Meat Master
The Ultimate Guide to Setting up the Grill
Are you interested in grilling steak but unsure of how to use a grill? Our essentials guide gives you the tools to unlock the pleasures of grilling!
While it may seem overwhelming at first, grilling is a great hobby that’ll be sure to delight your hungry friends and family. From choosing the right type of grill to understanding temperature control, this helpful guide from The Meat & Wine Co.’s very own Meat Master will provide useful tips and tricks to help you become a true master of the grill.
Choosing the Right Grill for Your Needs
Get to know the science and skill behind the grilling of meat, starting with the grill itself. There are three main types of grill. These are charcoal, gas, and electric. While all three of these grills share the same principles, they each offer a unique set of benefits. Find out which grill suits your tastes most here:
Charcoal Grills
Grilling food over charcoal is perhaps the most traditional method. It’s known for bringing out a lovely smoky flavour that infuses well when grilling steak. Though charcoal grills are typically the least expensive of the three grill types, they generally require more maintenance to set up and keep clean.
Gas Grills
Gas grills are increasing in popularity because they have more modern features, making them easier to use. They heat up quickly for time efficiency, and they’re powered with a propane tank.
Although they lack that gorgeous smoky flavour a gas grill creates, they make up for it with helpful temperature gauges and modern cooking features. This makes them a superb choice to those at the start of their grilling journey!
Electric Grills
Electric grills are renowned for their convenience. From a quick cleaning process to straightforward maintenance, electric grills are a fantastic option for busier families. They’re also unique from charcoal and gas grills due to their clean ventilation system. This makes them suitable for indoor use!
Grilling Steaks Time Chart
For advice on how long it takes to grill steak, refer to our grilling steaks time chart below:
| Doneness | Minutes per Side | Temperature (°C) |
| Rare | 2-3 | 51 |
| Medium-Rare | 3-4 | 57 |
| Medium | 4-5 | 62 |
| Medium-Well | 5-6 | 65 |
| Well-Done | 6-8 | 71 |
Please note: these times are approximate and may vary depending on the thickness of the steak and the heat of your grill.
Essential Grill Accessories
What is a grill master without their accessories? From must-have tools to essential utensils, discover our Meat Master’s favourite accessories for grilling steak.
Must-Have Tools
Every griller, from starter through to pro, needs durable tongs, a meat thermometer for measuring cooking accuracy, and a sturdy spatula. Other essentials include grill mitts for protecting your hands and a basting brush for coating steaks with marinades and glazes! For those with charcoal grills, chimney starters will light charcoal quickly for maximum convenience.
Cleaning and Maintenance Accessories
A dirty grill can negatively affect the flavour profile of your grilled steak and interfere with how evenly it cooks. To keep your grill clean, you’ll need a grill brush and scraper, as well as a cleaning spray specific for your grill type. Oiling your grates before and after you use it is also an easy way to keep it clean.
Keeping your clothing clean is just as important as your grill! Wear an apron to stay protected from grease and accidental spills.
Preparing Your Grill for Cooking
Cleaning the Grill
When cleaning your grill, it’s best to heat it to a high temperature to help melt and dislodge any residue. Use your grill brush to scrub the grates clean, but take care to keep your hands safe by wearing mitts! If needed, use a grill cleaner to remove tougher residue.
Arranging Charcoal
For charcoal grill owners, place the charcoal briquettes into a pyramid-shaped pile. Make sure to leave a small space in the middle to allow air to pass through.
Use enough briquettes so that they’d form an even layer if spread out.
Preheating the Grill
Always make sure you preheat your grill for at least 10 to 15 minutes to ensure you reach the right temperature before cooking. For electric grill owners, this process is a lot more straightforward, as you can simply set it to the desired temperature. Preheating properly helps to ensure even and consistent cooking throughout your steak!
Creating Cooking Zones
Direct and indirect cooking zones mean creating two separate spaces on your grill. One has a direct heat source for searing, and the other uses residual or lower heat for a slower cooking process.
Creating these different cooking zones allows you to have better control over how your food cooks, and is a great way to prevent overcooking.
Direct Cooking Zone
The direct cooking zone is directly over the heat source. It’s best for searing steaks, burgers, or other thinner cuts of meat that don’t take as long to cook.
Indirect Cooking Zone
The indirect cooking zone is further away from the heat source. It uses residual heat to slow down the cooking process. It’s suitable for larger cuts of meat, such as roasts and whole chickens.
Temperature Control Techniques
Understanding temperature control is key to successfully becoming a grill master. Each grill uses different methods for temperature maintenance, so you need to know how your grill’s temperature control works. This takes out any guess work, helping your food to cook evenly!
Controlling Charcoal Grill Temperature
To help control the temperature on a charcoal grill, you can adjust the vents. This impacts the amount of airflow the coals have. More airflow increases the heat, while less lowers the temperature.
Managing Gas Grill Heat
Controlling the temperature on a gas grill is luckily incredibly simple! All you need to do is manipulate the burners to create direct and indirect cooking zones on your grill.
Nowadays, lots of gas grills tend to have built-in thermometers, so you can easily keep track of the temperature.
Using a Grill Thermometer
If you have a grill thermometer, you can use it by inserting the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat. Avoid touching fat or bone as this will cause unreliable results. Make sure you wait until it reaches stable reading, then cook the food until it reaches your preferred internal temperature.
Preventing Flare-Ups
Flare-ups occur when splashes of fat or grease from the grill drip onto the hot coals or burners. On a lighter scale, they can cause your food to burn or sear unevenly. Unfortunately, they can also be dangerous in more extreme cases.
To help prevent flare-ups, make sure to trim off any excess fat from your meat cuts. You can also use a drip pan to catch excess fat that you missed, plus a drip tray to avoid marinades dripping too.
Should a flare-up occur, quickly and safely move your food to the cooler area of the grill (or your indirect heat zone) and shut the lid until the flames go down.
Common Grilling Mistakes to Avoid
When you’re just beginning your grilling journey, there’s lots of room to learn! To help you get the best results, here are some common grilling mistakes to avoid:
- Not preheating the grill
- Not cleaning the grill properly
- Putting too much food on the grill
- Overcooking or undercooking
- Flipping food too much
- Using a fork to turn food (always use tongs instead)
Experience Perfect Grilling at
The Meat & Wine Co
Discover the true taste of incredible steak by reserving a table at The Meat & Wine Co. restaurant in Mayfair today! For premium meat cuts grilled to perfection, there’s no place quite like ours. We look forward to serving you soon.