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Grilling

By Derrick Riches, About.com Guide to Barbecues & Grilling

If it can be roasted, broiled, sautéed, fried or baked then it can probably be grilled. Grilling adds flavor to foods, cooks fast and is much more fun than cooking indoors. So fired up the grill and get cooking. Learn the basics of burgers and get ready to move on to rotisserie roasts and everything in between.

  1. Grilling Basics
  2. Grilling Packets
  3. Rotisserie Cooking
  4. Indoor Grilling
  5. Fish
  6. Seafood
  7. Turkey
  1. Steaks
  2. Hamburgers
  3. Pork
  4. Vegetables
  5. Chicken
  6. Fruit
  7. Lamb

Grilling Basics

To succeed at grilling you need to know how to build a fire, the difference between direct and indirect, and exactly where that lid should be depending on what kind of grill you are using and what you are cooking. With few basics under your belt you will be ready to move on to all kinds of grilling from Rotisserie Cooking to roasting Prime Rib Roasts. So read up on the rules and get ready to grill.

Grilling Packets

Packet cooking is a simple and great way to use your grill to put together side dishes or whole meals. By taking all the ingredients of a dish, wrapping them tightly in foil you can steam and roast up everything from a simple potato side dish to Halibut with vegetables. And best of all you don't need to worry about foods falling apart. Packet cooking can also be used to wrap up fish in banana leaves or corn husks. Once you have the basics down you will be looking for all kinds of foods to wrap up.

Rotisserie Cooking

By adding a rotisserie to your grill you can add a whole new level of cooking. Rotisserie systems are a great way to cook larger food items like whole chickens and roasts. Rotisserie foods are self basted making them moister and more tender than simply dry roasting. So do yourself a favor and get a rotisserie kit for your grill (gas or charcoal) and make fantastic meals instead of just burgers and chops.

Indoor Grilling

Just because you don't have an outdoor, or because you need to keep the cooking indoors doesn't mean you can't grill. There are several kinds of indoor grills that give you great flavor and cooking ability and of course you can turn to your oven's broiler to "grill" many foods. Once you've mastered the art of indoor grill you might just fool everyone.

Fish

Most any fish should be cooked hot and fast. Nothing you have will do the job better than a good grill. Fish also gives you a lot of variety. You can smoke fish, you can grill it, you can wrap it up in leaves and poach it. Regardless of the fish you have on the counter there is a great way to grill it or smoke it that will make a great meal.

Seafood

From shrimp to crabs, seafood has found its way over an open flame since the earliest days of cooking. The secret to most seafood grill is to go hot and fast. Overcooking will leave you something rubber and unworthy of eating. Basted and grilled though, and you have a fantastic meal.

Turkey

Most people dry out their turkeys in the oven never knowing all the great things you can do outdoors to a turkey. Grilled, fried, or smoked, turkey is the perfect bird for so many things. Too bad people wait for the holidays for a good turkey.

Steaks

Only burgers are more popular on the grill than the steak. Everyone has their favorite method of grilling a steak, but few deviate from a simple grilled cut of beef. There is so much you can do with a good steak if you know a few tricks. From selecting the right cut so grilling perfection steaks need a lot of attention for a very short span of time to get them perfect.

Hamburgers

They are the worlds most popular sandwich. Americans eat three of them a week (on average). Simple to grill with virtually infinite possibilities yet we settle for grease, tasteless fast food over a wonderful grilled hamburger. Explore meats, cheese, stuffings and toppings to make a truly great burger.

Pork

From chops to whole hogs you can't go wrong with pork. This meat gains flavor, texture and character on the grill, even if you are grilling a ham

Vegetables

From a vegetarian meal to the perfect side dish, almost any vegetable can be grills and in infinite combinations. Grilled vegetables have a better flavor and texture than boiled, plus they retain their vitamins so they are better for you. The secret to great grilled vegetables is to not over cook them.

Chicken

Chicken is one of the most versatile foods you can grill. From roasting whole chickens on the rotisserie or over a beer can to skinless, boneless chicken breast that don't have to be tasteless. The secret with chicken is to keep it moist with a saltwater brine season if full of flavor and to not over cook it.

Fruit

Yes you can grill fruit and it is more than just a great dessert. The intense heat of the grill will caramelize the natural sugars in fruit making it sweeter and giving it a rich flavor. The greatest thing might just be that you can do it in a matter of minutes. If you need a quick appetizer, side dish or dessert throw some fruit on the grill.

Lamb

Lamb is the most under appreciated meat there is. This flavorful meat is perfect for the grill. What could be better than a slow roasted leg of lamb on the rotisserie or lamb chops, hot and fast off the grill.

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