Getting perfectly grilled food isn’t only just about the taste. For many, it’s also about the presentation. BBQ Revolt reports that 7 out of 10 adults own a grill. The perfect crosshatch grill marks are one way you know that an expert has been at the grill. Getting those perfect grill marks doesn’t happen by accident, though. Here are a few steps that can help you get the grilling experience you want with pellet grills.

Grate Selection

Picking out the perfect cuts of meat is just the beginning. You also need to pick out the right grill grate as well if you want your meat to look as well as taste perfectly grilled. The grill grate that you use will not affect the taste of food, but it will definitely affect the look of it. Keep in mind that the standard grate that came with your grill isn’t going to be the best one for the job in most cases. This is especially true if you have a kettle grill. You’ll want to invest in a heavy-duty cast iron grate. These will run hotter than a standard grate and it’ll also retain its heat longer as well. Both of these factors contribute to fantastic grill marks.

Fire Building

Another factor that will help you achieve good grill marks will be how you build your fire. If you don’t have the right fire underneath, then the grill grates won’t matter much. You also need a good fire to ensure that the food is cooked properly. This has more to do with food safety than aesthetic. If you use the two-zone indirect arrangement of coals you’ll get the highest heat possible. You’ll leave the grill covered for 5 to 10 minutes after lighting so that it can get superheated. With the grate superheated like this you’ll get amazing grill marks on your meat. This will happen quickly, though, which means that the meat won’t be fully cooked, and you don’t want that. Which is why you have the second coal zone that won’t be as hot. The food can be moved to this section to ensure that it’s cooked thoroughly.

Where you place the food is also vital. You want to make sure that you place the food on the grates in such a way as to result in nice mark placement.

These are just a few tips on how to get great grill marks on your meat the next time you grill. If you’re looking to purchase pellet grills or need grill supplies, please contact us or come by to see our inventory.

Posted 4/24/24