Charcoal Grilling, Too Daunting of a Task?

Looking out the window, seeing little patches of green grass growing; can only mean one thing. Spring is quickly approaching. Not only does it mean we will start to smell the fragrance from the flowers, but also the aromas from the charcoal grill.

Grilling may seem a little daunting to some. Knowing a few single mom's, who have had husbands to do the grilling; to them grilling seemed to be a lost past time. Not even knowing where to start, for them, is where the idea for this article came from.

First, tips for grilling safely. If you are marinating the meat you are grilling always, marinate in the refrigerator. Once the marinade is made and you would like some for dipping, remove what you would like for dipping before the meat is put into the marinade. Do not discard the left over marinade, once the meat is on the charcoal grill; use the marinade for basting while on the grill.

After the meat is finished cooking, never place back on the original plate that had the raw food on it. The raw food can harbor bacteria and may transfer back to the cooked food. As a word of precaution always, cook meats to the correct internal temperature.

Second, a few tips for charcoal grilling and grilling in general. Even though we do not enjoy burning something; or what worse, under cooking something and having to cook it longer, remembering grilling is an art and will take practice. Remember the old saying, "Practice makes perfect." It may not the best idea to call your friends over and then go buy a charcoal grill.

You now have your charcoal grill and charcoal. Always store your charcoal away from moisture because, it absorbs moisture; store in a dry place. Going from stovetop (to quicken the cooking process) to the grill will give you the barbecue flavor much faster. Using skewers is another way to cook on the grill; you may use metal or wooden skewers. Remember to soak wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes as to not allow the skewers to burn.

While cooking on a charcoal grill always keep the vents open, top and bottom; only close when cooking is complete and you want to put the coals out. When flipping meats, using tongs is better than stabbing the meat with a fork or other object. This way the juices stay inside and keep the meat moist. While the grill is still warm, you should clean the grate with a wire brush to remove the excess food.

With practice, you will be a grilling machine. Do not let your lack of knowledge keep you from doing something like charcoal grilling. Grilling can be attained if you will practice at it; bear in mind, you should always put safety first while grilling.

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Basting

Charcoal grilling

Grilling safely

Internal temperatures

Practice makes perfect

Skewers