A cross-country road trip is one of the best activities for families to enjoy during the summer. You get to see the sights and sceneries other states have to boast. Plus, you gain valuable experiences and memories along the way. One of the many activities that road trippers can enjoy is the age-old tradition of grilling in the outdoors. Portable grills have made it much easier for families to prepare home-cooked meals even on the road. However, there are a couple of hurdles that might make grilling on a road trip a little tricky. Today, we give you 6 simple tips for grilling on a road trip that will hopefully make things go more smoothly for you.
1. Prepare Your Grilling Meats Ahead
On the road, it can be tough to find ethical meat sources for your grilling needs. This puts you at risk of buying bad meat that could potentially harm you and your family. Preparation is always a great idea if you’re going on a road trip. Make sure that you have all the meats you need stashed and stored in a cooler before your trip. Or if you have one of those fancy RVs, make sure your freezers are functioning well to accommodate the sausages, burgers, or steaks that you’re bringing along.
Marinating your meats ahead of time is also a great idea. Now, all you need to do is throw them on the grill and get cooking.
If buying meat hasn’t always been your thing, that’s fine. Plenty of road trippers start without a clue as to what types of meats to bring on the road. Carnivore Style has a diverse selection of meat recommendations and reviews on its site. They provide you with loads of information e.g., what portion sizes you should get, how you should store your meats on the road, etc.
2. Cut and Store Your Vegetables
Adding variety to your dishes is always a good idea. That way you can make sure that you’re feeding your family the right amount of nutrients to keep them healthy while on the road. Vegetables are also great for grilling; but sometimes, they can get pretty inconvenient, especially if you still need to chop and slice them.
Cutting up your vegetables and storing them in resealable plastic bags can save you a ton of preparation time. Plus, you won’t have to lug around a chopping board or knife on the trip.
3. Keep Recipes Easy
You don’t want to get all fancy with the recipes while you’re on the road. Using recipes that are too complex will require you to bring double the equipment and ingredients. And while it might not seem like a big issue at the beginning, you’ll later find that carrying all these things, setting them out, then packing them up again can be a hassle.
Additionally, you want cooking time to be as quick as possible while on the road. Nighttime is typically when most wild animals come out to hunt. You and your family don’t want to be around when that happens.
4. Pack Enough Fuel for Your Grill
You want to make sure that you have enough fuel to use your grill. So, before leaving town, make sure you’re bringing along as much gasoline, charcoal, or propane as you need. Make sure to place this equipment in an area in your car that isn’t too hot. Heat can easily activate flammable materials like propane and gasoline. Placing them somewhere away from the engine and where ventilation is stable is recommended.
5. Stay Focused on Your Grill
Getting distracted while grilling on a road trip is not unusual. After all, there is a lot of things happening around you that can potentially take your mind off your task e.g., animals roaming around, other cars passing by, or your family chattering on the side.
If you’re grilling somewhere close to trees or other greeneries, you must stay focused on grilling. This is so that you can avoid accidents such as burning your fingers or setting nearby objects on fire. Have water or a fire extinguisher nearby so you can act fast in case of an emergency.
6. Let the Meat Rest
Most people slice and cut up their meats right after grilling. This prevents the juices from your meats to distribute evenly. To avoid this, make sure to let your meats rest for a couple of minutes before chopping it up to serve. Nobody wants to burn their tongue on a piece of hot steak, either. Thus, letting your meats sit for a few minutes is a great idea.
In summary
Road trips can be a lot of fun, especially when you plan and prepare for them. If grilling is on your itinerary of things to do, preparing your meats, vegetables, and sauces beforehand is a great idea. Furthermore, making sure that you have the tools necessary for the job (i.e., charcoal, gasoline, propane, and kitchen utensils) can save you a ton of wasted time and energy.
We hope this article helps you plan a fun and enjoyable road trip with your friends and family this summer.
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