Grilling keeps the deep-rooted American tradition of barbecuing and enjoying delicious foods alive and makes summer the most exciting time of the year. One of those meals that make the summer exciting is the grilled brats.
You might have a bratwurst expert in your family. These self-proclaimed experts do not shy away from taking over and rising to the challenge of satisfying the appetites of friends and family. However, ask any bratwurst star and they will tell you that grilling is the only acceptable way of preparing the dish for many people.
This may sound stressful but to the pit boss barbecuing, this means showing the extra level of responsibility. This motivates them to take the mantle and the responsibility of grilling the food. This separates the barbecuing masters from the ordinary cooks—the need for creating something delicious and fulfilling the needs of the guests makes them rise to the occasion.
However, a key part of grilling is getting the required ingredients ready for the event and finding the right method for creating grilled brats. However, there is a method to the madness; certain settings to the gas grill ensures that you get the most delicious grilled brats leave you and your guests wanting more.
How to Grill Brats on a Gas Grill
The following step-by-step guide gives you the method and recipe for cooking the best-grilled brats. However, before we about discussing the recipe, here is a list of the ingredients that you need to assemble beforehand.
Ingredients
1 large onion thin sliced
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
4 Bratwurst
4 Sandwich rolls
4 Tablespoon sauces
Now that you have the parts ahead of you, the following is a list that you need to confirm before you move on.
What Brats to Buy?
The one thing that you need to be sure of is the packaging of the brat. Avoid buying brats that come in plastic-wrapped foam trays or cardboard containers.
You’ll get good quality brats from your local butcher—the ones wrapped in regular butcher paper.
Of all the brats, many consider Artisan brats that have a European touch to them as the tastiest and the most delicious of all the brat types.
Therefore, buying brats from different brand companies may be cheaper and much more accessible. If you don’t want to compromise the taste of the barbecue, buy local brats; this would be a juicier and satisfying option.
Clean Your Grill First
If you have not used your gas grill for a long time, it is imperative to clean the residue and the dust that settles in the cooking grates.
Anyone using the gas grill should make sure that it is clean after the barbecue session.
Once you are done looking after the aforementioned crucial aspects, move on to the action of grilling America’s favorite barbecue delight.
Our Step-by-Step Guide to Grilling Brats on Your Gas Grill
The following step-by-step guide will help you in making the best-grilled brats. While doing so, we will also clear a lot of misconceptions alongside warning you of the regular practices you should avoid when making grilled brats.
1. Heating the Grill
Once you are done cleaning the grill, you don’t have to face the issue of sausages sticking to the leftover drippings from past BBQ hangouts. The next step is to heat the grill and get it ready for use; this is where gas grills differ from other grill types.
When using gas grills, it is imperative to ensure that the tank valve is open and flowing before you go to ignite the burner. This is different from a charcoal grill which relies on lighting the coals and giving them a chance of warming before setting the brats.
Heat only one part of the grill as it allows you to move the brats to a cold zone and maintain the balance of heat. It will also prevent the brats from overcooking and overheating.
If you want the atmosphere of the barbecue around you as you grill the brats, the aforementioned heating type might be ideal. However, if you’re going to get done with grilling as quickly as possible, heating the whole grill is the option you should consider.
2. Grilling vs Steaming
Another mistake that people often make when grilling brats is not steaming the brats before placing them on the grill for heating. You should avoid doing this as Bratwursts need to get to a temperature as high as 160 degrees Fahrenheit for perfect grilling.
Grilling the brats at a temperature as high as this will end up splitting the bratwursts and causing it to lose all its juices and flavor. Lower temperature, on the contrary, means a longer cooking time. By the time the brats reach this temperature, they will feel and taste different because of spending too much time on the grill.
Steaming the brats allows you to safely reach an appropriate internal temperature while keeping the food as juicy as possible. Steaming the brats in beer or onion slices will infuse the taste and scent of beer into the food. Once you steam the Bratwursts, place it on the grill for it to get the perfect amount of heat.
3. Brush the Grill with Oil
To add the smoky and crispy texture to the brats, lightly coat the grates with oil. Ensure that you don’t go overboard with the oiling and cause the oil to drip from the grates onto the grill.
You can use all types of oils for different flavors, including peanut or sunflower oils. Our favorite oil to use for most cooking is avocado. It is versatile and healthy so it can usually do the trick for you. Make sure that the oil you use has a high smoke point (olive oil is not a good option).
4. Arrange the brats on the grill
Once the grill is nice and hot, it is time to place the brats on them. Layout the sausages vertically while ensuring that they are evenly spaced so that they can heat at an equal rate.
While placing the brats ensure that you put them all at once. This will make tracking cooking progress easier for you.
5. Grill the brats for 15-20 minutes
While gently repositioning each brat and flipping sides every 3-5 minutes, allow the meat to grill for 15-20 minutes. Don’t place the lid on top of the grill and ensure that the brats are grilling right in front of your eyes.
While there is no specific time for the brats to grill, given their varied texture and weight allow them to heat until they don’t reach the desired level of internal temperature.
Therefore given the variation in the size and weights of the brats, there are likelihoods for the brats to vary in time of heating accordingly. This is where you need to use your judgment effectively rather than allowing the brats to heat according to the clock.
Another crucial thing that is your friend during a barbecue is the pair of tongs that you use. Regardless of how hot the grill is, it is imperative to use the tongs gently.
6. Texture and Color of Brats
A perfectly cooked bratwurst will be dull reddish-brown; the skin will seem as if it is just about to wrinkle with its firmness still intact.
If you notice your bratwursts turning gray or becoming shriveled and drawn, there are likelihoods that you have overcooked them.
Regardless of how many brats you are cooking and the methods you use when grilling other meals, to get the perfect grilled brats, it is imperative to pay attention at each moment. An internal temperature of 160 degrees Celsius is the bare minimum of getting the ideal grilled brats.
You can also notice it with the crispy touch they have to them after periods of heating.
If however, you don’t have a thermometer at your disposal you can ascertain the temperature of the brat by choosing a sacrificial brat and slicing it to get an idea of the color. This will determine how much more times the brats need to grill thoroughly.
Once they have the desired level of heating, remove them one by one after moving them to the cooler portion of the grill. The Bratwursts are now ready to serve.
7. Serve
You can enjoy Bratwursts as a solo dish or on a steamed bun with a squirt of mustard and ketchup. You can try different styles of cuisine as well as mixing them with caramelized onions and bell peppers will present even more flavor. Or, if you really want a treat, add bacon!
You can also pair them with Salads like potato and chili and baked beans. However, whatever you try them with, ensure that you get them while they are hot.
