We’re in the thick of grilling season and I couldn’t be happier. We’re out in the backyard as much as possible soaking in the sunshine and grilling up amazing meals.

Are you taking advantage of the beautiful weather and grilling out?

If so, how’s it going? If you’re like me, you may need a Grilling 101 refresher course to make sure your summer grilling sessions go smoothly. It’s easy to forget over the long, hard winter.

Luckily, we’ve got a refresher course right here. Ready, set, go grab the grill!

Grilling 101
Top 10 Grilling Tips – Grilling the best steak is not as easy as it seems. It’s all in the details. Check out these Top 10 Grilling Tips for making your steaks the best they can be.	How to Clean a Grill – You want your steak to be delicious, right? A clean grill makes a big difference in the outcome of your steak. Follow these step-by-step instructions to set the stage for the perfect steak.
A Guide to Steak Cuts – Looking for something tender? Or thick and hearty? Make sure to choose the cut that’s right for you with this handy dandy guide to steak cuts.	Best Tools by Cut – To grill properly you’ve got to have the right tools for the job. And, believe it or not, different cuts require different tools. Learn why here and you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.
Get the Most out of Your Grill
Grilling Vegetables	Grilling Seafood
Grilling Favorites – A great recipe can really take your grilling experience to the next level. Fantastic marinades, rubs, seasonings and sauces can bring a whole new life to the grilling experience. Try something new for a unique flavor sensation.
Grilled Ribeye Steak Recipe	Grilled, Smoked Prime Rib Recipe

When it’s shorts weather, we all want to spend as much time outside as possible. There’s something so freeing about being outdoors. So, we lounge on our patios, pool decks or balconies. And eventually, we get hungry.

So that we can stay outside, we fire up our grills and take the eating adventures outdoors. There’s nothing more enjoyable to me than a gorgeous day and a meal out in nature.

And people seem to share that sentiment, so it’s no wonder that May is National Hamburger Month – because this time of year when it’s time to cook something outside, we want burgers on the grill. Plain and simple. So why not celebrate it?

Now, it’s always time for steaks at my house, but sometimes you just want a really good STEAK BURGER. This month, we celebrate those times you crave a good ‘ol steakburger.

Whatever you call it – steak burger, burger, hamburger, steakburger – it deserves to be done up right. And when you choose to grill it, there are a few rules to live by to do the burger justice.

1. Buy quality burgers. It matters.
2. Use coal or wood for cooking.
3. Sprinkle both sides of patty with kosher salt and coarse ground white pepper.
4. Sear burgers 1 minute on each side over direct heat to seal in juices.
5. Move to indirect heat.
6. Grill for approximately 6 minutes per side, checking to ensure patties are not burning.
7. Do not press burgers with spatula.
8. Add burger toppings as desired.
9. Enjoy!

Experiment with times and check the bottom of the burger periodically to make sure you are getting the doneness you crave. Keep watch so you don’t overcook them. Hockey puck burgers are the worst! But this method should help you avoid that and get the most out of your National Hamburger Month celebration!

Are you a visual person?

I am.

Sometimes I just need someone to SHOW me how to do something. Seems like with YouTube and social media, video is the quickest way to thoroughly explain a topic.

And what better topic than steak? Filet mignon, to be exact.

The corporate chef for The Kansas City Steak Company has put together a video that provides tips on preparing their #1 best seller – the filet mignon.

It’s tender. It’s juicy. It’s buttery soft. But cook it wrong and it’ll taste like a hockey puck.

Trust me.

These steaks are delicate so you want to treat your filet with tender loving care. That way, it’ll love you right back.

Like it wrapped with bacon? Done.

Marinated? Check.

Bone-in or without? Sure!

So many choices. And when done right, this cut is brimming with flavor and leaves a lasting impression. It’s cut from the beef tenderloin roast and it’s really special.

So, what are the chef’s main tips?

1. Make sure it’s aged 28 days and the fat has been hand removed. That way, the beautiful beef shines through.
2. Check to ensure it’s well marbled for optimal flavor.
3. Thaw frozen steaks overnight in your refrigerator.
4. Take them out about a half hour before and let them come up to room temperature. That will allow them to cook evenly on the grill.
5. Use a clean, hot grill cranked up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. A high, dry heat works best with a low fat content steak like filet mignon.
7. It’s recommended to cook these steaks to medium rare for best results. Do not overcook. (Remember the hockey puck?)
8. Season all sides of the filet mignon so the natural flavor is brought out in every single bite.
9. Keep one side of the grill hot and the other side on medium. Halfway through, move the steaks to the medium side so that they continue to cook but don’t burn on the outside.
10. Cook to an internal temperature of 128 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer in the center of the steak to test. Don’t ever check with a knife.
11. Let the steaks rest on a platter for 5-10 minutes. They won’t get cold! This allows the natural juices to flavor the whole steak.

Follow these chef tips for a beautiful filet mignon every time! And watch more videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ_4TmXyDks