Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of the summer season and that means it’s time to bust out the grill. Between Memorial Day, Father’s Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day weekend and every summer night in between, grilling out is a summertime staple.
Before you fire up the grill for the summer, give it a deep clean so it can be ready for all of your summertime favorites like burger patties and grilled vegetables. From cleaning to cooking to grilling tools, here are a few Memorial Day grilling tips to help kick off the summer season.
How to Properly Clean a Grill
Before you get your grill on for summertime, you will want to give the backyard grill a thorough deep clean. First, fire it up on high for 10-15 minutes. This blast of high heat will heat up any debris that may be lingering on the grill grates from last season. Using a grill brush, scrape away any residue then allow the grill to cool completely.
Once the grill has cooled, double check the dials and make sure everything is turned completely off. Check to make sure the propane tank is disconnected. If the grill is connected to the main gas line, turn it off. Once you can confidently be certain the gas is disconnected or turned off and the grill is fully cooled, remove the grill’s drip pan and grates. Then, place them in a bucket of hot water and gentle dish soap. Allow them to soak for 10-15 minutes.
Next, grab some tin foil and loosely cover the grill’s heating elements. This will protect them while you clean the grill. Grab a grill brush or some stainless steel scrubbers and gently scrub the underside of the grill hood and all of the grill walls. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Now that the grill’s drip pan and grates have thoroughly soaked for some time, remove them from the soapy water and rinse them clean. Remove the tin foil from all of the covered heating elements and replace the drip pan and grill grates.
Finally, reconnect the propane tank or turn the main gas line back on. If your backyard grill has a storage cabinet, clean off any shelves to remove any additional debris or dust remaining from last summer. Now that your grill is thoroughly deep cleaned, it’s ready to be fired up for all of those delicious summertime meals.
The Best Vegetables for Grilling
The summer season is teeming with fresh fruits and vegetables. Though the summer heat and humidity beckons our taste buds to cooler fare like raw foods, some summertime produce tastes even better with grill marks. Some of the best vegetables for grilling include, but are not limited to the following:
- Artichoke
- Asparagus
- Beets
- Bell peppers
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Corn
- Eggplant
- Green beans
- Kale
- Maize
- Mushrooms
- Okra
- Potatoes
- Romaine lettuce
- Summer squash
- Sweet potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
Not only are these vegetables great on a grill, they also pair well with any of our high quality patties. Grilled asparagus and grilled corn go well with any grilled burger. when in doubt, try one of these delicious recipes that include summertime vegetables:
Add grilled kale to a Salad Bowl or grilled cherry tomatoes to a Burger Plate or Greek Salad. You can even get creative with recipes and swap out basic ingredients, like store bought iceberg lettuce, for crispy and fresh grilled Romaine lettuce leaves like this recipe for Chipotle Chicken Salad in Lettuce Wraps.
No matter what you decide to grill this summer, enjoy the fresh flavors of the summertime season by including some grill marks. It’s a classic touch and a summer signature that is absolutely irresistible to tastebuds. Happy Memorial Day everyone!
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