Grilling season picks up once again as the temperatures continue to rise. This is the perfect opportunity for home cooks to explore some delicious outdoor cooking recipes. Yes, we are talking about mouthwatering barbeques and platters. But know that using a grill or cooking over a barbeque pit is serious stuff. It is not something that you do every day, so it pays to know the common mistakes that might happen in the process.

Not knowing the different types of grills
Gas-powered grills are easy to start and feature dedicated knobs that control the heat more efficiently. Grill charcoal BBQ appliances add a certain depth and flavor to the meats and veggies. Pellet grills are a new concept that does away with charcoal and gas as fuel sources. For example, the Traeger Ranger Pellet Portable Grill takes up 184 sq. in. worth of cooking space or half a small table. It can easily handle an entire rib eye steak or the equivalent of 6 burgers or 10 hot dogs in one go. The Traeger Ranger grill also features a latched lid, griddle included, and digital controllers to regulate cooking temperature.

Not cleaning the grill properly
Cooking different types of meat over high heat will leave residue behind that sticks to the grill. But don’t try and scrape everything off with a commercial brush. The heat can dislodge these bristles, forcing them to stick to the hot grill. Instead, ball up a foil of aluminum and use it as a DIY scrub to clean the grills. It may be time-consuming, but it is preferable to plastic scrubs.

Cooking with the wrong tools
Use the right set of tools when cooking outdoors on the grill. Because unlike kitchen gas stoves or induction heating appliances, open flames can be controlled to some extent. Use a long spatula and tongs to flip the meats to lower the risk of burns. For vegetable barbeques, ensure you use a long-handled fork to flip the veggies on the side.

Not managing the heat properly
Not preheating the grill is one of the top mistakes to avoid. It is also necessary to distribute the heat slightly unevenly because red meats require more heat than vegetables and seafood. Keep one end of the grill on a high flame for specific foods. Also, don’t open and close the lid, as this will only increase the grilling time.

Not paying attention to the grill
Outdoor cooking and barbeque sessions offer the perfect opportunity to spend time with loved ones while the food cooks. However, as the grill master, you must pay attention to the meats, veggies, and other foods on the grill. Never leave anything unattended over the open flames.

There are some top-notch grills available in the market. If you’re looking for a portable grill, you could check out Traeger’s Ranger pellet grill. With a 184 square-inch total cooking space, it allows you to cook up to 10 hot dogs or six burgers. The grill comes with features like Keep Warm mode, Digital Arc Controller, among others.

If you’re looking for electric pellet grills or smokers, some popular options include the Traeger Ironwood 650, Z Grills Master Pellet ZPG-700D, Camp Chef Woodwind Wi-Fi 36 Pellet Grill, and Weber SmokeFire EX6. You can smoke, roast or bake your food and even cook large quantities in one go.