Louisiana Alert: Don’t Make This Mistake On The Grill for Independence Day

(Lafayette, Louisiana) - The Fourth of July is rapidly approaching, and we're all planning what to grill as we celebrate Independence Day.

While the flags fly proudly on July 4th, grills will be smoking, and many of us will be cooking burgers, hot dogs, ribs, and a variety of other dishes. However, while the burgers are on the grill, you don't want to make the mistake so many make while grilling.

No, we're not going to debate whether you should use a gas grill or a traditional grill with charcoal; we'll save that for a later day.

However, we will address what some grill masters are guilty of when cooking burgers, and it needs to stop, if you want to serve the best burgers to your family and guests.

How many times have you stood near someone who is grilling burgers, and while they are cooking, the person grilling presses down on the burgers? Look, I won't pretend like I've never done it, but after hearing what happens to the meat on the grill, I've stopped doing that.

How To Cook Burgers on the Grill

When you press down on the burger patty, which is cooking on the grill, you are pushing much of the juice out of the burger patty, which can result in serving dry burgers to those at your cookout.

Additionally, you may also be impeding the cooking process. Yes, by pressing down on the burgers while they are on the grill, you may hinder the cooking process. We should also mention that when pressing down on burgers while cooking, you can damage the patty and cause it to crumble and fall through the grill.

So, if you're in charge of grilling for the 4th of July, don't press down on the burgers; let them cook. After all, is there anything more American than a nice juicy burger on Independence Day?

Grilling Safety Tips

Remember also to watch out for kids who are around your grill. Often, when small kids are playing, they are not aware of their surroundings, and a hot grill can be a danger to them. And lastly, never light up a girl under a covered area, even if it is raining.

I recently saw someone grilling in Acadina under the carport, and I just prayed that they did not set their home on fire. You should always grill in an open-air space with good ventilation, and you should never put a hot grill away once the cooking is completed.

Read More: Here's Where You Can Watch Fireworks in Acadiana

Hot coals should be left in the pit until a later date and never placed in a garbage can or left on the ground. This could start a fire.

Here's a quick tutorial for you, or for someone who is known to overcook their burgers. I think it's fine to share this reminder with anyone who may be over the grill on Independence Day.