Barbeque Tips

Grilling outside is a great way to spend an afternoon with friends. But poor planning can turn your party into a disaster. Following these simple barbeque tips will guarantee a great grilling experience for all.

1. Plan ahead. Before you fire up the grill, make sure all of your food is prepped and ready to go. Get your utensils and everything else you'll need and keep them in a handy spot.

2. Clean your grill after every bbq to help prevent food from sticking.

3. Once your grill is warm, lightly brush it with some oil. This is another way to keep food from sticking to the grill.

4. NEVER leave a lit grill unattended, especially if their are children nearby. This is probably the most important barbeque tip I have.

I remember a few summers ago we were at a friend's house and he was working the grill. He had to run back in the house for just a minute to get some cheese for the burgers, and as I took a swig of my Sam Adams I looked over and saw his 18 month old daughter next to the grill...about to reach up and put her hand on the flame.

Luckily we were able to snatch her away before she was hurt, but our afternoon BBQ almost ended with a trip to the emergency room.

5. Another safety-related barbeque tip...if you're using a charcoal grill, NEVER spray lighter fluid on a fire to get it going. The whole container of fluid can explode in your hands and you will be the one that's on fire.

6. Keep a small spray bottle full of water handy to battle out of control flames.

7. Don't poke at your meat with a fork. It lets all of those tasty juices escape.

8. Likewise, don't press down on a burger, which forces all of the juice out the bottom.

9. Pay attention. Turn your back for a minute and your succulent steak will end up like a hockey puck.

Grilling is really easy once you get the hang of it. Just follow these simple barbeque tips and you'll avoid most problems caused by rookie grillers.