Grilling on a Budget: Effective Ways to Save Money While Grilling

Save Money While Grilling In San Diego!

Grilling is a form of cooking that involves dry heat applied to the surface of the food, commonly from above or below. Direct heat grilling is the most basic and common grilling method. Another method of indirect grilling is to place a physical barrier such as a pizza stone between the fire and the food.

Grilling is usually done outdoors on charcoal grills or gas grills; a recent trend is the concept of infrared grilling. Grilling is done over direct heat, where the flame (either gas or charcoal) is directly below the meat. Direct grilling is a high heat method used to cook relatively small or thin pieces of food quickly. The time difference between barbecuing and grilling is because of the temperature difference; at low temperatures used for barbecuing, meat takes several hours to reach the desired internal temperature.

Grilling, Guys And The Great Gender Divide

The “women cook, men grill” attitude somehow seems as American as apple pie, and strangely one of the most widely accepted gender distinctions in our culture. Even in my own experience as an empowered woman of can-do Generation Y, the part of grill master has been played almost exclusively by boyfriends and brothers. Sure, I’ve flipped the occasional veggie burger, and I once made a mess trying to “grill” pizza, but when it comes to the business of barbecuing, it seems to be a boy’s club.

The lesson on gender balance as far as manning the grill is concerned seems pretty well-established. But where does this attitude come from? My theories on why it’s a guy thing–solely from my own personal observations of humans of both sexes at barbecues–are as follows:

Grilling is exciting. You’ve got lighter fluid, a match, a breeze and a miniature pitchfork to stab things with. The potential for danger is large–and thrilling.

Grilling means hanging out with other guys. It’s true we tend to split up at social gatherings into our respective packs. Women? We talk, whether in the kitchen or over cocktails and keep ourselves entertained. The grill provides entertainment for the men, who tend to congregate around it, usually with beers. Almost like a flat-screen television during football season. Check more here.

Indirect grilling is a barbecue cooking technique in which the food is placed to the side of or above the heat source instead of directly over the flame as is more common.

6 TIPS FOR A BUDGET FRIENDLY BBQ

But a big barbecue can also be a financial burden, especially if you have a large guest list, need to rent a pavilion, and your shopping list is about a mile long with expensive meats, rolls, and elaborate Summery desserts. The planning that goes into such an event takes a lot of work, and sticking to a budget doesn’t seem so doable anymore once you’re knee deep in deciding what kind of hot dogs or paper plates to buy.

1. LET YOUR FRIENDS BRING THE FOOD

I used to pride myself on providing absolutely everything as a hostess. Then I realized I was focusing less on people, and more on preparation. And because I was buying all the food, I wasn’t being very kind to my budget either! Since then, I’ve learned there is no shame in allowing guests to pitch in. Now I prepare a menu with guests in mind, and either highlight or circle each of the items I’m able to delegate. Anytime someone asks me what they can bring, I just give them one of the options on my list. Usually, it’s hamburger buns and hot dog rolls, salad fixings, chips, fruit, or dessert. Even simple foods can be huge help!

2. MAKE YOUR OWN INVITES AND DECORATIONS

With Pinterest, it’s super easy nowadays to gather party inspiration and DIY ideas that don’t break the bank. Start a Summer BBQ board, and pin anything you can find that strikes your fancy. There’s usually a simple tutorial involved that you can easily replicate, and Ruth has a ton of ideas in her Party DIY section of her blog. Read more here.

When you grill is often presented as a healthy alternative to cooking with oils, although the fat and juices lost by grilling can contribute to drier food.

Tips for a Healthy Cookout

From traditional favorites such as hot dogs to side dishes and desserts, grilling is a great way to add flavor to all types of food. Make sure you do it right with these healthy grilling tips.

Before the Big Cookout

Start by cleaning your grill. Scrub it with hot, soapy water. Then, when you’re ready to cook, allow the grill to heat up sufficiently to eliminate potential bacteria problems. Make sure you have the right tools. Relying on color alone does not ensure the doneness of meat, poultry and fish. A food thermometer is the only way to ensure food has been cooked to a safe internal temperature.

Setting the Menu

Once you’re equipped for a safe cookout, think beyond the traditional favorites. Start building your healthful barbecue around fruits and vegetables, which are low in calories, high in fiber and packed with the nutrients you need. Look no further than your local grocery store or farmers’ market for fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables. See full article here.

The Types Of Heat Sources For Grilling Are Numerous

Indirect grilling is designed to cook larger or tougher foods that would burn if direct grilled. While the terms barbecuing and grilling are often considered to be synonymous, it is more precise to say that barbecuing is a type of grilling. The best part is that grilling can be one of the healthiest ways to cook!

Roasting and grilling are closely related cooking methods, each using indirect dry heat to cook the food. Examples of items well-suited for grilling are steaks, chops, chicken pieces, seafood fillets, hamburgers, and vegetables. Grilling can give you an amazing flavor when you use the right grill and technique, reach us here: (888) 556-8121 for more tips.