Experienced Grillmaster Reveals Common Mistakes by People New to Grilling

With the popularity of grilled foods on the food network shows, it's understandable that a lot of people are starting to grill for the first time. Grilling can be fun and challenging at the same time. Here are some mistakes people that are new to grilling make. Many times you will not realize why these are mistakes until you commit them yourself. Believe me, I started grilling just before the activity really become popular about five years ago and I've made all of these mistakes at least once. That is how you learn. After trial and error I have become a very good cook at the grill, what some might call a "grillmaster" depending on your definition of the term. I am hoping I can help many of you avoid making the mistakes I made as I learned how to grill. Yet, if you do all that means is you will know what not to do the next time. Most grilling mistakes are done in the very beginning and at the very end of grilling, with a few made in between as well. Here are my list of 10 mistakes many people make when grilling.

1. Not Waiting For The Coals To Get Hot Enough- Make sure you allow the coals to burn for a good fifteen to twenty minutes before placing meat above them on the grilling surface, they should have a greyish ashen color to them when they are at their hottest.

2. Not Controlling Temperature Zones- It's best if you create a pile of coals on one area of your grill for high temperature grilling, a smaller layer of coals for lower temperature cooking, and an area with no coals whatsoever for indirect grilling or to let the food rest as it finishes cooking. Different types of meat and styles of cooking require different levels of heat.

3. Not Soaking Wood Chips Long Enough When Smoking Meats- Keep in mind that wood chips should soak at least an hour before placing them on the coals, longer can be even more helpful. This way the wood chips smolder instead of burn, therefore resulting in a longer production of smoke. Also make sure you replenish your smoking chips every hour the meat is on the grill.