Make 2018 your best grilling year yet

The great thing about a brand-new year is that it’s bursting with possibilities. All of that stuff you didn’t get done last year? Now you’ve got 12 new months in front of you to work with. And we’ve got one more thing to add to your to-do list: become a grilling master.

Now, you may consider yourself pretty handy with a spatula, but there’s always room for improvement. Whether you plan to bust out your grill this weekend or not until summer, we’ve got some tips that will take your efforts from blah to brilliant.

Clean your grill

It’s sort of remarkable how many people don’t clean their grills on a regular basis. After all, you probably wouldn’t use a dirty plate, so why should your grill be any different? And don’t fall into the trap of thinking a dirty grill adds extra flavor; what it’s adding is a greasy taste, which intrudes on the food you’re cooking. Be sure to thoroughly clean the grate after each grilling session, and this means both sides.

Change the way you season burgers

When making burgers, most folks season the meat before shaping them into patties. But if you don’t want to be like most folks, you’ll do things differently. Because salt dissolves the proteins in the meat, this makes it spongy. You’ll have a much easier time making the patties – and make them tastier – when you season after you mold.

Flip out

If you’ve ever had a friend tell you to put meat on the grill and leave it to cook, you should seriously reconsider your friendship. To ensure that each side gets the right amount of heat and everything will cook evenly, you need to be flipping constantly. It may seem counterintuitive, but this will actually cut the cooking time down dramatically too.

Close the lid (or don’t)

There always seems to be a hefty debate about whether a grill lid should be closed or left open. Let’s settle it right now: If you cook with charcoal, keep the lid up. This will result in a hotter flame. If you’ve got a propane grill, shut it. These grills are designed to burn more efficiently when the lid is closed.

Marinade with beer

Yup, you read that right. Marinating raw meet in beer will not only result in some extremely tasty vittles, but it’s also actually healthier for you. According to a study, meat marinated in a dark beer before grilling cuts more than 50 percent of carcinogens that are created during the cooking process.

Keep things on the ice

Hosting a backyard barbecue can be a bit of a juggling act. In addition to having to keep an eye on the grill, there are also the non-grilled items to worry about. Your potato salads, your dips, your condiments, and the like. And with the sun beating down, how do you make sure these things stay nice and fresh? Simple: If you have a kiddie pool sitting around, just fill it with ice. Then you can keep everything chilled.

Let folks know what you’re cooking

Want to wow your guests even before they enter your backyard? Your own menu board will tell them that you mean business. Even if you’re just cooking up some burgers and dogs, a customized menu board will add a fun element to your get-togethers.

Don’t let pests spoil your grilling extravaganza

And we’re not talking about that annoying neighbor who insists on mowing his lawn at 7 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Anytime food starts cooking, you will almost certainly get some unwanted visitors, such as mosquitos. Nothing ruins a fun time faster than having to constantly swat at these bugs. The good news is that you don’t have to put BYOBS (bring your own bug spray) on your invitations. A misting system is the best way to get rid of mosquitos.

For more information on mosquito misting systems, get in touch with Platinum Mosquito Protection. We will fortify your lawn so you can concentrate on the most important thing this year: enhancing your grilling skills.