’t overcook.
Rashanda Pruitt is a Culinary Product Specialist for Conagra Brands.
