Why Meat Sticks to a BBQ Grill

Every outdoor cook faces the problem of meat that sticks to the BBQ grill during cooking. Usually, low heat on the barbecue causes this problem. There are ways to get around this, including the simplest recommendation: just turn up the heat!

Avoiding Sticking

A sure way of avoiding having meat stick to the BBQ grill is to ensure that it is properly cleaned before cooking–it is vital to clean the grate anyway, but many people simply don’t clean enough. Grease and leftover food parts are the main cause of burgers sticking to the grill, as they form a sticky coating that attracts cooking food. In order to keep this sticky stuff away from food, coat the grill with a layer of oil, and heat–this ‘cures’ the BBQ grill.

Alternatives

When cooking, avoid pressing or flattening the meat with the cooking utensil. This will only encourage the meat to weld to unclean parts of the grill. Keep the food out of contact with the BBQ grill itself by using a layer of tin-foil and replacing it each time.

Use a grill-basket or BBQ grill topper, which are trays that keep the food and the grate apart.

Don’t coat the food in oil. This will simply make it greasy and unappetizing.