Tyler Florence’s Key Grilling Tips for Backyard Cooking

The underlying spirit of backyard gatherings is casual cooking. It’s cracking open a crisp, cold beer and firing up a grill, preferably while wearing flip-flops. But there are plenty of techniques to level up your grill game. Celebrity chef, cookbook author, and restaurateur Tyler Florence is ready to give guests at the 2024 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen the inside scoop and answer questions like “how to choose the right sausage when going to the butcher” and “how to blend the perfect burger meat.” While Florence packs his demonstration with helpful tips, here are some quick-fire go-to’s for the ultimate backyard cooking crash course straight from the Classic.

Use your grill like an oven

According to Florence, your grill can also act as an oven. And like when you are cooking in an oven, you don’t need to put ingredients directly on the racks. Florence’s preference is to not place ingredients directly on hot grill grates. Instead, opt for tools like hot plates or a grill basket. Typically made from stainless steel, a grill basket is a wise choice for grilling smaller items like chopped vegetables because it contains them and prevents them from slipping between the grates while cooking. It’s also nifty for more delicate tasks, like grilling fish. Instead of risking your whole fish or fillets sticking to the grates, a grill basket provides an extra protective barrier between the flesh and the grates. Grill baskets come in all shapes and sizes and often have a long handle where you can firmly grasp the basket and turn it while protecting your hands from direct heat. Plus, they usually aren’t too expensive.

Invest in an instant-read thermometer

Don’t underestimate the power of technology in your grilling arsenal. Instant read thermometers, as their name suggests, can provide a temperature reading in a matter of seconds. The Thermapen One, for instance, claims to deliver a full reading in one second or less. This rapid and accurate temperature reading is a game changer for grilling proteins and beyond, making it much easier to achieve that perfect cook. But even with a thermometer, Florence stresses the importance of learning and familiarizing yourself with the ideal cooking temperatures for different proteins before heading to the grill.

Think beyond meat

When you think of grilling, images of meat come to mind. Hot dogs, summery grilled chicken thighs, a celebratory carne asada, and more. Along with loading up a grilling tools arsenal, Florence encourages guests to expand their horizons about cooking with live fire and think about grilling beyond proteins. You can grill stunning side dishes like these deliciously smoky grilled artichokes or fire up a dessert. You can even grill condiments. The grill is a versatile appliance and there’s plenty of room to exercise creativity. “From using global flavors and techniques to playing with different fuel types, your grill is good for so much more than just barbecue recipes,” says Florence. Here’s to more grilling adventures all summer long.