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Barbecue Cooking Tips

Picnics and get-together is fun. But how can one serve the best-grilled and barbecued items if barbecuing is the order of the day ? Here are some tips to make the most of your grilling and barbecuing experience :

· Don't allow anyone to conduct any activities near the grill during or immediately after use, as grills tend to stay hot for a while.

· Make sure you are not wearing any clothing that has hanging shirt tails or sleeves, apron frills or strings when you barbecue.

· Once you're ready to start your grill, form a pyramid with charcoal or wood and apply lighter fluid. (Cap the fluid immediately and place it a safe distance away from the grill. Never add fluid to existing hot or warm coals)

· Never leave a grill unattended once it is lit. A fire extinguisher should always be kept handy. Consider buying one fire extinguisher if you don't have and in the meantime, keep a bucket of sand or a garden hose handy.

· Make sure you thaw and marinate all foods in the refrigerator, not on the countertop or out near the barbecue, to protect yourself and your family from salmonella or other potentially harmful bacteria.

· Do not reuse the marinade. Instead, make a double batch, using half to marinate your foods and the other half as a sauce at serving time. This way there is little chance for contamination from bacteria, which may be in the marinade from the raw meats.

· After handling the raw meat, wash your hands before handling cooked meat or other foods.

· Grill food immediately after pre-cooking or defrosting. Foods that are only partially cooked do not get hot enough inside to destroy the bacteria, which can lead to additional bacterial growth.

· Don't leave cooked food unrefrigerated for more than two hours ; if the air temperature is 90 degrees or more, don't leave food out for more than one hour.

· Don't store raw ground meat in the refrigerator for more than two days.

· Don't put cooked food on the same platter, which held raw food. If you must use the same plate, make sure you wash it thoroughly before reusing.

· Even though meat, poultry and seafood may look done on the outside, it does not necessarily mean that it is thoroughly cooked on the inside. Use a meat thermometer and grill until internal temperatures reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit for meat and poultry, and 145 degrees Fahrenheit for fish.

· Nothing beats a clean grill. It is advisable to clean your grate with a wire grill brush, loosening particles of food from past use.

· Using a bristle brush, apply vegetable oil to the grate and open any vents on the bottom of your grill.

· Trim excess fat from your meats to prevent sudden flare-ups. To ensure more even cooking, bring foods to room temperature before placing them on the grill.

· If you use a charcoal grill, allow at least 30 minutes for the coals to heat; they should be covered with a glowing gray ash before food is placed on the grill. If you use gas grill, allow about 15 minutes for the grill rack to preheat properly.

· To test the temperature of the grill, carefully place the palm of your hand above the coals at about cooking height, and then count the number of seconds you can hold it there before the heat becomes too hot. Most people can hold their hand over a red-hot fire for only about two seconds. Steaks, chops, burgers, and boneless chicken are best cooked over such high heat.

· After placing food on the grill, take care not to turn it during the first few minutes of cooking time, when juices are sealed in and telltale grill marks form. Because raw meats and poultry may contain potentially harmful bacteria, divide any grilling sauces you might use into two portions - one to be brushed on, the other to pass at the table in order to avoid cross-contamination.

· For low-fat grilling, use herbs and salt instead of oil.

· For low-salt grilling, try a combination of lime juice and chili as a salt substitute.

· To avoid burning vegetables before they're done, push them to the side of grill where heat is moderate.

· After you've taken the last thing off your gas grill, place aluminum foil over the grate and turn the gas up to high for one minute. Then turn it off. The oil focuses the heat on the grate, burning everything to a fine ash. After it's cooled down, crumple up the foil and use it to brush the ash off the grate.

· When applying a rub to whole chicken make sure to rub the entire surface inside and out.

· Wrap the ends of bone in ribs with aluminum foil to prevent drying and burning.

About the Author

Alice Sy graduated with Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) from the University of Hong Kong and served as Director of World Champ International Enterprises since 1993.

For more details about the services of World Champ International Enterprises, please visit http://www.1MaidHK.com