You’ve been waiting for it for months and it’s finally here: BBQ season! Before you ignite the grill, here are some basic tips for maintaining the barbecue and tricks that will help you cook delicious grilled meals this summer.
1. Clean the BBQ
Before your first use, make sure that there is no food residue from the previous year left on the grill or in the bottom of the device. To eliminate it, heat the barbecue to a high temperature so that it burns off, and then clean the whole thing with a brush or wooden scraper. Brushes with metal bristles are not recommended, as they can leave pieces of metal on the racks and end up in food.
If your barbecue is very dirty, use a degreaser specially designed for this (it can be found in stores). Remove the grill from the device and soak it in water and a little degreaser before scrubbing it. Clean the inside of the barbecue: the lid, tank and burners. If the grids are twisted or rusty, it’s time to change them!
2. Have good accessories
To cook on the barbecue even more efficiently, some accessories are very practical. Here is a small selection of items that will facilitate your prowess on the grill:
- Cooking sheets for the barbecue: These reusable sheets, such as the Cookina brand, replace using aluminum foil to prevent food from sticking on the grill or dripping onto the burners. Ideal for cooking irregularly shaped food.
- Vegetable basket: This is your ally to cook vegetables or small seafood such as shrimp. This metal basket with holes allows heat to pass through it. Since it is flared in shape, you can mix the food without fearing it will fall out of the basket.
- Meat thermometer: For meats cooked to perfection, this is a must. There are different models, including the basic dial models, but other electronic models with a probe allow you to take the temperature during the entire cooking process without having to lift the lid. Connected thermometers can even let you see the temperature of the meat on your smartphone.
3. Marinate meats for the summer
Now let’s talk about cooking! To be prepared for any eventuality this summer, always have grilled meats on hand. To simplify your life further, you can even marinate them in advance and freeze them. All you have to do is thaw them before dinner and grill them with a few vegetables for a quick and easy meal.
Place the meat with the marinade in airtight resealable bags, making sure to release all the air. Freeze the meat according to the number of portions you want to cook at the same time. You can leave them in the freezer for about three months.
And to simplify the task even more, when there’s not enough time to prepare ahead, turn to already marinated meats at the grocery store, such as the Curry Ginger Pork Chop or RICARDO's Montreal Seasoning Flap Steak.
4. Cuts of meat to try on the grill
Pork chops, chicken breasts and beef flap steak often find their place on the barbecue. So why not try some new cuts of meat on the grill?
- Top Sirloin Cap Grilling Steak: It is even better when marinated, since it absorbs flavours well and becomes very tender. Choose a piece of good thickness (1 inch or more) to handle cooking more easily.
- Fresh Nagano Pork Shoulder: This imposing piece of meat is often reserved for wintry simmered dishes, but it’s also great on the BBQ. Simply coat it with a dry marinade and cook on indirect heat for a few hours for delicious pulled meat, perfect for burgers.
- Breast Boneless Skinless Fresh Turkey: Whole turkey breast is a large piece of meat that requires slow cooking. You can then shred it and mix it with BBQ sauce to make delicious burgers or serve it in a meal salad.
5. Stock up on condiments
Sure, ketchup, mustard, relish will have to find their way into the fridge this summer, but there are plenty of other condiments to try in your burgers and hot dogs or to accompany your grills, including a few of these examples:
- Pesto
- Antipasto vegetables marinated in oil
- Sundried tomatoes
- Onion jam
- Olive tapenade
- Flavoured mustards
- Steak Spice