Making Grilling Special

Whether you're a fan of veggies and fruit, poultry, beef or pork, meat substitutes or seafood (or all of it!) all it takes is a little flavor and the right technique to make grilling special.

Dry rubs will add depth of flavor to your favorite grilled foods. Explore the following combinations and follow a few guidelines for best results:

Dry rubs add a burst of flavor and work best when pan frying, grilling or baking. They are great for tofu, fish, pork chops, chicken breasts and vegetables.
Prepared dry rubs already contain the right mix of flavors ranging from Asian to Mediterranean styles. Or mix your own rub, storing in an airtight glass jar in a cool place, using as desired.
Three to four tablespoons of spice rub seasonings should be enough for two pounds of food.
To apply a rub, sprinkle it over your choice of meat, poultry, fish or veggies and lightly rub into the surface with your hands. Or place the rub in a large plastic bag, add your ingredients and shake to coat. Then let the food sit in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.

Marinades enhance flavor and they can increase the tenderness of most types of meat, poultry, seafood and produce. For best results:

Marinate seafood and veggies for 20-30 minutes to impart flavor.
Use caution when marinating seafood in citrus juice. Citrus can actually "cook" the seafood if left to marinate for more than 20-30 minutes.
Marinate poultry for up to an hour, but use caution when marinating for longer than an hour. For some cuts, this may be too long and the poultry may either toughen or get mushy.
Beef and pork will benefit from 30-60 minutes of marinating, but can also be left to marinate overnight.
Experiment with flavor; try using wine, beer, fresh juice, spices & herbs.
After you marinate, wait to brush on any sugar-based barbecue sauce or other ingredients until the final 5-10 minutes of grilling. This allows the charcoal flavor to penetrate your food first, and prevents the sauce from becoming charred black.

Kabobs are a great way to stack all of your favorite foods on one stick for grilling. Here are some tips to help you grill up your stack:

Use the direct heat method for grilling kabobs.
Soak wooden or bamboo skewers in water for an hour prior to using them to prevent them from burning or catching fire.
Cut foods into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
When grilling seafood-based kabobs, consider skewering your seafood and veggies separately, so they can be added to the grill at different times. (Seafood cooks faster than most other foods.)
Alternate different-shaped foods on each skewer to help prevent kabobs from rolling on the grill.