The time has come for you to dive into grilling, and with it comes many choices. A gas grill is a great option because it is versatile and allows you to cook outdoors, satisfying everyone who joins you for dinner. You are also joining a community of like-minded people, ready for some BBQing with family and friends.
You have your new grill at home, so now what? It can be exciting but also intimidating if this is your first time using one. How do you get started? Here is a guide to using a gas grill for the first time.
Get Your Grill Fully Assembled
Most gas grills come in boxes, so you must assemble them yourself. Putting them together is a simple task, but you have to spend an hour or so assembling them fully. This is not a race to the finish but a well-paced task to ensure all components are attached. When you are done, you have a safe and sound cooking appliance.
Start by unpacking your BBQ box and laying it out so you can see what you have. Then, follow the instructions for each step before moving on to the next. Finally, sort out your fuel source. This can be natural gas from your house or propane from a tank.
Make sure a professional technician installs your natural gas line. This way, you can connect the hose and be good to go. You must also buy a tank or two for propane and refill them as needed.
Prep Your Grill
Preparing gas grills means cleaning and connecting everything before firing it up. For a used grill, you need to clean the grates of any debris or stuck-on food, but even a new grill must be maintained. Wash the grates with mild dish detergent and hot water. Dry them before placing them back on the grill.
The next step is to season it. This makes cleaning and preventing rust easier and provides a protective layer on the grates. It also prevents food from sticking to it, so make this a regular BBQ practice.
Use vegetable oil with a high smoke point. It won’t burn. Apply evenly to the grate using a soft brush or paper towel. Heat the grill on high for about 30 minutes, and then you are ready to cook.
Preheat Your Grill Before Putting Food On
Before grilling, allow 30 minutes for your grill to reach the desired temperature. This practice makes cooking times more accurate since you start at the proper heat level, like baking.
When your grill is hot, the sugars in your food caramelize under high heat, giving you those seared marks. Additionally, it prevents sticking because the necessary conductive heat isn’t present on a cold grill. This can cause a chemical bond between the metal and your food. In essence, preheating your grill helps you avoid stuck and unevenly cooked food.
Start with Easy Grilling Food
You can cook almost anything on a gas grill, but that doesn’t mean everything is easy. To succeed, you need to gain experience by working your way up from simple BBQ fare to more complicated dishes.
With this in mind, start with simple family favourites like burgers and hot dogs. It’s easy to mess these up if you burn them, but they should work if you stay at your station and monitor your food.
Try steaks, fish, chicken, corn, and other fruits and vegetables. In no time, you will be well-versed in all types of grilling and become an expert.
Work with Different Zones
Most gas grills have multiple adjustable burners, which allow you to create different temperature zones for optimal cooking.
Have a hot area where you sear meat, and as the meat is cooked, move it to a cooler zone to stay at the right temperature without burning. If you have an upper grate, use it for toasting buns or slow-cooking other foods. Grilling requires a lot of monitoring and adjusting, so leave when you get someone else to take over. No one wants burned food for dinner.
Clean Up
This is the final step, and for a first-time griller, it is important to create a habit of cleanliness and prep for your next outdoor meal. Running the grill on high will often burn off any debris, but you should also scrape off any stuck-on food and wash the grills once they are cold. Remember to preseason them for the next BBQ.
This is how to use a gas grill for the first time. While it may seem overwhelming initially, you will quickly get the hang of it and enjoy the process, becoming a grill master in no time.