Tag: flare ups

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Grill Accessories

BBQ Mitts

If you have done any amount of backyard barbecuing, you know how easy it is to get your hands in the wrong place and suffer a nasty burn.

Sometimes you may just wish you could get your hands in there to handle that unruly piece of meat. BBQ gloves let you do just that. You no longer have to depend solely on those unwieldy barbecue tools; instead, you can stick your hands right in and get the job done right. But before you do, make sure you choose the right pair.

BBQ MittsBasic BBQ Mitts

BBQ gloves need to fulfill two basic requirements: they must have enough pliability to allow a fair amount of dexterity, and they must have enough heat resistance to protect hands from burning. Manufacturers have come up with all kinds of different materials to accomplish these goals including leather, rawhide, treated cotton, neoprene, Kevlar, Nomex, and silicone.

Materials that focus solely on heat protection often sacrifice pliability. This results in mitts that are hard to maneuver and can lead to accidental dropping or smashing of food. On the other hand, a focus on pliability can sacrifice heat resistance, resulting in uncomfortably hot temperatures, sweating, and burns. The best mitts are those that successfully meet both criteria.

What to Look For in BBQ Mitts

  • Flare-Up Protection–BBQ grilling invariable involves unexpected flame flare-ups. It is important that the BBQ gloves you choose not only resist the radiant heat of extended periods close to the flame, but also withstand actual contact with the flames. If they fail to do so, they may ignite and cause serious burns to the hands. Cotton gloves tend to be the least flare-up safe, but watch the stitching material on other gloves. Some stitching can be flammable.
  • Length–Many BBQ gloves are relatively short (around 12 inches). This length may protect the hands, but it doesn’t cut it for active grilling.  Many grills are up to 35 inches deep. Reaching across a grill that deep with 12-inch gloves will leave areas of the arm exposed to pretty intense temperatures. Fifteen-inch gloves are better, but the 17 or 18-inch lengths seem to offer the best protection without sacrificing maneuverability.
  • Washable–An often  overlooked factor in BBQ gloves is their ease of cleaning. BBQ is messy, from the cooking to the eating, and while it may be easy to wash up your hands after enjoying a nice meal, cleaning some of the gloves may be a chore. Choose gloves that can be easily washed up with soap and water, both inside and out. There are always those times when you forget and stick your raw-meat covered hands into the gloves.

Ready for the Grill

BBQ mitts may revolutionize your outdoor cooking experience. Hands-on ability really improves cooking dexterity and ensures the finest cooked meals, the kind that will impress your friends and family. Choose your mitts well and enjoy your days of grilling!

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Grilling Tips

How to Grill Chicken Thighs

Figuring out the best way to grill chicken thighs does not have to be an exercise in futility. Try these handy tips for doing chicken thighs on the grill.

Some people seem to think that the breast is the only part of a chicken that can be cooked effectively with a grill. Fortunately, this is not the case.

How to Grill Chicken Thighs: Preparing the Meat

In the preparation stage, make sure to remove as much of the excess fat as possible. Fat will melt and drip onto the coals causing flare ups. Flare ups will scorch the exterior of your meat and make it looked burned.

You also want to wash the meat thoroughly, especially if you plan to season the pieces before placing them on the grill. Seasoning your chicken before grilling is a great way to maximize the flavor. Keep in mind that more important than the type of seasoning you use is how you apply it. As much as possible, you should try to get the seasoning directly onto the meat because the skin acts like a barrier and prevents the flavor from infiltrating the meat.

How to Grill Chicken Thighs: Cooking the Meat

Use a wire brush to clean the grate before placing your meat on the grill. Then, apply a small amount of vegetable oil to the grate to prevent the meat from sticking.

If you ask any pro about grilling chicken thighs he will tell you to cook them slowly under medium to low heat. Position the meat toward the extremity of the grill grate. Keep a close watch for flare ups. If the flames flare up from melted fat dripping into the fire you can either remove the chicken from the grill till the fire dies down, or you can grab the meat with tongs and shake the liquid fat off into the fire or onto the ground.

Check the meat periodically and turn over when the bottom becomes firm and brown. Rearrange the pieces on the grill as necessary if one area is cooking faster than another.

How to Grill Chicken Thighs: Finishing the Meat

Shortly before the chicken thighs are finished, close the vents on your grill and douse the meat with several layers of barbecue sauce. Let the chicken sit on the grill for just a couple of minutes afterward to give the sauce time to seep into the meat. If you want, you can turn the chicken and repeat this step prior to removing it from the grill. These grilled chicken thighs will be yummy!

Dispel any doubt that grilling chicken thighs is easy by following these couple of helpful suggestions.

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Grilling Tips

How to Grill Chicken Wings

Summer is here and you need to learn about grilling chicken wings for your upcoming barbecue. Are you confident you can get grilled chicken wings right the first time?

Better not leave anything to chance. Learn fast with these quick and easy tips for grilled chicken wings the right way.

How to Grill Chicken Wings: Preparation Tips

You can purchase whole chicken wings or wings already cut. Most people who have experience with grilled chicken wings prefer the variety that has already been cut. Cutting them yourself can be time consuming, even though the whole ones tend to be cheaper. If you decide you do want to cut them yourself you should hold the wing at the base and cut between the bones with a sharp knife.

With regard to seasonings and marinades, try branching out a little bit beyond the traditional BBQ sauces. You can use all kinds of products for a marinade like honey, brown sugar, and even lemon juice.

How to Grill Chicken Wings: Cooking Tips

One of the biggest difficulties with grilling chicken wings is dealing with flare ups and scorching. Flare ups are caused by melted fat from the meat dripping onto the coals of your fire. You can help to avoid this by removing as much excess fat and skin from the wings as possible prior to placing them on the grill.

If the grill starts flaring up while the meat is cooking, you can grab the wings with tongs and try to shake the fat off into the fire or onto the ground. You could even remove the wings from the grill entirely until the flare up dissipates. Bottom line: do whatever it takes to keep flare ups from scorching your wings and ruining the presentation of your meal.

Plan to rotate the wings every 3 to 5 minutes. When you think they are done cut one open and make sure that none of the meat inside is pink. Remember, poultry needs to be cooked all the way through before consumption.

How to Grill Chicken Wings: Serving Tips

Just before serving, douse the wings with several generous swaths of barbecue sauce. You can even leave them on the grill for a couple of minutes afterward so that the meat has a chance to absorb some of the sauce. If you do choose to leave them on the grill just be sure and close all the vents to tone down the heat.

Following these simple suggestions for grilling chicken wings will enhance your skills and help take your grilling experience to the next level.

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