From Our Oven to Yours: How to Marinate Meats for Grilling

There is nothing I enjoy more than a well marinated, well cooked piece of meat. Marinating before grilling may seem like a daunting task, but know what kinds of marinades for different types of meat will speed up the process and result in better tasting food.

Beef

Beef done right is a rich with tons of flavor, melting in your mouth – no matter the quality of cut. The best way to achieve this tenderness is the perfect marinade and slow cooking. Beef marinades should add to the natural flavor of the meat, while keeping it moist during grilling.

Try this recipe-

Prep 15 min

• 1/3 cup of soy sauce
• ½ cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 ½ tablespoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon ground white pepper
• ¼ teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried minced garlic

Cook to your likes.

Chicken

When it’s good it’s good! When it’s bad it’s as rubbery and dry as gum. Although it is easy to overcook, chicken is a staple in most diets thanks to its nutritional value and excellent taste. You don’t have to worry about dry chicken if you marinade it to perfection.

Try this recipe-

          Prep Time 15 in

• ¹⁄₄ cup cider vinegar
• 3  tablespoons whole grain mustard
• 3  cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 1   lime, juiced
• ¹⁄₂  lemon, juiced
• ¹⁄₂ cup brown sugar
• 1 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons salt
• 6  tablespoons olive oil
• ground black pepper
• 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

Cook until golden brown on both sides.

Pork

Just like Chicken this white meat can dry out very quickly when cooked too long. A good marinade will solve this issue and add lots of extra flavor.

Try this recipe-

          Prep time 25 min

• 2 large pork chops
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon mesquite-flavored seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Cook until golden brown on both sides.

Freezer Needs for Storing Your Home Garden Harvest

So, it’s that time of year again….you home garden needs to be harvested, you’re planning your fall hunting trip, you need to stock up at the grocery store….and you need a new freezer! 

  There are a few things to consider when purchasing your new freezer.  Here are a few questions to answer to help you decide what your freezer needs are:

1. What types of foods are we putting in this freezer?
2. How long will the food be in the freezer?
3. Where will the freezer be located in the home?
4. Should we get an upright, or a chest freezer?
5. Frost-free, or manual-defrost?
6. What size should we get?

    If you are looking for a freezer to use for your regular day-to-day grocery needs, then a frost-free upright unit might be good for you.  These units do not build-up with ice and are best served for the foods that your family will go through on a regular basis. If you are looking for more long-term storage, then a manual-defrost chest type freezer would be best.  These units keep your food deep-frozen, while the unit may build up with ice, your food will not get freezer burned.  When you open a chest freezer, the cold air stays down in the freezer.  When you open an upright freezer, the cold air tends to escape.  Chest freezers can hold a lot of food; however, some may find that keeping an upright freezer makes it easier to organize your groceries.

    If you are going to put your freezer in the garage, make sure that where you put it doesn’t reach below -5 degrees F or above 110 degrees F.  Put it along a joining wall with your home.

A freezer will hold approx 35 lbs of food per cu. Ft., so a 15 cu. ft. chest freezer should store approximately 525 lbs of food.

Chest freezers come in a variety of sizes from 5 cu. ft. all the way up to 25 cu. ft., and range anywhere from $145-$799.

Upright Freezers are usually in the 14-21 cu. ft. size and range between $399 & $899.

Come see your home-town appliance team today so that we can help you pick out the right freezer for your family.  We have standard sizes available, but can special order any size freezer that suits your needs.

Let us know if you have any questions about freezers and storing your food. Leave it in the comments section.

Cooking with Chef Mark - How to Properly Hold Knife

Chef Mark is here to show you how to properly hold your knifes while preparing food in your kitchen. Watch the video to learn how to hold your Chef Knife with a pinch grip. Use a forward rocking motion to get the most our of your cutting.



Stay tuned to see more great cooking skills and in particular, knife skills. Care about your food and have great knife skills to impress your guests at the kitchen table.

Grilling Tips for BBQ Season

Summer is upon us and with it comes barbecue grilling season. When you gather friends and family around and fire up the grill this summer, keep these handy tips in mind:

Don’t forget to preheat- Like an oven, your grill needs a little head start before you try to cook anything on it. Preheat your grill for about 15-25 minutes to ensure that the temperature will be high enough to kill any bacteria on your meats. A nicely preheated grill will keep the insides of your grillables succulent and juicy while searing the outside and improving the flavor of the meat.

Brush as you go- The best time to use your grill brush is while it’s hot, so grab your wire grill brush and go to town after you’ve preheated but before you begin grilling the current meal. Then brush again once you have finished using the grill. Simple!

Skip cooking spray- To ensure a non-stick surface, you can oil your preheated grill by rubbing a paper towel coated in vegetable oil over the rack with a pair of tongs, but whatever you do, don’t use cooking spray on a hot grill, as that can be potentially hazardous.

Practice food safety- To avoid an unfortunate food poisoning situation, watch out for cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods by using separate cutting boards and platters, and always refrigerate meats when you are marinating them.

Follow these helpful hints and you will be crowned Grill Master by your friends and family!