Top 3 Tips for Cooking on a Gas Grill

Gas grills are a great modern convenience for cooking outdoors. However, you may miss some of the flavors that come from other heat sources. With that in mind, we want to provide you with some tips for cooking on your gas grill, while still getting those same great flavors of using charcoal or wood.

1. Use the bread test – If you wonder where the best spots on your grill are for providing more heat, you can find out for sure (and cheap) with a loaf of white bread. Just crank up your grill, lay the slices across the grill without leaving space between them, and flip the pieces over 90 seconds later. For the low price of a single loaf of bread, you see the hottest parts of your grill and areas where you may be able to move food that you want to keep on the grill without overcooking.
2. Turn it into a smoker – Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t smoke on your gas grill just because it is vented. You can create your own smoker by using a container made for steaming. Instead of just putting water in the bottom, soak the wood chips in the water. Put the meat in the top part of the container and cover it with foil so the smoke can’t escape. Use a low heat that creates smoke from the chips without overcooking the meat. Then you can crank up the heat and sear the meat off at the end.
3. Use a salt slab – Not only will it be the talk of all your neighbors who see it but using a salt slab will also enhance the flavors of your food and keep smaller meats from slipping through the grate (imagine grilling shrimp without having to skewer it).