With grilling season starting to heat up, we wanted to share some tricks, no matter which grill you have, to help you be the best griller in the neighborhood!

Get it Hot!
Whether you’re using a charcoal or gas grill, it’s important to preheat it for 15-20 minutes to ensure that not only is the temperature high enough but that the grates, where the food actually cooks, is also nice and hot. Doing this will ensure a much more even cooking temperature which means better tasting burgers.

Give your Grill a Hand
Many grills have built-in thermometers but your hand can be just as good an indicator of a grill’s heat. Here’s a helpful general guide from The Kitchn (and of course use caution):

• High heat: Hold your hand about four to six inches above the grill grate, palm down. If you can hold it one to three seconds before you need to pull your hand away, you’re at high heat.
• Medium heat: Hold your hand about four to six inches above the grill grate, palm down. If you can hold it four to six seconds before you need to pull your hand away, you’re at medium heat.
• Low heat: Hold your hand about four to six inches above the grill grate, palm down. If you can hold it seven to 10 seconds before you need to pull your hand away, you’re at low heat.

Clean it up!
It’s a lot easier to scrape debris and charred food remains from your grill when it’s hot, so once you’ve preheated, take a wire brush and scrape the grates clear. Do this again immediately after cooking to ensure your grates and grill stay in optimal working condition.

Lid Open or Shut?
It can be tempting to keep opening up the grill cover to check on your food but remember that every time you open it, heat is released making it harder to have a regulated temperature, which can make for uneven cooking. If you’re grilling thinner cuts of meat and are worried about over-cooking them, you can probably just keep the lid up the whole time. But thicker pieces will come out a lot better if you fight the urge to open and just keep that lid closed.

Give it a Rest
You’ve cooked the perfect steaks and your guests are now eager to dig in. But resist the urge to cut into them immediately. Letting your meat sit for 5-10 minutes will allow the juices to evenly distribute, ensuring a much more flavorful meal…and compliments from the crowd!

At Better Housekeeping Shop we’ve got a full lineup of grills available to meet any budget. We have a full supply of grills for immediate delivery- from brands like Weber, Lynx, DCS and more! Stop into our showroom or call today 732-741-4310 and speak to one of our knowledgeable sales associates who can help you find the perfect grill for all your summer barbecuing needs!