| When grilling perfect steak, most grilling recipes | | | | The best way to determine the temperature of your |
| suggest cooking over high, medium or low heat. | | | | fire is to use the traditional hand test. Hold your hand |
| Seldom do they require an exact temperature. There | | | | about three inches above the grate and time how |
| are several reasons for this. Grilling is an inexact | | | | long you can leave it there before you are forced to |
| cooking method and the conditions in and around the | | | | jerk it back:o 1 to 2 seconds - High Heat - This is the |
| grill can change suddenly. So it is best for the recipes | | | | best temperature for your hot zone if you are grilling |
| to simply mention a range of heat to cook over and | | | | shrimp or searing a steak. When using the the zone |
| remind you to monitor the food very closely. | | | | method, use this side first to sear the outside and |
| But how do you know what is considered high, | | | | lock in the juices.o 2 to 3 seconds - Medium High |
| medium or low heat? Do not go by the | | | | Range - Good for most fish steaks.o 4 to 5 seconds |
| thermometers in the tops of most grills. They will | | | | - Medium Low Range - Ideal for most chicken and |
| measure only the air temperatures inside the grill | | | | veggies.o 7 to 8 seconds - Low Heat - Perfect for |
| when the cover is closed. This is not a true measure | | | | your warm zone to finish steaks or chops. Also good |
| of the actual cooking temperature down close to the | | | | for grilling soft vegetables and fruit.o 1 minute - You |
| fire where your food is. That temperature is much | | | | forgot to light the grill! Put down the beer and go find |
| higher. Furthermore, with most meats and fish fillets | | | | some matches. (Just kidding) |
| you will want to build a two zone fire and the cover | | | | You can enjoy grilling perfect steak if you build a two |
| thermometer is completely worthless if the ends of | | | | zone fire and use the hand method to determine the |
| the grill are at different temperatures. | | | | best temperature for your food. |