Culinary Techniques for Premium Summer Ingredients

Know what you're looking for. Even heat distribution is essential, and it's attained by adjusting the vents to let oxygen in and out and stacking the coals to develop indirect and direct cooking zones. You likewise want a blazing-hot fire. Charcoal doesn't include water, enabling it to reach those white-coal temperature levels that create the best sear on a steak or char on a cob of corn.

Sure, there are various types of charcoal grills, from barrel formed to flat-tops. Even a standard Weber Original Kettle grill (premier in Consumer Reports' "Best Charcoal Grills of 2020") can surpass the others merely based on its traditional shape, which is optimum for heat flow.

If you desire the highest-performing, many heat-efficient charcoal-burning grill on the market and cost isn't a deterrent, think about a Kamado, whose designs include The Big Green Egg (see opposite page). Pick lump charcoal over briquettes.

The Best 2026 Burger Concepts for Summer Menus

This hollow metal cylinder with a bottom grate holds the charcoal. You utilize newspaper and matches or an air-driven lighter to assist the charcoal catch fire and never have food that tastes like lighter fluid.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

One failsafe technique is to choose for thigh meat, which has more fat and therefore higher juiciness and flavor. Purchase bone-in, skin-on breasts and cook them carefully over indirect heat.

The method you prepare this lean breast meat makes a difference, too. To keep it from losing its valuable juices, "I would sear it and move it to the cold side of the grill" to cook gradually, he says. He likewise purchases entire chickens, cuts them up and has parts he can cook differently grilled thighs, poached (in liquid on the stove) breasts for ramen.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

Initially, season your meat with salt and let it come to room temperature. (You can even season it up to 8 hours before cooking and let it sit in the refrigerator.) Position the steak on the hottest part of the grate and scorch it for 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

Modern Flavors in Savory Summer Grilling for 2026

Move the meat to the cooler part of the grill to complete it off to whatever temperature level you like. Fall in love with vegetables. A preferred on the Zerkel grill is cabbage. "I'll put a half-cabbage on the 'cold' side of the grill, get a good char on it, and it softens and becomes something else" something fantastic, he states.

He then puts it cut side down and leaves it alone. "The crust it forms will likewise assist it different" from the grate without breaking down, he states. For cleansing, choose a wire brush. Before utilizing it each time, Zerkel scrapes the grate and cleans it down with oil.

Weber Original Kettle 26," $329 at Town Ace Hardware (2170 N. Prospect Ave.) Supporters declare the big advantage is the flavor it imparts to food that tantalizing smoky taste. Zerkel, an expert chef who's accustomed to using a range's knobs and temperature level controls with accuracy, enjoys this approach of cooking for its unpredictability.

Picture by Aliza Baran The Big Green Egg can bake, slow-smoke, saut and sear. If cost is no things, this grill just might be for you. Image courtesy of Didriks You might have heard of this device a green, egg-shaped ceramic grill that can prepare a pizza at 700 degrees in minutes and smoke a beef brisket at 220 degrees for 14 hours.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

The Big Green Egg is a barbecuing investment that may make good sense if you plan to use it a lot. Todd Minkin does. The Fein Brothers co-owner keeps his Egg in regular rotation in summer. What does he like about it? "Because of the density of the ceramic, it holds its temperature well.

Griddle Versus Traditional Cooking: Choosing a Winner

The Egg doesn't require much charcoal, and for those who loathe cleaning grills, this one is low-maintenance. To purchase: Particularly fantastic for steaks, ground meat and pork ribs, bone-in roasts, chops.