Why You Should Never Put Wet Food On The Grill

For those who love backyard parties and family cookouts, there is nothing more thrilling than grilling season. Break out the tongs, mix up your best barbecue sauce, buy your favorite cut of meat, and fire up the grill. It's time to achieve that smoky goodness that we covet in our steaks, burgers, zucchini, and other summer veggies. Grilling is an essential cooking method in the warmer months. Grilled food is the substance of some of the best summer memories. But knowing the pitfalls of cooking certain foods can help mitigate some common mishaps before they happen, including placing wet food on the grill.

Everyone has done it — at least once. It's common to take meat straight from the marinade container and throw it on the grill. However, according to CNN, wet meat on the grill is a cooking faux pas. In fact, when you throw wet meat on the grill, you are breaking a Bobby Flay grilling commandment by not allowing the grill to do its job. Here's how.

AZ Central reveals that meat with a "dry surface" is critical if you want to get that nice crusty sear on your steaks, pork cutlets, and chicken synonymous with grilling. They note that even if you are marinating the meat, you do not want to throw it on the grill if it is dripping with liquid. Instead, you will want to take a paper towel and gently mop up that visible moisture. CNN concurs and further explains that the marinade will already have done its job, and the meat will have absorbed all of its seasonings and spices. The mistake with leaving it wet is that you risk it steaming rather than grilling, and then all of your efforts are for not, and your grill is not doing its job.

Additionally, per Bobby Flay, you should consider oiling your grates with a little canola oil. Flay says canola oil is a good choice because of its "mild flavor and high smoke point." According to Taste of Home, a little oil on the grates helps keep your meat from sticking and a high smoke point. It is also important, so it won't burn as your food cooks on the grill. Remember these tips, and your food truly will be memorable.