Operating Guide

COOKING TECHNIQUES
17
DIRECT GRILLING
The direct grilling method involves cooking the food on grids
directly over a lit burner. Direct grilling is the most popular
method for most single serving items such as steaks, chops,
fish, burgers, kebabs and vegetables.
1. Prepare food in advance to avoid delay and timing
problems. If using marinade or spices, they should be
applied before placing meat on the cooking grid. If basting
with sauces, they should be applied in the last 2-4 minutes
of grilling to avoid burning.
2. Organize the area around the gas grill to include forks,
tongs, oven mitts, sauces and seasonings to allow you to
stay in the vicinity of the gas grill while cooking.
3. Bring meat to room temperature just prior to grilling. Trim
excess fat from meat to minimize the “flare-ups” that are
caused by dripping grease.
4. Pre-heat the gas grill to the desired temperature with the
lid closed.
5. Coat the grids with vegetable or olive oil to prevent food
from sticking to the grids.
6. Hold the salt when cooking meats on the gas grill. The
meat will stay juicier if the salt is added after cooking.
7. To prevent steaks from “drying out,” use tongs rather than
a fork and start on “MEDIUM/HIGH” to sear the meat and
seal juices in. Reduce the heat and extend cooking times
when grilling thicker cuts of meat.
8. Learn to test when the meat is done by time and feel. Meat
firms up as it cooks. When the meat is soft it is rare. When
it is firm, it is well done.
9. Follow the perfect steak grilling guide for most meat, fish,
poultry and vegetables.
DIRECT GRILLING GUIDE
1” THICK
HEAT
SETTING
TIME PER
SIDE
TOTAL
MINUTES
CHICKEN
MED / WELL
MED / LOW
4 / 4 / 4 / 4
16
CHICKEN WINGS
MED / WELL
MED / LOW
5 / 5 / 5 / 5
20
HAMBURGER
MEDIUM
MED / LOW
3 / 3 / 3 / 3
12
HAMBURGERS
3/4” FROZEN
MEDIUM MED / LOW 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 12
FISH FILLET
MEDIUM
MEDIUM
2 / 2 / 2 / 2
8 – 10
LOBSTER TAILS
SPLIT
MEDIUM MEDIUM 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 16 - 20
USE SAME TECHNIQUE AS THE PERFECT STEAK GRILLING GUIDE