Grills and Grilling FAQ's |
What is the proper temperature for a "medium well" Steak?
For great results every time, use an instant read kitchen thermometer. Insert the thermometer in the thickest part of your steak, hamburger or chops away from any bone or marbling.
Thermometer readings should be: 120°F to 125°F for rare; 130°F to 135°F. for medium rare and 140°F to 145°F for medium.
Although steaks are optimum in flavor and texture when cooked to no more than medium doneness, some people prefer their steaks well done. The internal temperature for medium well steak is 155°F and well done 160°F. Keep in mind that overcooking causes greater shrinkage and decreased tenderness.
How do you clean a porcelain coated cooking surface on a gas grill?
Porcelain is a great material to cook on; it has nonstick qualities, its relatively affordable and if cared for properly will give you years of use. When cleaning this surface, make sure you are very gentle. Ideally hot soapy water works wonders, but frequently people use wire brushes. Brass wire brushes are soft enough that they won't strip the porcelain right off, but beware of scoring the porcelain with any sort of a wire brush or brillo pad. Once scored, the steel underneath the porcelain will expand and contract as it heats and cools, and will cause cracking and chipping of the porcelain, and will expose the underlying steel to the elements that can cause rust. Stainless steel is a great option for a cooking surface, or anodized aluminum. Check out the Modern Home Product WNK Hybrid for a really cool grill with a stainless steel or upgradable to anodized aluminum sear magic grid!
What should I look for in a Built in grill?
Resist the urge to go to a big box store and buy the biggest stainless steel grill you can afford. Do some research, because once you build a grill in, you're married to it. Make sure its made of quality parts and is backed by a good warranty and a good company that's been making outdoor grills for a long time. Although imported grills are the least expensive, consider an AMERICAN MADE grill to insure quality and accountability. Firemagic, TEC, American outdoor Grill to name a few have years of history producing outdoor grills. They continue to manufacture grills in the same general dimensions, so should your grill eventually need replacing, they have something that will fit in your opening. Look for 304 Stainless steel on everything! Resist the urge to go with painted steel - you'll end up with a rust bucket. Go for the highest quality grill, not the most expensive grill you can afford.
Which is hotter, propane or Natural Gas?
Natural gas grils have the ability to get just as hot as a propane grill. The difference in the two types of grills is the size of the orifices on the valves. Propane is typically higher pressure, and has a smaller orifice, where natural gas will have a larger orifice. Keeping this in mind, you may see that it is much easier to convert a propane grill to Natural gas than the other way around. Simply drill out your orifices and you are well on your way! See the orifice size chart here.
What is the temperature range of an infrared burner?
Historically, infrared burners have ranged in temperature from 500 degrees to 1200 degrees, making slow, low temperature cooking virtually impossible. Recently TEC has introduced an infrared burner with a temperature range of 200 degrees to 1200 degrees. Infrared high temperatures are beneficial in cooking without shrinkage, with the possibility of extremely fast cooking. Check out the TEC GRILLS at www.grillsandlogs.com
Why do I get flames around my knobs on my control panel?
You probably have some little helpers inside your grill! Spiders are the #1 cause of flashbacks on the control panel. They weave webs in the venturi tubes of your burner, and that causes backward flow of gas out the knobs. The quickest way to fix this problem is to clean out your burner. High pressure air, a bottle brush, or a specialized tool made to eliminate spiderwebs will do the trick. You may also have an ant in your orifice! This is a little more difficult to remedy - you'll need to remove your valve, then unthread your orifice and make sure it is clear.
How often should I replace my ceramic briquettes or Lava rock?
You should replace your lava rock with ceramic briquettes immediately. You'll notice better flavor, fewer flare ups, and less mess. Ceramic briquettes should be replaced when they start to crumble. If you like to clean the briquettes from time to time, flip them upside down and turn your burners on high for about 10 minutes.
Why does food taste better when its cooked with Charcoal?
Charcoal has several properties that make it a tasty option for cooking. First off, charcoal creates lots of smoke, like ceramic briquettes. Also, charcoal uses infrared heat along with ambient heat to cook with so you'll have less shrinkage, and faster cooking....So go ahead - grill with charcoal. Look for the Portable Kitchen Grill - all aluminum for long lasting charcoal grilling!
What should I build my Outdoor Kitchen out of?
Don't scrimp here, or it will come back to haunt you. We build outdoor kitchens everyday, and have found the best success using galvanized steel studs and "hardie" type concrete board. This eliminates the need for an insulating liner, and makes a perfect surface to apply stone, brick, or stucco. Wood may be easier for you to work with, but steel stud construction will be there and sturdy for years and years to come.