The image
of cooking dinner on the grill just invokes fun. It speaks of family and
friends gathering around the patio, long summer nights, laughter and the
smell of good food.
While
grilling out is a lot of fun, it is also work for the cook. It certainly
isn’t fun when the burgers need flipping and you can’t find the spatula,
the steaks need marinating and you have to run to the store for what you
need or you have to dig through cabinets hunting for the grill basket
while guests keeping asking “Are you sure I can’t help?”
Getting
your barbecue tools and supplies organized helps keep the fun in
grilling out. Here are some tips to help you on your way.
 Grab a
basket:
Using a
basket for marinades, sauces and rubs helps make the meat preparation so
much easier. Pull out the basket and you are ready to make things
sizzle. It also helps with grocery shopping as it makes it quick to see
when you are running low on supplies.
Gather
the tools:
Most
kitchen cabinets do not have drawer space for long handled grilling
tools. Add hooks or a pegboard to your garage wall near the kitchen
door. Or, add hooks to the inside of your pantry door.
 Store
at the grill:
While you
don’t want to store any food products at the grill as they will attract
pests, there are some things great to have near-by. These include:
Fire extinguisher
Grill brush for scrubbing the grill
Meat or
Cooking Thermometer
Kitchen Timer
Non-stick cooking spray designed for grilling
Try
These Tips for Organizing:
If you are a charcoal griller, a
clean trash-can with a tight fitting lid is great for storing
and keeping dry bags of charcoal and lighter fluid
Invest in a second propane tank.
That way, you’ll never run out in the middle of cooking dinner.
It’s also great to have on hand during emergencies when the
power is out.
If your grill doesn’t come with
an attached area for setting down your platter of food, place
your grill next to a picnic table or bring out a folding table
so you have a sturdy surface for hot food.
If you like to use bamboo skewers
or cedar planks for grilling, soak them well and then store them
in the freezer so they are ready to go. This will prevent you
from hurrying through the soaking process and catching your
famous shish-ka-bobs on fire….again!
 Use a
tray:
When
preparing to barbecue, use a tray to gather up the things you need to
take to the grill. You don’t want to have to run back inside for tongs
or oven mitt.
On your tray, place the tools you need, sauce or seasoning
to be added at the grill, an oven mitt, a mist or water bottle for
flare-ups, matches or lighter if needed and a clean platter.
Never place
cooked meat back on the dirty platter which held the raw meat. So be
sure a clean plate heads outside with you.
After
Grilling:
Use your
tray to carry in everything in one trip.
Set your
timer, to ring after dinner, to remind you to clean the grill, while it
is still warm and easy clean.
If all
this talk of grilling has made your mouth water, then check out
Cooking the Perfect Steak.
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