5 Grilling Tips For Gas Barbecues

Barbecuing on gas is a bit different than grilling on charcoal. You don't have to wait for the coals to burn down, and your food does not have the charcoal flavor that some people love and others hate. Whether you're new to gas grilling or have been cooking this way for a while, you can always improve. Follow these pro-grade tips for even better eats on your gas barbecue grill.

1. Bring foods to room temperature first.

This is important when using any type of grill fuel, but especially when using gas since you tend to crank the temperature up. If the food is at room temperature, it will grill more evenly than if you were to put it on the grill still chilled. Letting steaks and burgers come to room temperature prevents the inside from being still raw while the outside is overdone. With chicken, this method ensures an even cook and less dryness.

2. Use indirect heat for slower grilling.

If you have a larger piece of meat you're grilling, don't just leave it over the flames the whole time. It will be charred to a crisp by the time the inside is done! Instead, sear it directly over the flames, and then move it to one side of the grill. Leave the flames on only on the opposite side of the grill. This is called indirect heat grilling. It cooks the food low and slow.

3. Keep the burners clean.

If you let the burners get too dirty, then some of the gas ejectors may become clogged. Then, your flames will be uneven, which means your cooking will be uneven. You don't have to clean the burners after every grilling session, but do it at least every few weeks.

4. Preheat if you want nice grill marks.

One of the nice things about gas grills is that you don't necessarily have to preheat the grill. But if you want nice grill marks, you really should. Ten minutes on the highest heat setting should do the trick. Turn the temperature down when you put the food on the grill.

5. Use peanut oil as lubricant.

Are you still lubricating your grill grates with canola or olive oil? These oils work, but they are not as stable at high temperatures as peanut oil. If you switch to peanut oil for lubricating your grill grates, you may notice that the flavors of your food are a bit more pure.

For more information, reach out to a company like Thompson's Gas Inc. 

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