Tips and tricks for hosting a better BBQ

Less is more

When it comes to barbecuing, many people are tempted to douse the meat or veggies they've chopped up in sauce. Wrong, say our expert panel of grillers. Their advice? Stick to simple ingredients like salt and pepper or olive oil. The simple flavoring of each will enhance the taste of your goods, instead of overwhelming them.

Add flavor with condiments

One of the dads on our panel adds some extra oomph to his meals with appropriately placed condiments. Mustard can add a bit of a kick, while ketchup adds just the right amount of sweetness. For tang, try chopped up pickles, and for a bit of extra heat, stick with hot bell peppers. Salsas and relishes work great as well.

Invest in a good grill

If you want to prepare a gourmet meal on the barbeque, it's important to buy a unit that's known to perform the way you want it to. If you want items that are smokier in flavor, opt for charcoal grills (just note, they take longer to heat up). If you want a high-power grill that will give you ultimate cooking power, get something that has high- and low-heat sides. Gas grills are also great to use (they take less time to heat up and tend to cook products faster).

Pay attention

Food on the grill can burn faster than you actually think, so be on guard and check your food frequently, especially if you're always keeping the lid closed. Another important dad-grilling tip? Cook vegetables near the outer portions of the grill (they tend to cook quickly and the outer regions give off less heat) and cook meat closer to the center.

Make sure you have the right tools

Before hitting up the grill, make sure you're armed and ready for tossing and flipping around some burgers. Tongs will help you grab onto smaller or slender food items, like sausages, while a spatula is great for flipping steaks. Have your condiments or marinades on a tray next to you with a sauce brush. Keep a fork and knife handy so you can cut into slabs of meat to ensure they're cooked all the way through.

Flipping know-how

One of the most important aspects to grilling is to know when to flip or remove a food item from the barbeque. A meat thermometer can help, but there also are a few general rules you can follow.

• Chicken: most breasts will take about five minutes on each side to cook thoroughly.
• Hamburgers: depending on their thickness, a burger can usually get grilled to perfection in about 15 minutes per side.
• Sausages: 10 minutes per side will usually do the trick.
• Fish: One food item you never want to overcook, fish tends to get grilled in under five minutes per side.
• Vegetables: Most veggies only need about five to 10 minutes on the grill (unless you're cooking something like corn on the cob, in the husk; in that case you'll need to grill for about 20 minutes total).