For many of us, summertime is grilling season, and why not? Cooking outside is a social activity, it keeps your kitchen cool, and food just plain tastes better outdoors.
Of course, grilling comes with its own chores and inconveniences, from checking propane levels to cleaning grates between uses. One of the most frustrating issues is food that stubbornly sticks to the grates. This not only ruins the look of your food but also makes the next grill cleaning even more difficult. Fortunately, there’s a simple potato hack that can help keep your food from sticking.
The Potato Tip You Didn’t Know You Needed
Say your meat and vegetables are prepped, and you’re ready to hit the grill. But how do you plan to keep everything from sticking? Cleaning your grill grates beforehand is crucial, whether you use a brush or lean into a hack like using an onion. Once the grates are clean (and perhaps subtly onion-flavored), it’s time to apply a nonstick coating using a potato. That’s right, a potato.
Choose a nice, fresh potato, ideally a starchy russet (though Yukon Gold and most others will work, too, as long as they’re fresh and juicy). Heat the grill to medium-high, then:
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• Cut the potato in half lengthwise.
• Spear the potato horizontally on the end of a long barbecue fork, cut side down.
• Using the fork to keep your hands safe, press the potato down firmly against the grill grates.
• Rub the cut side of the potato against the grates, covering the entire food-contact area.
If the grates are hot enough, the potato juices will rapidly sizzle as their water evaporates. The starches left behind will cling to the grates, forming a shiny, visible glaze. This glaze creates a nonstick surface, so now when you slap your meat on the grill, it won’t cling and tear when you turn it. As a tasty bonus, you can dice up the other half of the potato and enjoy it alongside your chosen protein.
