How to Grill Healthy

A hibachi barbecue grill can be a great tool for preparing healthy meals. Grilling in general is healthy by nature, especially when compared to some of the other popular methods of cooking. Here are a few easy tips that will ensure that the next cookout with your hibachi barbecue grill is a healthy one.

When it comes to grilling chicken, first and foremost, cut off the excess fat before placing it on the hibachi barbecue grill. The quickest way to accomplish this is to simply buy skinned and boneless chicken. When purchased this way, the majority of all the fat has already been removed prior to packaging

Removing the fat is a bit different with steaks. You want to remove the fat on the outside of the steak but not the marbled fat that is within the meat. That’s the good stuff! One of the reasons grilling is considered healthy is that the fat will drip away during the cooking process. The same should be done with pork. Don’t be afraid either to ask the butcher for recommendations when selecting the right cut for the grill. They spend their days dealing with meat and are usually experts on the subject, and more than happy to offer advice.

Another reason to consider removing the excess fat is that it falls into the fire and creates flare-ups. These flare-ups can burn and char the meat. Anybody that has spent much time grilling knows what it is like to burn and ruin a top dollar cut of meat by flare-ups.

A hibachi barbecue grill is also great for cooking more than just meat – so why not grill up some vegetables too! The barbecue grill is already hot and they require little preparation. They can be grilled right on the grate or even steamed. An easy way to steam veggies on hibachis is to place them in a piece of aluminum foil that has been lightly sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Wrap the foil around them, tent the foil some to allow the air to circulate within the foil, and toss them on the grill. The heat will create a convection current inside the foil.

A healthy alternative to other meats is fish. Salmon is a favorite of mine and has the added bonus of being packed with omega-3 fatty acids (one of the good fats your body needs). Hibachi grills are an excellent choice for grilling fish. Depending on the type of fish and cut of meat there are numerous ways to grill it. Steaks are the easiest to grill over direct heat, but filets can be done too, with a little care. An easy method for flaky filets is to simply crumble them up in tin foil (like the vegetables) and grill them that way. Even try tossing in some onions and squeezing a little lemon juice over them.

Another healthy alternative is to avoid using salt. Try experimenting with some of the many other, low sodium alternatives. The grilling process sears in the natural flavor of the meat and seasonings will be seared to the outside. These seasonings will combine with the succulent juices once the meat has been cut and add flavor.

Using your hibachi barbecue grill to cook healthy does not mean that flavor has to be sacrificed at all. With a few tweaks here and there you can be grilling up tasty, flavorful, mouthwatering meals that your friends and family won’t even realize are healthy.