Thinking back to some of our favorite food memories growing up, some of the best nostalgia a lot of us end up visiting are the great vibes and delicious smoky flavors of backyard grilling. Whether it be a neighborhood cookout or just grilling out with the family, we all want to make sure we do justice to the institution that is backyard BBQ.
Getting that quintessential smokey flavor might seem intimidating, but with some quality grilling papers, there’s nothing to be afraid of. Just like wooden grilling planks, grilling papers are a great way to put all of that woody, smokey flavor into your cooking without much of a hassle. They’re great for cooking seafood and especially for smaller vegetables that might easily roll off a plank.
Pre-soak
Just as with grilling planks, it’s important to soak your grilling papers before you use them. They are wood after all, so if you don’t soak them, it’s likely that they’ll catch fire. Keep a spray bottle with water on hand just in case. You want your veggies smokey, not burnt.
One big advantage of grilling papers over planks is that you only have to soak them for about 5-10 minutes. If you forgot to start soaking your wooden plank an hour or so ahead of time, grilling papers might be a great option to save the day. Water works just fine, but feel free to experiment with other liquids such as beer, wine, spirits, and anything else you might want to experiment with.
Using Grilling Papers
Another big difference between grilling planks and grilling papers is that the papers will wrap around the food you’re grilling. Place your food in the center, wrap the sides up and around, and tie it shut with some twine.
Making sure the food is completely wrapped up is helpful for two reasons. First, this’ll help keep the smoke married with your food. Depending on what you’re cooking, this might be a great way to get even more flavor into the dish. Second, it keeps the food in place. With things like fish, the fillet isn’t really going to run off a plank, either. Smaller and rounder vegetables, however, might roll off a plank if you’re not watching, especially as planks tend to flex as they heat up.
With these things in mind, place the food wrapped up in the grilling paper on the grill as usual and cook as desired! In no time, you’ll be enjoying a mouthwatering, smokey dish that you can even present in the beautifully charred grilling paper.
Cedar 4 Sale has been manufacturing high-quality white cedar grilling planks and grilling papers for high-end restaurants and chefs for decades. Now, you can experience these same products at your own home. Check out the store or contact us here.