For most of us, backyard barbecues with friends and family are a summer tradition. While drinks and good company are important ingredients for any successful barbecue, you also want to serve up food that your guests will love. Whether you’re cooking with propane or a charcoal grill, below are a few tips for making sure your gatherings are the talk of the summer.

What Are the Best Tips for Grilling?

1. Heat

Taking food directly from the fridge to the grill will cause uneven cooking, so let everything warm up on the counter for 30 minutes or so. For perfectly crisp  wings, preheat them with indirect heat for a few minutes before moving them over the fire.

Direct heat is best for small or tender cuts of meat that should be cooked quickly, so put steaks, chicken, and vegetables directly over the fire. Placing whole chickens, ribs, or anything else that requires longer cooking times to one side of the flame provides the indirect heat needed for longer cooking times.

2. Marinate

Whatever flavor you choose, meat or fish should be marinated for six to 12 hours before going on the grill. Shellfish, tender veggies, and other smaller items usually only need 15 to 30 minutes to fully absorb the flavors of the marinade. Vegetables should get at least a light coating of oil to keep them from sticking to the grate.

3. Clean

Burnt-on food crust can give even the best food an unpleasant flavor, so always start with a clean grill. If you forgot to clean last time, turn on the propane and let the grate get hot, then scrub it with a metal brush before laying down the food.

4. Wait 

Meat continues cooking after it’s taken off the propane or coals, so let it rest for about 15 minutes before serving. This also lets the grease redistribute itself through the food, giving you tastier, juicier results.

As a favorite propane supplier in Connorsville, IN, Murphy's Gas Co. Inc., proudly keeps barbecues firing throughout southeastern Indiana, northern Kentucky, and southern Ohio. They even offer reliable delivery direct to your doorstep, so you’ll never have to worry about running out of fuel. Visit their website for more on their services, and follow their Facebook for more helpful tips. To schedule your propane delivery, give them a call at (800) 284-9585.