One of the best ways to celebrate the arrival of spring is to fire up your grill and get to cooking outside. However, before you do that, it’s important that you see if everything is working well. Here are some tips that will help you throw excellent barbecues this year.

Safety First

Before you fire up the grill, it’s important that you pay attention to safety. In case you see that any tubing or hoses are damaged, then it would be best to replace them. It’s also a good idea to check the ignition parts and scrape off any grease. On top of that, you can put soapy water on the valves, regulator, and hoses to perform a leak test. If you start seeing bubbles after you turn on the propane tank, it means that gas is leaking out.

If you tighten all the connections and still see bubbles, then you should consider replacing your tank or the hoses. In case there are a lot of things wrong with your grill and it breaks down often, then maybe it’s time to get a new one. No matter what type of grill you currently have, if you’re searching for a new one, your best bet would be to purchase a gas grill. They are perfect for anyone who wants to prepare a meal quickly and doesn’t want to think about cleaning up charcoal.

Clean It

Now that you’ve carefully examined your grill and know that everything is working fine, it’s time to do some cleaning. The first thing that you should do is put all of your grilling tools in the dishwasher.

Having a dirty grill leave a bad flavor on your food. In order to avoid this problem, you should turn your grill on high for about 15 minutes before each use. Although this will definitely help you burn off much of the grease, you will still need to clean your grill thoroughly every once in a while. In order to do this, you’ll need to take out the grates and burner covers and give them a nice scrub down.

If you want to clean your grill properly, you will need to have the proper tools. Even though you will be able to accomplish a lot with water, soap, and a sponge, you will need stronger tools for cleaning certain parts of your grill. For example, you should use a wire-bristle grill brush to clean your grates, since this tool is so strong that it can remove anything, even rust.

Give Your Grill a Test Run

Before you start cooking, it’s important that you turn on the grill for a few minutes. This way, you will be absolutely sure that all burners and firing. After giving it a test run, it’s time to start grilling.

Check the Temperature

Now that you’ve made sure that your grill is clean and safe to use, you should think about the type of meat you will grill for your first barbecue this year. No matter the type of meat you choose, you will need to do everything that you can to ensure that you prepare it perfectly. One of the best ways to do this is by using a meat thermometer. By checking the temperature of meat, you will know exactly when it’s time to remove it from the grill.

Never Cook Cold Meat

Before you start cooking the meat, it’s important that you bring it to room temperature. Keep in mind that by putting cold meat on the grill, you will end up burning the surface before the heat reaches the surface of the meat.

Marinade Tougher Cuts of Meat

If you want the meat to be softer, then you will need to marinate it. The acid in a marinade is what will help make the meat become softer.