Spring is fast approaching, which means it’s almost time for grilling season. Imagine the fresh scent of smoked sausage, beef brisket and marinated chicken filling the air while friends and family spend time together out in the sun. But, before you start tossing things on the grill and getting your sunscreen ready, we want to make sure your meat doesn’t get messed up and your grill is ready to go!
At The Best Stop Supermarket, we have been the go-to for Cajun-style meats and ingredients for years, and we know a thing or two about grilling. Here are a few do’s and don’ts will ensure that you’re ready for that summertime sizzle.
Clean Up Your Grill
Too much char and too many burnt bits on your grill can cause a fire hazard. Plus, you don’t want to risk the remains of whatever you cooked last time ruining the delicious meal you’re throwing on the grill next.
Many people think you have to scrub the grill down to shiny new each time. This is not always the case. However, a good deep clean every now and then will help to preserve your grill.
Here are a few grill cleaning tips:
- Use quality cleaning supplies
- Remove the grill grates so that they can be soaked
- Clean the grates with a scrub brush
- Clean the grease collection tray
Essentially, you want to remove any part that’s removable. It will allow you to get the grease, char and food bits off of them. You also want to dispose of grease by placing it in a can and letting it harden. Then, toss it in the trash. If you pour the grease down the drain, you run the risk of having serious plumbing issues down the road.
Also, if you have a gas grill, don’t think that the knob setting marked “clean” is going to get the job done for you. While that setting heats up your grill and burns off a lot of the unwanted particles from your grates, you’ll still want to clean your grill’s heat deflectors and burners regularly to keep it grilling like the day you bought it!
Prep Your Grill
If you’re going to be throwing some delicious Cajun (and maybe some non-Cajun) foods onto your grill in the near future, there are some things that you can do now to get ready.
If you have a charcoal grill, get rid of all of the old briquettes. Buy some new ones so that you’re ready to start the fire.
If you have a gas grill, be sure that your propane tank is full. There’s nothing worse than finding out that you’re out of gas in the middle of grilling.
Whether you’re going charcoal or gas, you should also always oil the grill grates before you start cooking. This ensures that your food doesn’t stick to the grates (and makes regular cleaning and upkeep easier!). The best thing that you can do is wad up some paper towels or an old (but clean!) rag and dip it into cooking oil. Use tongs to rub it back and forth over the grates.
Start Exploring Some New Recipes
There are some amazing foods and marinades that can be used when grilling. Start looking at cookbooks now to get an idea for what you want to cook as soon as grilling season arrives.
As soon as it’s time to fire up the grill, shop for your specialty meats right here at The Best Stop. You can visit us in Scott, Louisiana or shop online where we’ll ship all the ingredients, seasoning and marinade supplies you need right to your door anywhere in the U.S.
