The Grill

With the summer months finally here there is nothing better to most of us than grilling out. I have such wonderful memories of people getting together to have a big barbecue. The smell of food cooking on the grill. People laughing, talking and having fun together

The one question that many people ask is, should I use a charcoal grill or a gas grill. Both are great, but there are differences of course. The gas grill allows you to get your food on the grill and cooking more quickly than the charcoal grill does. Simply turn it on and in a matter of minutes it will be heated and ready to cook on. With the charcoal grill you must add the charcoal, add the lighter fluid, light the charcoal and wait for the charcoal to heat enough to not only burn off the lighter fluid, but wait until the briquettes have turned a nice gray/white on the outside. This waiting does have an upside. It allows you time to do any last minute preparations which may need to be done.

You can control the gas grills heat much easier and quicker than you can a charcoal grill. Simply turn one or more of the burners down and/or open the lid. It is possible to control the heat on a charcoal grill too. You can adjust the height of your grill rack, move around some of the charcoal or even add or remove some charcoal. 

The choice of whether to use a charcoal or gas grill is really up to the individual. Most people have their preference. Mine happens to be the charcoal. Yes, it is messier and takes a little more time to get ready before your food can be added. It also, in my opinion, means that you must pay a little more attention to the food once it starts cooking.There is just something about the smell of food cooking on the "good old" charcoal grill. The taste is also a plus for me, it takes on a much better flavor. which is also my opinion. The one thing I have learned with grilling on a charcoal grill is, make sure you let the lighter fluid burn completely off before you add your food. There is nothing worse than biting into something as wonderful as grilled food, than to have the awful taste of charcoal lighter fluid.

One last opinion I would like to add to this topic of charcoal cooking is how to place the charcoal. This seems to also be a matter of choice or opinion. Some people prefer to spread them out on the bottom of the grill, add the lighter fluid and let heat. I prefer to make a pyramid with them, wait for the ash to completely cover the briquettes, then spread them out evenly on the grill floor.

Which ever grill you decide to use, enjoy! Grilling food is a great way to not only celebrate summer weather, but a great way to have fun with friends and family.  In my next post I will add some great "grilling" recipes. Hope you will return later to view them and try them.