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Quick Tips for Outdoor Cooking

Summer meals simply taste better served on a paper plate when sitting at a picnic table or chilling in a lawn chair. From family cookouts, to camping adventures, to picnics in the park – this is the season for outdoor cooking. Wood fires have been the traditional way of outdoor cooking for thousands of years, but today we have heat sources like charcoal barbecues, propane grills, camping stoves, and a wide range of other cooking options available.

There are unique techniques and responsibilities for outdoor cooking. Be sure to educate yourself on safe food preparations by visiting reputable sites for comprehensive guidelines. Here are seven tips our team has compiled to help make outdoor cooking a breeze this summer:

1. If traveling to a park or campsite, don’t forget to pack sanitizing wipes, appropriate cookware, heat-resistant utensils, cooking thermometer, and aluminum foil along with your favorite condiments and prepared food items.
2. Clean and pre-cut all vegetables, fruits, and meats at home before you leave. Sufficiently pack with ice in coolers to keep perishable food cold until it is ready to cook.
3. Be sure your grill or campfire is the appropriate number of feet away from any buildings, trees, foliage, or potential fire hazards.
4. If grilling, always start with a clean grill to avoid bacterial issues. Consider using foil to provide a clean surface and to prevent build-up of food or grease.
5. For campfires, allow any hot coals and wood logs to burn down at least 30 minutes to optimal conditions before beginning the cooking process.
6. Always follow a cookbook or reputable website for appropriate cooking temperatures and times. Use a thermometer and timer when grilling. Avoid grilling meats and fish above 300ºF because health experts suggest higher temperatures could release carcinogens.
7. For healthier results, allow fat to drip off the meat during the grilling process and trim off any noticeable fat after the cooking process.

Choosing Nutritious Foods

If you’re a health-conscious person, you’ll also want to consider calories and fat when choosing foods. As an alternative to traditional hot-dogs, ribs, or burgers — consider grilling lean proteins like skinless chicken, turkey, sirloin, pork tenderloin, or seasoned tofu. Of course, seafood is always a great grilling choice, such as salmon, swordfish, seabass, tuna, grouper, mahi-mahi, or snapper.

Fantastic fruits for grilling include watermelon, pineapple, peaches, and apples. You’ll want to cook them on a skewer or in a grill basket on the cooler side of the grill to avoid overcooking. For vegetables, your summertime options are virtually endless. We enjoy grilled asparagus, eggplant, radicchio, and zucchini. You can also season veggies like diced potatoes and grill in a foil wrap. Last but not least, don’t forget to grill some delicious corn on the cob. Through healthy food choices and safe cooking preparations, you will enjoy a sensational summer full of fun times and delicious meals.

Do you have any outdoor cooking tips to offer? Share your ideas and pics of your cookout foods with us this summer via Twitter or Facebook. Eat well, live long, and travel far!