With warm temperatures here, it’s time to take your cooking outdoors! Here are some tips to prepare your grill and prep your food for great grilling results.

Preparing your grill:

• Turn on the grill and let heat on high (500ºF) for five to ten minutes before cooking.

• Let wire grates cool, then “lightly season” grill to prevent sticking by brushing grates with oil (ideally, peanut oil – which doesn’t burn easily).

Prepping beef, chicken or seafood for grilling:

• Thaw any frozen meats or seafood in the refrigerator before cooking. Never leave meats un-refrigerated in warm weather.

• Season with herbs and spices, garlic, salt and pepper immediately before grilling for maximum taste.

For best grilling results:

• For chicken: place on the hottest part of the grill and sear for 3 minutes on each side. Then, move to a cooler area and baste with marinade frequently. Chicken is done when the meat is white and juices are clear.

• For fish: use a grill basket to keep delicate fillets or whole fish intact. Oil and heat basket before placing fish inside. It’s done when the meat is “just firm” – raw is soft and overdone is hard and firm.

• For red meat: cook on the highest temperature until there is no pink on the inside. Flip every three minutes until reaching desired readiness.

• Immediately before removing the meat or fish from the grill, sprinkle again with seasoning for added flavor. Allow meat or fish one to two minutes to “relax” while the juices flow and the flavor sets in, then serve with side dishes. – Grilled vegetables are a tasty and healthy addition to grilled chicken, fish or steaks. For added flavor, slice fresh vegetables into quarters, peel off outer skin and season before grilling.