Blogs > Cooking from Scratch

Chef Stacy believes that cooking from scratch and using the best ingredients are the secrets to preparing delicious and memorable meals. She has created dozens of classes for the home chef and teaches students how to master culinary techniques and recipes in just one session. Read on to see what she's dishing up for The Oakland Press today....

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Grilling 101 - Beef

Picking up where we left off, today's lesson is all about everything you need to know in order to grill beef like a pro! Now that you've learned how to prep your grill for ultimate performance, it's time to learn the important keys to grilling beef perfectly each and every time.

Necessary Tools:
- 2 sets of sturdy tongs with long handles
- a clean container for fully cooked food
- a stiff grill brush for cleaning grilling surface
- an old towel, wrapped into a cylinder and tied with butcher’s twine for oiling grill
-neutral oil (like canola or vegetable) for oiling grill surface
- an instant read thermometer (digital are easiest to read)
- a pastry brush or mop for basting

Techniques:
- pre-heat grill, preferably with 2 heat zones – one for searing items and one for longer, slower cooking or finishing
- on a gas grill, set dials at medium-low heat on one side, and medium-high heat on the other side
- for charcoal grills, start coals together in a large pile in the center; when white hot, use tongs to push ¾ of hot coals to one side in a thick layer; leave remaining coals in a thin layer on the other side to create 2 heat zones for proper cooking
- clean grill grates thoroughly with brush, scraping off all bits of burned on food, charcoal dust or residue
- wipe grates several times with oil-saturated towel cylinder, closing lid between each wipe down to maintain heat
- season beef with salt and pepper on both sides and sear on hotter side of grill for about 30 seconds to 1 minute; gently lift meat off surface of grill and turn ¼ turn to create cross-hatch markings; continue to cook for another 30 seconds, then turn meat over and repeat on second side
- when beef is seared on both sides, move to cooler side of grill to finish cooking with the lid closed
- boneless beef cuts will cook more quickly -- in an additional 7 – 12 minutes after initial searing; bone-in beef pieces will need to cook approximately 15 – 20 minutes after initial searing; whole chickens will take approximately an hour to cook completely when placed on the cooler side of the grill
let meat rest in a clean container, covered loosely with foil, for 5 – 10 minutes before serving to maintain juiciness.

Instant Read Thermometer: A Chef’s Best Friend – Learn to Cook Foods Perfectly with this invaluable tool!

Beef –
Rare 120 - 125
Medium Rare 125 - 130
Medium 140 - 145
Medium Well 150 - 155
Well 160 and above (not recommended)

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