Keep Your Grill Clean While Cooking

You’ve probably heard the age-old advice that the best way to maintain a spotless kitchen is to clean while you cook. Well the same concept applies to your grill. Cleaning as you go saves you time and sanity later. Follow these tips to avoid dreading the cleanup throughout your whole cookout.

Grilling Tips

Use a high-heat cooking spray on your grates to avoid sticking. Just remember that when it comes to oil on the grill, less is more. Avoid flare-ups by opting for lean cuts of meat and less oily marinades or by trimming fat off the meat before cooking. If it’s good for you, it’s good for the grill too.

Grill Accessories

grill accesories

As any fashion guru will say, it’s all in the accessories. And we’ve rounded up some great ones to keep you from splashing barbecue sauce all over the patio. Level up your grill game with the following grill accessories:

  • Shelf mats: When cooking with sauces and greases, messes are bound to happen. But mats can offer protection from marinades and sauces dripping off your grill tools. Look for something that is compatible with your grill. The Broil King silicone side shelf is dishwasher-safe and won’t scratch stainless steel.
  • Grill brush: No one wants to taste last night’s salmon all over today’s kabobs. Even if you like the flavors together, the mix of old and new is fishy. So what’s the solution? Use a grill brush to remove any stuck on foods or residue after every grilling session. It’s easier to clean a grill when it’s still hot. Bonus: This will prevent flare-ups.
  • Grill mat: Prevent oil and sauce stains from tarnishing your patio by investing in a mat to keep under the grill. If you want to cover more area, even a tarp will do.
  • Dishwasher-safe supplies: When it comes to cleanup, especially after entertaining guests, the dishwasher is your friend. Look for grill accessories you can throw in the dishwasher and forget about… at least until the following morning. Stainless steel and silicone are good options.

Louisiana Grills Founders Legacy 1200 Food-4

Firing Down

Take some steps after you’re done grilling to prep it for next time.

  • Empty the grease tray.
  • For charcoal grills, remove the ash.
  • Wipe any splatters off the exterior to keep it shining.

Now that you know how to keep your grill clean, there’s only one more thing to do. Fire it up! It’s cookout season!

Do you have any tips for keeping your grill clean as you go? Share them in the comments section below!

Images via DCS

Recipe: Fireball Pineapple Grilled Pork

What are your weekend plans? If you envision yourself grilling out, try to impress your guests with something a little different.

This amazing recipe from Napoleon for Fireball Pineapple Grilled Pork  is essentially cinnamon whiskey-glazed pineapple with grilled pork. It’s the perfect spin on a grilled classic with sweet pineapple and spice to let everyone it’s summertime.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 pork loin, approx. 3 lb.
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 pineapple
  • ¾ cup of brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp. melted butter
  • ½ cup of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky

Fireball Pineapple Grilled Pork Recipe

Step 1

Preheat the grill to 375°F using the rear burner. Move the cooking grid to the high position and preheat the Infrared SIZZLE ZONE™ to high. If you do not have an infrared side burner, preheat the grill to high using all bottom burners.

Step 2

While the grill is preheating, season all sides of the pork loin with salt and pepper. Remove the top and bottom of the pineapple, and remove the rind on the sides. Carefully thread the pineapple onto a rotisserie spit rod, ensuring that when put on the grill, the pineapple will be centered in front of the rear burner.

Step 3

In a bowl, combine the brown sugar, melted butter, and Fireball.

Step 4

Place the pineapple onto the grill, ensuring that the correct end is firmly in the rotisserie motor. Turn the rotisserie on and let the pineapple start cooking while you sear the pork.

Step 5

Sear the pork on all sides until delicious grill marks have formed. Then place it under the pineapple so that it will drip onto the pork while it cooks.

Step 6

Baste the pineapple with the Fireball mixture every 10 minutes until the pork as reached an internal temperature of at least 145°F (for medium). Use a digital thermometer for accurate readings. Feel free to “accidentally” get extra Fireball mixture on the pork while basting the pineapple.

Step 7

Remove the pork and pineapple from the grill when the pork reaches your desired finished temperature. Allow the roast to rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing everything and serving

Notes from Andrea:

“Fireball Pineapple Grilled Pork is flavorful, a little sticky, and super sweet. Initially, I butterflied the pork, however, I found that it cooked too fast and became a little unwieldy. Leave the loin whole when you make this recipe, the results will be much better.”

Please let her know if you plan to try this recipe. Take pictures and post of social media using the hashtags #BestLaidBBQPlans and #NapoleonGrill.

Photo and recipe credit: Andrea Alden

How to Choose the Best Grill for You

Each year, Warners’ Stellian hosts a Grill Expo, which includes cooking demos and food sampling to taste the distinct flavor results from the latest gas grills, charcoal grills, pellet grills and propane grills to help you find the best grill for your needs.

Each grill has its own characteristics that work well for different personality types, but we’ll go over your custom needs when you stop by the Grill Expo. In the meantime, consider some traits that would describe you and see if our suggested match is a fit.

Chill – Louisiana Founders Series

The Founders Series Legacy line of Wood Pellet Grills delivers years of pellet ingenuity in one sophisticated grilling experience. It’s the perfect grill for exquisite flavor backed by cutting-edge grilling technology. With the Legacy Wood Pellet Grill, you will enjoy advanced amenities like LG Smart Touch Control Pad and Wifi Connectivity. Tap into precision temperature monitoring and control using the seamless connectivity of Bluetooth or WIFI – all inside the Louisiana Grills app. In addition to a fully re-designed burn system, Louisiana Grills Legacy Wood Pellet Grills also deliver hotter temperatures, at speeds faster than ever before.

The stunning stainless-steel design complements the premium, double-walled stainless-steel construction. The Legacy Wood Pellet Grills also bring grillers, Louisiana Grills powerful 8-in-1 cooking versatility, a robust hopper capacity with a dual-paned victory site glass, easy-open slide-plate flame broiler access, side shelf with built-in tool hooks and more. Louisiana Grills’ Founders Series Grills are the legacy of pellet grilling revolutionized with the technology of today.

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Traditional – Weber22″ 

You’re traditionally classy and you’re proud of your roots. You never have to change because you improve with age. Maybe you love charcoal grilling, but you want to kick it up a notch.

WEBER® 22″ deluxe freestanding charcoal grill featuring a heavy-duty steel cart frame, an electronic Touch-N-Go™ gas ignition system and an aluminized steel One-Touch™ cleaning system.

summit charcoal

Social – Weber Genesis

You’re the life of the party, and the nucleus of your social circle. It doesn’t matter what you do, because you make it fun.

Introducing the newly designed GENESIS gas grill – the biggest grilling innovation in decades, that creates a full backyard culinary experience. Grill, bake, and even stir-fry on the newly designed GENESIS gas grill. Its WEBER CRAFTED Outdoor Kitchen Collection compatibility provides limitless culinary possibilities, enabling you to cook food never thought possible on the grill. Also featuring Weber’s largest & hottest sear zone and expandable top cooking grate – so you’re able to cook a full restaurant-quality meal outside, where the party is.

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Flashy – DCS by Fisher  Paykel

You beam with sophistication and style, and you aren’t afraid of luxury brands and state-of-the-art features. With as hard as you work, you deserve them. You need an advanced system for browning rotisserie chicken and simmering your coveted BBQ sauce.

DCS provides premium standalone and built-in grills for your custom designed outdoor space. Go for long-term quality and flexibility while enjoying high-tech features such as stadium-style hood lights and bezel lit control dials.

DCS

If you need more help choosing the best grill for you, visit any Warners’ Stellian location to chat with our appliance specialists. Or come see us at the next Grill Expo!

Breakfast On the Grill: Bacon Asparagus Quiche Tarts & Grilled Donuts

People picture burgers and hot dogs when they think about grills, but we like to get a little more inventive. Check out these fun breakfast on the grill recipes.

Bacon Asparagus Quiche Tarts

Makes 12 pastries

  • 1 package flaky biscuit dough
  • Muffin tins (to accommodate 12 pastries)
  • Cooking spray

Custard

  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream
  • 3 eggs
  • 6 oz shredded wiss cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Filling

  • ½ cup chopped asparagus, cooked
  • ½ cup chopped bacon, cooked crispy
  • 6 oz cheese (cheddar, pepper jack, whatever)
  • ¼ cup finely chopped green onion for topping
  1. Preheat grill to 350 degrees
  2. Line muffin tins and grease with cooking spray.  Take biscuit dough and place about a spoonful sized and flattened dough ball into the tin.  Place on middle rack of oven and bake for 5 minutes or until dough rises close to the top of the tin.
  3. Remove tins and set aside for 10 minutes or until cool enough to handle.
  4. While dough is cooling, whisk the custard ingredients together in a large bowl and set aside.
  5. After dough has cooled enough, form the dough around the muffin tin sides.  It should be able to rise to about a quarter inch from the top of the liner.  Put a pinch of cheese in the bottom of each tin and then top that with about 2 Tbsp total of chopped asparagus and bacon.
  6. Put 2-3 Tbsp of the custard into each tin, filling to just beneath the top of the dough.  Top with another pinch of cheese and a pinch of green onions.
  7. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the custard is set.
  8. Best served warm, not hot…so let cool a bit before removing from the tin and liner.

Make it vegetarian by substituting 8 oz mushrooms (chopped, cooked, and dried)  for bacon.

Note: Bacon and asparagus can be grilled at 350 degrees prior to cooking the pastries.  Bacon should be cooked on a broiler pan for 10 minutes a side.  Asparagus should be lightly oiled, with salt and pepper to taste and grilled for about 10 minutes or until crisp.

Adapted from Allrecipes.com

…and now for my FAVORITE recipe I’ve ever made up:

Incredibly Easy Grilled Donuts

Grill refrigerated biscuits on a cookie sheet (or well-oiled grill grate) using indirect heat at about 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Meanwhile, melt a stick of butter in a grill-safe bowl away from direct heat. Dip warm biscuits in the melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar. Yum!

Share your favorite breakfast on the grill ideas in the comments section below.

Do You Need a BBQ Grill Cover?

In Minnesota, we take full advantage of grill season. And out of necessity, we also break the rules of grill season. It’s not uncommon to see a Minnesotan grilling when there’s snow on the ground. Because let’s be real, when is there not snow on the ground?

That being said, if you’ve invested in a beautiful grill, Minnesota weather will do its best to blemish it with high humidity and extreme temperatures.

Invest in a Grill Cover

Weber Grill CoverA quality grill cover with extend the life of your new barbecue.

Most grill covers are fitted around the center of your grill and hang straight down, sometimes stopping just above the ground.

Many barbecue grill covers use heavy-duty vinyl on the outside to protect the exterior of the grill, but use a more absorbent material on the inside to keep moisture from building under the hood of the grill (i.e. the grates and burners).

Many gas grill covers also include vents to pipe moisture out, but make sure they’re well positioned so they don’t let in the moisture they claim to keep out!

Just make sure to let your gas grill or smoker BBQ cool down before you cover it.

Most grill covers cost between $40 and $60, depending on the grill. Buy a grill cover and BBQ accessories over $50 from Warners’ Stellian and it ships for free in the U.S.

Shop our grill covers.