Studies have shown that eating with loved ones benefits everyone’s health and wellbeing. So as much as possible, allocate shared mealtime with your family every day. And this is one of the main benefits of staying home, whether you choose to work from home, have your children homeschooled, or when situations mandate you to remain inside your house.

One of the most delicious meals you can enjoy with your family is grilled dishes. Besides, research has shown that grilled food offers several health benefits too. These include eating less fat, using less butter, and the grilled meat and vegetables retain their essential nutrients. The act of grilling will also get everyone outdoors to enjoy their yard and have fun.

But to achieve the best flavor and texture of the meat, you have to learn the proper way of preparing your meat for grilling. Luckily, a reputable restaurant offering luxury dining in Dubai shares the following grilling tips that will improve your skill and the quality of your grilled dishes.

1. Prepare the meat in advance.

If the meat is frozen, remove them from the fridge at least 30 minutes before grilling, allowing it to reach room temperature. Grilling a completely frozen meat can be unsafe to consume, just as much as letting it sit for long after taking them out of the refrigerator. On the other hand, meat that is at room temperature will not just guarantee safety, but they also grill evenly and faster.

Once the meat reaches room temperature, use a paper towel to pat it dry. Then, brush it with olive oil and generously season it. Salt must be your primary seasoning because this will make your meat more delicious as it helps draw out moisture. A combination of salt and pepper is also an excellent choice. But if you want to add more flavor, you can rub a variety of spices like ground coriander, garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.

2. Prepare the grill.

For best results, your grill must receive the same care and attention as the meat you’re about to cook. Make sure to create different zones for indirect and direct heat when preparing the grill.

For instance, don’t cover your entire charcoal grill with charcoal briquettes. Instead, you should leave a space to the side for indirect heat cooking. Having hot and warm zones will let you cook your seasoned meat and vegetables while providing a safe area for food to cook away from the flames.

3. Check your grill’s temperature.

Before placing the meat onto the hot grill, make sure that it is at the right temperature. Generally, there are three levels of heat – medium, medium-high, and high.

• Medium heat (325°-375° Fahrenheit) is ideal for grilling sausages, turkey, and chicken. It gives enough warmth to create a brown effect on the outside while still having the right internal temperature.

• Medium-high heat (375°-450° Fahrenheit) is best for cooking fish, hamburgers, and vegetables. It cooks protein slower to make sure that the middle portion receives the appropriate internal temperature while creating a sear effect on the exterior.

• High heat (450°-650° Fahrenheit) is suitable for cooking kabobs, steaks, tuna steak, and pork chops. It creates a sizzle once you place the meat over it, producing an attractive sear mark that everyone loves.

Take note, though, that even if steaks are best cooked using high heat, the steak’s thickness should also be considered. For instance, meats that are more than 1” thick must be cooked at medium heat, those that are ¾-1” thick at medium-high heat, and those with 1/2” thickness at high heat.

4. Always use a meat thermometer.

The meat can become dry as you pierce, puncture, or slice it. The juice escapes from the meat each time you cut it, resulting in an unsatisfactory steak. So make it a habit not to puncture your meat with a knife or fork while it’s on the grill. Instead, you should use turners or tongs to flip it and a meat thermometer to check its internal temperature.

5. Cook depending on your desired doneness level.

Steaks are cooked in different doneness levels.

• Rare steaks have an internal temperature of 125°-130° Fahrenheit. The meat must be grilled for about one and a half minutes on each side.

• Medium-rare steaks have an internal temperature of 130°-140° Fahrenheit. The meat should be grilled for about two minutes on every side.

• Medium steaks have an internal temperature of 140°-150° Fahrenheit. The meat must be grilled for about two minutes and fourteen seconds on every side.

• Medium well steaks have an internal temperature of 150°-155° Fahrenheit. The meat should be grilled for three to four minutes on each side.

• Well-done steaks have an internal temperature of more than 160° Fahrenheit. The meat should be grilled for at least four but not more than five minutes on every side.

6. Sauce your grilled meat at the right time.

Covering your meat with a sauce that contains sugar before placing them on your grill will yield a burned and charred steak because the sugar will caramelize when exposed to heat. Thus, avoid applying teriyaki-based sauces, fruit glazes, and barbecue sauce before throwing the meat on the grill.

Instead, you must only apply these sauces and glazes a few minutes before taking the meat out of the grill. After all, you can’t achieve any additional flavor when adding sugary sauces before grilling. Marinating the meat before grilling is the best way to achieve a deep flavor that permeates the entire steak.

7. Allow the grilled meat to rest.

Your grilling efforts can be put to waste if you serve the meat too early or too late. Exact times differ, and how long it should rest varies from how long you must let the turkey or chicken rest.

But generally, you must let your grilled meat rest for about five to ten minutes before serving it. Between these times, the juices in your steak, lamb kabob, chicken thigh, or pork chop become distributed evenly for optimal tenderness.

Grilling is a form of cooking that offers mouth-watering aromas and smoky flavors. But it is not an easy process – a single mistake can ruin the texture and taste of your steak. With practice and dedication, you can master this cooking technique that will yield sumptuous steak dishes your family will love.

For times when you don’t feel like grilling, or perhaps you don’t have the right ingredients, getting Doors Freestyle Grill reservations and dining out with your family once in a while can be an excellent bonding time with your loved ones. If not, you can order meals online and have it delivered in the comfort of your home.

Author Bio:

Mohamed Farzad is the Director of Nippon Group of Companies. One of the Nippon Hospitality Division's premium projects is Doors Freestyle Grill, a premium steakhouse and international fusion cuisine-lifestyle dining concept set across the spellbinding Al Seef heritage district in Dubai.

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