5 Pro Tips for Cooking on the Grill

Finally... the warm weather is here! Are you ready for some grillin', chillin', and outdoor livin'? Whether you're prepping for a Memorial Day cookout or in the mood for some grilling on a weeknight, it's good to have some tips handy that'll help you create irresistible dishes every time. So, get your grill ready to go and check out these pro tips!

You can cook anything on a Weber grill that you'd normally cook in your oven!

Yes, that means you can grill a homemade pizza! All you need is some dough, fuel for direct cooking, clean grates, and lots of great toppings! You can experiment with different types of cheeses like mozzarella, ricotta, Gorgonzola, feta, or Gouda. Add delicious veggies like artichokes, zucchini, roasted red peppers, and more. Check out Weber's blog for directions and pizza grilling inspiration.

Don't forget about dessert... you can even make chocolate chip cookies or strawberry shortcake! You can also grill fruit slices like watermelon, pineapple, or orange.

There's a difference between grilling and barbecuing

Barbecuing is low heat and slow cooking, while grilling is high heat for a short period of time. If you're cooking something for 18 minutes or longer, you should use the indirect method (barbecuing). Set the first burner to medium, the second to off, and the third to medium. Put your food in the center over the burner that's off, then close the cover. This will create a convection oven, keeping the temperature at exactly three hundred and fifty degrees.

If you're cooking something that takes less than 18 minutes to cook, like a steak, hamburger, or hot dog, use the direct method (grilling). Turn all the burners on high. When the grill is up to the proper temperature, put your food directly on the grates. But remember: "If you're lookin' you ain't cookin'!" Grilling should always be done with the cover closed for better results... and no peeking!

Grilling baskets are more helpful than you think

Small foods like chopped veggies, fruit, fish, or tofu are easier to grill inside a grilling basket because they're harder to flip than pieces of meat like hot dogs or hamburgers. Using a grilling basket also prevents smaller foods from falling through the grill rack.

Regardless of whether or not you're cooking veggies in a grilling basket, lightly covering them in olive oil will help prevent them from drying out.

Marinating goes a long way

The longer you let your meat marinate, the more tender and flavorful it becomes. You could even marinate your meat overnight for extra flavor, but up to an hour usually does the trick.

When it comes to creating sauces to your meat, there's no right or wrong! Have fun experimenting and trying new flavors... you never know, you might find a new favorite! You can try out things like chimichurri sauce, salsa verde, teriyaki, hot sauce, and more. You can even be creative and invent your own sauce. Let us know if you come up with a good one, so we can try it, too!

And adding some salt to your meat can give it that extra flavor it needs... but don't put it on too soon! If salt is added too soon, it can make the meat too dry. Try salting your meat when it's done cooking for the best results.

Let your meat rest before digging in

After your meat is done cooking, it's easy to want to dig in right away. But it's better to let your cooked meat sit for about 10 minutes before cutting it, that way all of the juices can re-distribute evenly. It'll taste even better that way!

Bonus: Use a Weber grill to cook the perfect meal every time! They're built to last and offer some awesome features that are a total must-have this summer if you love grilling. You'll have the ultimate grilling experience with technologies like flavorizer bars that add a rich, smoky taste to your food. The Weber Genesis II and Weber Genesis II LX are iGrill3 ready, so you can keep track of your cooking right from your phone! The iGrill3 Bluetooth thermometer measures up to four pieces of food at once, displaying the real-time temperature on your phone. Plus, there's a super-hot color selection of Weber Genesis II grills in black, smoke, copper, and crimson. A Weber grill will be a great addition to your backyard this summer, bringing the family together for cookouts with phenomenal food.

What are your favorite grilling tips? Let us know in the comments! Don't have a grill yet? Check out our Weber grills here.