[Blindtlk] Grilling question

Tue Aug 24 13:45:46 UTC 2010

Hi Diane,
After losing my sight three years ago, I took it on myself to become 
proficient at grilling without sight as I had enjoyed grilling all my life. 
I am still learning but I'd like to share a few tips I've adapted to make 
this an enjoyable form of cooking for me and others who enjoy my efforts. 
Whether to use charcoal or gas is a personal  choice.  Enhanced flavor with 
charcoal is offset by some to the ease of cleaning when using gas  and 
simply lighting the gas grill.  When cooking with gas, the grill flavor 
comes from the drippings hitting the metal heat plates or lava rocks below 
the grill surface.  A more smokey flavor may be achieved by using wood chips 
placed in a small iron box below the grill surface for this purpose.  As 
Marion stated, charcoal chimneys make lighting charcoal a snap.  I consider 
three tools indispensable when grilling, a talking thermometer, a double 
sided spatula, and a fish basket.  The talking thermometer enables perfect 
timing of cooking.  The double sided spatula that acts like tongs makes 
turning one or two pieces easier.  And the fish basket....it is a basket 
with a locking lid and a very long handle.  I use this to place multiple 
pieces of meat or vegetables in and locking the lid on so that turning 
everything is simple.  The whole basket goes on the grill and the basket may 
be flipped with the long handle.  I've never used a Weber, but I do know 
that the design of the dome shaped lid is so that air in the grill may 
circulate around the food for enhanced cooking and flavor.  The lid of 
Weber's has a relief valve on the top so that you can regulate the amount of 
heat or smoke you want to release.

Forgive me if all of this is redundant to some, but I find grilling very 
enjoyable and hope that others will find the same pleasure.

Jump in and have fun.
Michael.

P.S. ........we discuss tips like these on the blind cooks list.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Graves, Diane" <dgraves at icrc.IN.gov>
To: "'Marion Gwizdala'" <blind411 at verizon.net>; "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" 
<blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 7:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grilling question

> Marion,
>
> Wow! I learned something new. I have never heard that the oven should be 
> left open when broiling. I have always broiled with the door completely 
> closed. What is the reason for leaving the door open?
>
> You all have inspired me to try my hand at grilling. While I am a skilled 
> cook in doors, I have never actually tried to grill outdoors, always 
> believing, and having been told that it would be difficult for a blind 
> person to do.  I'm not really sure why. Maybe it has always been a phobia 
> of lighting the charcoals. This leads me to another question.
>
> I'm afraid it wouldn't be classified as blindness related, but as long as 
> we are on the subject, how do you get that smoky flavor when using a gas 
> grill? Wouldn't the meat have the same taste as that which was cooked in 
> the oven? Just wondering.
>
>
>
>
>
> Diane Graves
> Civil Rights Specialist
> Indiana Civil Rights Commission
> Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
> 317-232-2647
>
> "It is service that measures success."
> George Washington Carver
>
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Marion Gwizdala
> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 8:15 AM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grilling question
>
> Aaron,
>    Perhaps the Weber grill, for some reason, utilizes a different 
> technique
> than convention charcoal grills. Everything that I have read about 
> grilling
> over charcoal is that the cover should be left open. Like your comparison 
> of
> the Weber to a convection oven, a charcoal grill is comparable to a 
> broiler,
> except the heat source comes from the bottom rather than from above. When
> broiling in an oven, the oven door should be left ajar, thus the reason 
> for
> the stop point on the door just after it is opened. I will see what I can 
> do
> about finding an authoritative source on the opened or closed lid! (grin)
>
> Fraternally yours,
> Marion
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Aaron Allen" <aaron.allen at comcast.net>
> To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 9:37 PM
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grilling question
>
>
>>I agree:
>>
>> I also have a Weber Stainless Steel  grill and I love it.
>>
>> Weber states that you should always grill with the cover closed.
>>
>> Grills work something like convexion ovens.
>>
>> The closed lid helps the heat circulate around the food and allows for
>> faster cooking time
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Constance Canode
>> Sent: Monday, August 23, 2010 2:13 AM
>> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Grilling question
>>
>> Tom, you grill with the cover on, but still have to flip the
>> burgers.  I used to have a little Hibachi, and I know I spelled that
>> wrong, and I am blind also.  Weber's are pretty cool.  We now have a
>> large stainless steel grill next to our deck and my husband is the
>> king of the grill, a gas grill, but I can also use it.  He is
>> partially sighted, but I am not.  I have faith in you.
>>
>> Connie Canode
>>
>>
>> At 05:13 PM 8/22/2010, you wrote:
>>>Hello everyone,
>>>
>>>I have VERY little experience grilling anything.  I am also totally
>>>blind. I just bought one of those little Weber carry and go gas
>>>grills.  Does anyone have any good grilling advice?  I have a couple
>>>of burger patties that I thought I'd try tonight.
>>>What I don't remember is whether or not when I'm grilling, I grill
>>>with the cover on or leave the grill open as the burgers are cooking.
>>>I'm a bit worried, as I don't have any sighted assistance this
>>>weekend but think I might be able to do it if I'm careful.
>>>Any tips or advice?
>>>Tom
>>>
>>>_______________________________________________
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>> lobal.net
>>
>>
>>
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>
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