Grilling

The basics of grilling, or cooking on a grill, are simple. There's two cooking methods (direct cooking and indirect cooking). There's three temperature levels (high, medium, and low).

Cooking Methods

Direct cooking is cooking food directly over the heat source. This is generally used for foods that take less than 25 minutes to cook. Steaks, chops, kabobs, and vegetables are good examples.

Indirect cooking is when the heat source is to the side of the food, not directly under it. Indirect cooking is used for foods that require cooking times of longer than 25 minutes or are too delicate to handle direct cooking. Examples of these types of foods are roasts, ribs, whole chickens, turkeys, as well as delicate fish fillets.

Rule #1

The most important rule is "keep the lid down". When you lift the lid, a lot of your heat escapes. When your heat escapes, your grilling time increases. Open the lid only to turn the food.

The Rub

Another one of the basics to grilling meat is finding a good rub recipe.

Rub Recipes

All Purpose Rub

• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon granulated onion
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Combine ingredients in a small bowl
2. Press rub into all sides of the meat or fish
3. Refigerate for 1 hour prior to grilling

Steak Rub

• 2 teaspoons black peppercorns
• 2 teaspoons mustard seeds
• 2 teaspoons paprika
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1. Use a spice grinder or mortar and pestle to crush the black peppercorns and mustard seeds
2. In a small bowl, mix all of the rub ingredients
3. Press the rub into both sides of the steaks
4. Brush or spray the steaks with olive oil
5. Allow the steaks to stand at room temperature 20 to 30 minutes before grilling

Chicken Rub

• 1 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 teaspoon granulated onion
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Combine rub ingredients in a small bowl
2. Lightly spray or brush chicken inside and out with vegetable oil
3. Season inside and out with the rub

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Revised: Sunday, February 20, 2005 10:12:35 AM