Grilling in the summer is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, eat healthier, and save money! This method of cooking has been around since the cavemen roamed the Earth and has blossomed into true gourmet status. Whether you are cooking for a crowd or dining solo, here are some excellent tips to help you get the most out of your grill.

Grilling Safety

Before you begin, practice good grilling safety to keep the burns and bruises to a minimum:

• Make sure you have a working fire extinguisher on hand at all times.
• Place your grill in a well-ventilated outdoor space, away from your home and any furniture.
• Wear clothing that fits close to the body — loose sleeves or strings can easily catch fire.
• Clean your grill before using. Old food or grease can catch fire unexpectedly with unpleasant results.
• Check your fuel source before you begin — you wouldn't want to run out halfway through cooking.

Gas or Charcoal?

Choosing a fuel source can be an arduous task, especially for those new to grilling. Here are the benefits of each:

Charcoal reaches higher temperatures — though beware, this can lead to burned food quickly. It is cheaper to start with, and produces that heavy, smoky flavor most associated with classic grilling.

Gas heats up faster with better temperature control, allowing you to raise and lower heat exactly where needed — a real plus for weeknight cooking. Cleanup is easier, and burning propane produces about one-third of the carbon footprint of charcoal, making it the better choice for the environment.

Grill Techniques

Don't be intimidated by the open flame. From fruit to seafood, you can feasibly cook almost anything on the grill!

Beginner tips:

• Use a meat thermometer to prevent over or under-cooking — it takes out all the guesswork on proteins.
• Add sauce toward the end of the cooking process. Saucing items before the grill can lead to over-caramelization and small flare-ups. Aim to apply sauce about 15 minutes before pulling items off the heat.

Advanced tips:

• Put a thumb-sized divot in the center of burgers before grilling to prevent them from doming as they cook.
• Clean your grill grates with a halved onion — rub it along the grates and the acidity helps remove stuck-on food without any harmful chemicals.

Grilling in the summer can even save you money on your utility bill — by keeping the heat outdoors, your home's internal temperature stays cooler throughout the day. Another great way to save on summer utilities is to switch to a variable rate natural gas plan. Have you checked the current rates at Kratos Gas & Power? We may be able to drastically cut down on your monthly expenses. Keep checking back to the blog for helpful content year-round!