Dining outdoors is a favorite way to spend warm summer evenings, especially with delicious options from the barbecue. These tips will help you save money while making the most of your barbecue grill.
Experiment First
Save money on the food you grill by experimenting as much as you may need. Instead of cooking up a giant, expensive steak, start with low-cost foods like fruits, vegetables, and potatoes when barbecuing, especially if you don’t have a lot of experience. Use different temperature settings and places on the barbecue grill to experiment with direct and indirect heat. Make sure you know how to correctly use a meat thermometer, and begin by cooking small pieces of different kinds of meat. Once you’re confident in your abilities, move on to more expensive cuts of meat.
Essential Equipment
New barbecue tools are bright and shiny, tempting grill enthusiasts everywhere. However, many of them are simply unnecessary. Instead of buying large collections of oversized grilling tools, use three simple ones:
- a water bottle for random flare-ups
- a meat thermometer
- a sturdy pair of tongs
These three barbecue tools will help you grill your meat perfectly without costing a bunch of money.
Save Fuel
It’s tempting to keep the propane on to burn off sticky film on the grate. It’s also really easy to forget that you’ve left the propane on until the next time you want to use your barbecue grill. Turn the gas off right away in order to save more money in the long run.
Research the Best Barbecue Grill
There are important considerations to make before buying a barbecue grill. You may appreciate the flavor resulting from using a charcoal grill. However, you may value the ease and convenience of using a gas grill. Once you decide on charcoal or gas, consider the size of the barbecue grill along with the amount of entertaining you may doing during the summer. If you host several parties, you may want to spend a little more on a larger grill to accommodate your needs.
No matter what barbecue grill you choose, make sure to check out reviews on the make and model before purchasing – Consumer Reports is an excellent resource for this kind of purchase.
Cook Extra Food
Take advantage of your grill’s space and the propane you’re already using to cook extra food for the week. Use leftover grilled chicken in a refreshing summer salad, or reheat barbecued steaks or burgers for a quick and easy dinner the following night without having to cook!
Kelly Wilson is a freelance writer who loves the taste of foods cooked on the grill and in brick ovens. You can find foods perfected in a wood oven at BJ Willy’s, a restaurant in West Linn, Oregon.