Grilling and barbequing are an American custom. Many grill masters have secrets and tricks to producing a moist and tender piece of meat. For those just learning, there are a few tips to help you create favorable meals using our flavorful spice blends. First, preheat your grill for 10-15 minutes beforehand if you are using gas and 30 minutes or longer if you are using charcoal. Second, if you are not marinating your meat, you should sprinkle it with easy cooking spices. Third, the grill should be hot enough to sear your meat and lock in those flavorful juices and moisture. It should also prevent the meat from sticking to the grill. Lastly, keep the grill closed during cooking and use a thermometer to check the temperature of the meat to make sure the food is hot enough. As always, clean your grill in advance and scrape it to get rid of any contaminants from the last time you grilled.

Marinades and spice blends are excellent ways to bring out the flavor of your food when grilling. Marinating beef, pork or chicken can be done in a few hours, but you can also let it soak in the flavors and seasoning for a day or more. This especially helps to tenderize the meat. Seafood generally requires less marinating since fish easily soaks up different flavors. When you grill, you can baste your meat with the marinade. However, be sure to use a fresh batch of marinade to prevent cross-contamination. Always remember to use tongs to flip your meat since forks can pierce the food and let out the juices.

If you want the most savory spices, sauces and marinades for your cooking, then use D.J. Hoch's Durn Good Seasonings. Their wonderful easy cooking spices include Cajun, Southwest, Island and their mouth-watering Original. Once you have experienced Ann's Cumin Marinade, you will never try another. Additionally, they have a fiery hot sauce, Bloody Mary mix and a spicy mustard. A member of Goodness Grows in North Carolina, Durn Good Seasonings uses only the highest quality spices in all of their ingredients. It is available in individual or commercial sizes and can be purchased online or throughout N.C. Family traditions start at the dinner table with Durn Good Seasonings.