Making a roux:

After 2 failures, a ruined spatula, and a smoke detector activation I found this video and got it right:

Hope this helps.

Maximum Refrigiration Time:

Kracker Kandy Mix

Here’s what you need:
1 tube of saltines (~ 40 crackers +)
1 cup (2 sticks) butter (either salted or unsalted; do not use margarine)
1 cup + 2 Tbsp. firmly packed brown sugar (I prefer light)
1 bag chocolate chips (I like semi-sweet)
1/2 to 3/4 cup toasted chopped pecans (or toasted chopped almonds)

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Line cookie sheet with foil & spray with non-stick cooking spray. Line crackers end to end on sheet, breaking crackers to fit the end if necessary. In a saucepan, melt butter on low heat. Once melted, add brown sugar and turn heat to medium. Continue stirring until boiling – then boil for 3 minutes (set timer). Pour over crackers, spread evenly working quickly. Put sheet into oven – bake for 5 minutes. Remove – pour chocolate chips over top – place a sheet of foil over and let melt for ~3 minutes. Spread melted chocolate over the top evenly. Add nuts to top – replace foil and refrigerate until set
(can be frozen)

-Lori Nolan

Cleaning & Maintaining A Cast Iron Grill – tips

Beggining & end of season

Exterior and interior – Tub

• Window Cleaner
• Gloves
• Lint free rags
• Warm soapy water (Dawn)
• sponge
• scraper

Racks & Grill plates:

Method 1 – Baking Soda

• Fill a large bucket (one big enough to accommodate the grates) with hot water and one quarter cup of the dish soap you use to wash dishes in the sink.
• Stir in a quarter cup of baking soda until you have a good lather in your bucket.
• Drop the grates in the bucket and let them soak for an hour.
• Scrub them with a steel wool pad to remove any remaining debris. or proceed…
• …you can attempt to clean rust off cast iron grills and other metal surfaces using a thick paste make from baking soda and water. Apply the paste to the rust build-up and allow it to sit for a few hours. Then, scrub away the paste using an abrasive surface, repeating as necessary.

Method 2 – Vinegar

Learning how to clean rusty grill grates with a non-toxic substance is important since you will be cooking on them. Vinegar and salt are both edible substances, but will also remove rust.

Rub the rusty surface with plain white vinegar at full strength and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Once the vinegar starts to dissolve the rust, use your wire brush or steel wool to begin cleaning the affected area. Repeat until the rust is gone, or proceed…

• Mix two cups vinegar and one-cup salt in a bowl. Place your rusty grates in a large heavy-duty garbage sack. Pour the vinegar and salt into the bag and tie it shut.

• Lay the bag flat on the ground and let the grill soak overnight. After soaking, wipe the rust off with an old rag. The salt should act as a mild abrasive to scrape off the rust.

There are plenty of commercial rust removers. These generally work well, but may contain toxic chemicals you may not want near your food. Purchase a commercial rust remover specifically made for cleaning rusty grill grates in the barbecue section of your home repair warehouse store.

A mild enzymatic cleaner like Dawn Grill Cleaner is probably safer than a chemical cleaner whose residue could be noxious.

Method 3 – Salt Paste

• If you need something more abrasive than baking soda or vinegar to remove the rust from your cast iron grill, make a thick paste of kosher salt and water. Apply it to the rusty area, then use steel wool or a wire brush to scrub away the rust. Repeat as necessary. For particularly stubborn rust, you may need to begin your cleaning efforts with a salt paste, but may find that you can switch to the less abrasive baking soda paste once the first few layers of rust have been removed.

Alternative Method:

• Another way is to put your grates in a self-cleaning oven and run them through the cleaning process. Be cautious with this one since it could end up discoloring your grates. If you don't mind what color they are, it is a simple method to use.

Seasoning:

• Grill grates need to be seasoned like an iron skillet. The more you cook on them the less meat will stick, due to the fat in the meat lubricating the grate. The fat also prevents rust from forming. After each use, coat the grate with vegetable oil (Peanut Oil is supposed to withstand higher temeratures) to lubricate and season the grate. Do not use an aerosol can of vegetable oil. Aerosol cans explode near flames.

Brushing Method: After each use

• Stand in front of your grill and place the head of the grill brush on top of it.
• Starting at the top of the left side, move the brush in the direction of the wires on the grates.
• Continue brushing in this manner until you have cleaned the entire grill.
• Shake the brush over a garbage bag to remove any debris from it.
• Debris that fell into the grill should burn off the next time you use it.

Storing:

• Heavily coat w/peanut oil & bag it.

We do not recommend the use of porcelain cooler & griller combo grills.

Summer Cooking Tips From 'America's Test Kitchen’

Some summer thoughts for a winter day.
Have any grilling tips that you want to share? I’m starting a new category for grilling recipes and tips. Any ideas and suggestions will be credited. Want to share your tip, website or book suggestion?
Click on “read/leave comments” link in the gray box below or email me at the email address below.

 

Tony Auth

Bridget Lancaster and Jack Bishop prepare a traditional summer barbecue, as imagined by WHYY's artist-in-residence, Tony Auth.