Fire it up! Grilling tips for summer's last hurrah

If you haven't manned the outdoor grill already, the unofficial last days of summer are upon us with the upcoming Labor Day weekend, so now's your chance.

Summer, after all, is the best time for it. And that means you'll be barbecuing for a number of reasons, most notably parties, get-togethers or simply because the food just tastes better on that outdoor grill.

To barbecue to the best of your ability, Physicians First Messages is here to offer you a few simple tips that may very well make you feel like Bobby Flay.

For starters, it should be noted there are different levels of 'hot' and in order to determine what your flame's temperature is, you simply hold your hand just above the grill and count, according to Derrick Riches of thespruce.com.

If it takes five seconds before you begin to feel intense heat, it's at low; four seconds (medium); three seconds (medium high); two seconds (high) and one second (crazy high).

Now keep in mind, for food like hot dogs, burgers, thinly cut steak, kebabs and chops, you want the heat high in order to cook quickly. Set your fire high when cooking the aforementioned foods.

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​Next, although the popular belief is you shouldn't flip your food too frequently, the rule of thumb is flip it when you feel necessary. Even cooking, after all, is important.

Also, don't hesitate to move your food around on the grill. Among other things, it will help prevent flare-ups.

For such foods like fish, chicken and vegetables, you need to control the heat. It's better to grill them in lower temperatures and that's why medium is your best choice. Obviously, you'll be grilling longer.

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Finally, when using oil, make sure you oil the food, not the grill. And remember, clean your grill frequently.  Follow these tips and you'll be a grill master serving up a great food and a great time at your end-of-summer cookouts!

Sincerely,

John Calhoun

Owner and operator