Summer comes around and everything is centered on the grill. It must be an unwritten rule—sun’s out, you’re outside, somebody is lighting charcoal on the grill. I don’t know, it just is. The smell, the smoke, the whole process of standing over a fire with tongs in hand and pretending to cook. It’s not even about the fancy food, are you kidding me? A damn good burger and maybe a half-cooked ear of corn and I’m just as happy.
Either you identify as the person that everyone hands the spatula to without question, or you panic when the chicken sticks to the grates and start Googling what a medium-rare piece of pork looks like—it doesn’t really matter. Because grilling is like everything else in summer; you pick it up along the way, drink in hand, ketchup on the front of your shirt.
That being said, there are actually some very clever, very small hacks that can make your BBQ-ing much better and easier—things that will help cook better, taste better, or just save you from setting off the smoke alarm. So whether you’re a newbie to the BBQ world or you’re someone who has a very strong opinion about direct versus indirect heat, you need to check out some of these hacks: they are simple, surprisingly effective, and hopefully may even convince you that you have any idea what you’re doing—even if you don’t.
1. Use Tinfoil To Clean Your Grill
Wire BBQ brushes can be dangerous grill cleaning tools, as they often shed the metal bristles which can then become stuck in your food. Just ball up a piece of aluminum foil and use your tongs to clean the grill instead. This aluminum foil trick is a lifesaver for outdoor grills. But for an indoor grill like the George Foreman, learning how to clean it properly is just as essential.
2. Cook Fish On Top Of Lemon
Fish is one of the hardest things to barbecue as it always seems to get stuck to the grill. To avoid sticking, flaking, and falling through, simply cook your fish on top of lemon slices. It will also give the dish an amazing flavor.
3. Use Two Skewers, Not One
If you’re in the habit of barbecuing meat on skewers, you’ve probably noticed how they always twist and never stay in the spot you want them to. Just stick an extra skewer in each kebab and they will stay upright and cook more evenly.
4. DIY Smoker
If you’ve always wanted a meat smoker but only have a barbecue, that’s good enough! Click here to learn how to make a quick and easy DIY meat smoker using your barbecue.
5. The Secret To Juicy Burgers
There’s nothing more disappointing than a dried out burger. To keep your burgers juicy and flavorful, place an ice cube or small amount of butter on top of the burger as soon as you place it on the grill. When the ice or butter melts, it will keep the burger super juicy as it cooks.
6. Spiral Hot Dogs
And if we’re talking about burgers, we’re obviously going to talk about hot dogs! To make spiral hot dogs (which simply look way more cool), click here. They also make it much easier to evenly distribute the condiments.
7. Use A Muffin Tray To Serve Condiments
Speaking of condiments, using a muffin tray to divide and serve them is far easier than carrying each bottle out to your backyard. Plus, it looks much neater and more organized.
8. Use A Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron skillets are truly one of the most versatile cooking dishes. They’re great for barbecuing because you can combine different foods in one convenient spot, and the skillet won’t get ruined by the barbecue.
9. DIY Warming Rack
Most modern barbecues have a warming rack, but this likely isn’t the case if you have a charcoal barbecue. To make your own warming rack, just buy a small, separate rack from any kitchen store and use tin cans to prop it up over the grill.
10. It’s All About The Marinade
A meat’s marinade will make or break how good it tastes. Click here for a list of 12 BBQ marinades to try on chicken, pork, beef, and more.
11. The Perfect Camping Breakfast Sandwich
If you’ve ever gone camping and attempted to do any “cooking” on a grill, you already know that it is not the same as cooking with a fully equipped five-star kitchen. It’s unlikely you had counter space, or any cooking gadgets, and you’re likely to be balancing everything on a cooler while trying to swat away mosquitoes. But just because you are at a campsite that doesn’t mean you need to eat boring granola bars and instant coffee you would rather not have. With a little planning ahead, you can make a legit breakfast sandwich at the campsite. Whether it is a griddle, grill, or a fire pit, it all works. Yes, it is messy, chaotic, and you need more than one skillet (or griddle or grill) in your hands, but that is part of the fun!
12. BBQ Desserts
Look, it just doesn’t seem right having a cookout without some sort of sweet finish! Everybody wants dessert, even if they act like they don’t! When I think barbecue, I can’t imagine not having something sweet to eat before it’s done. AND YES you can make dessert right on the grill. There are a ton of options for dessert on the grill. A simple and always receptive crowd pleaser is s’mores dip. You can simply put everything on a cast iron skillet: chocolate, marshmallows, and maybe some peanut butter or crushed graham crackers or really anything that you think sounds tasty, and just let it melt into a gooey pile of heaven right from the grill. It’s the type of thing that people will casually hover around because they want that last (or second) scoop.
