If you’re thinking of throwing a backyard barbeque, you’ll have to do some planning. The ambience of eating outside and enjoying the weather and the company of friends is something eating indoors just cannot match. There is some prep work involved in grilling out, but with the right preparation, things will go smoothly.
Prepare your grill
If this is the first time you’ve used your grill, be sure that you’ve followed the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and curing the grilling surface. Start with a clean grill and be sure you have plenty of fuel (charcoal or gas), and that all the lines for propane tanks are leak-free. Position the grill in a place where curious little hands cannot reach it and where you are safe from flare-up induced fires.
Essential accessories
No matter what you’re cooking, be sure that you have everything you need handy so you are not leaving the grill unattended to get a forgotten brush or knife. If you’re cooking meat, a meat thermometer is essential. You should have a cutting board designated for meat only so that you don’t get bacteria in other foods, and a cooler to keep cold foods cold until they are ready to be cooked or served. Long oven mitts are great for protecting your hands. Tongs, a basting brush, knives, and serving dishes are important items you might forget to have handy next to the grill.
Prepare the food for cooking
Keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot, and don’t forget to keep condiments cold as well. The last thing you want is mayonnaise-induced food poisoning. Trim the fat from meats and make sure that everything you’re cooking will fit on your grilling surface. You don’t want to spend time chopping vegetables while you’re tending to cooking. Make sure you have done your prep work so that everything is grill-ready before you get started.
Safe cooking
Don’t leave the grill unattended: flare ups can happen, curious children and dogs can get to the grill, and food can get burned. Make sure that you are not cooking near pine straw or overhanging branches, and that you are following basic cooking hygiene rules (pull your hair back or wear a hat, wash your hands, and wear an apron). Keep your meat thermometer handy to avoid undercooking meats.
While cooking
Be careful not to pierce meats while cooking them; this lets them dry out. If you cook with a marinade, boil it after letting the meat marinate and before using it on the cooking meat so that you don’t put bacteria from raw meat on the cooking meat.
Once you’re done cooking, be sure to safely extinguish the fuel from your grill. Above all, make sure you graciously accept the many compliments to the chef you are sure to receive!