How to cook on the grill during cooking
Keep an eye on the food you are grilling to ensure it is cooked evenly and does not burn. Here are a few tips to help you grill during cooking.
Keep the protein to yourself
- Do not flip meat too frequently. Do not flip your meat too many times. It is enough to flip the meat once or twice for even cooking. You will get stuck to the grates if you lift the meat too soon. Before you move the meat, let it develop a crust.
- Close the lid. By keeping the lid shut, you can trap heat and smoke to enhance flavor and cook food more evenly. Open the lid only when you are flipping or moving your food.
- Use a meat temperature gauge. A meat thermometer is the best way to determine when your food has reached its desired temperature. You should know that different meats require different temperatures.
- When determining if the meat is cooked do not keep stabbing it with forks or prongs. The juices will escape and you’ll end up with less juicy meat. It’s a good investment to invest in a thermometer to ensure that the meat is cooked to the right temperature.
- Sauce to brush or baste. Do not add sauce or extra marinade too soon to the meat. The sugars may burn. Wait until the last few minutes of cooking to add a sugary sauce.
- Move the food. Move food around if you notice one part of your grill is more hot than the other.
What to do if you experience a flare-up
Grilling with charcoal is not without flare-ups. If this happens, move your meat to the outer part of the grill. This will prevent it from scorching. You can then move it back when the flames have died down. Close the vents and put the lid on the grill to reduce the amount of oxygen.
