I love grilling.  And I can really appreciate a guy who isn't afraid to turn up the flame.  And who doesn't like to have a cold libation while laboring over the BBQ?

Well these could be some of the things you are doing that screw up your grilled food.

Here are the Top 8 Things You Are Doing To Screw Up Your Grilled Food:

  • 1

    Forgetting to Prep your Ingredients

    Before you even light the grill, make sure all your ingredients are chopped, mixed, peeled and ready to go.  You don't want to have to leave your steak unattended on the grill while you go ready your veggies for the grill.

  • 2

    Crappy Tools

    You don't have to have all the fancy gadgets, but the basic tools will go a long way in advancing your cooking skills.  Things like Long-handled tongs, a heavy duty, long-handled spatula, and a few kitchen towels are essential.

  • 3

    A Dirty Grill

    Clean your grill either before or after every use. Nobody likes seeing the remnants of last month’s cookout. When the grill is hot, use a metal brush to clean it. A clean grill will prevent foods from sticking to the grates.

  • 4

    Using Only Direct Heat

    Don’t spread briquettes to cover the entire grill. It’s important to make one “zone” of your grill that isn’t directly above coals. This allows you a cool spot to place food in case of flare-ups.

  • 5

    Too Much Sauce

    Sauces and glazes give grilled items an extra boost of flavor, but don’t add them too soon in the cooking process. Most contain sugars that burn easily. Also, unless you are grilling a crappy cut of meat and you want to cover up the taste, don't add too much sauce.  Enjoy the true flavor of your grilled foods.

  • 6

    Forgoing the Thermometer

    Especially if you are grilling poultry.  Remember these internal temps for properly prepared meat: Poultry-165, Steak-135, Pork Chops-150, Ground Meats-165

  • 7

    Rushing Food to the Table

    We are all eager to dig in once the meat is off the grill.  But it is essential to let your grilled meat rest for a few minutes before serving it.  This allows the juices to re-enter the meat to seal in all those flavors.

  • 8

    The Tipsy Chef

    Nothing wrong with a cold one or a glass of wine in hand while you slave over the grill.  But one too many can not only ruin the BBQ, you could cook the chef.  Be Careful!

More From KKRC-FM / 97.3 KKRC