10-Minute Recipes for the Grill

• To grill fruit, heat your grill between 350 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 15 minutes and clean the grates.
• Prep your fruit. Slice pineapple 1/4-inch thick, cut peaches and bananas in half, rinse berries.
• Place pineapple, peaches and bananas directly on the grill. Use a grill basket for small fruits like berries.
• Grill fruit for about six to eight minutes, turning when golden brown.

Serve grilled fruit with vanilla ice cream or yogurt and a fresh herb garnish, like mint. Try making milkshakes with grilled fruit like bananas. Grilled pineapple makes a sweet addition to a spicy tomato salsa. (Recipe adapted from Weber).

Use fresh herbs from your garden to flavor vinaigrettes and marinades. Grow oregano in your herb garden this summer and make this Oregano Mojo Marinade that is delicious with grilled or roasted veggies, chicken, shrimp or pork.

Give your grilled steak gourmet flair when you finish it with an herbal butter. Begin with softened butter and add your favorite herbs like tarragon, chives and parsley from the garden, shape into a log and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Combine summer-fresh tomatoes and herbs in a savory butter for steak and fish. Compound butters such as this keep for two weeks refrigerated or up to six months frozen. Add this butter to grilled vegetables, pasta dishes, grilled meats and seafood any time you’re craving the ripe flavor of your summer garden. Get the recipe for Chef Hans Rueffert’s Charred Tomato Herb Butter.

Corn on the cob is the quickest vegetable to grill. According to the experts at Weber, cook corn over direct medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until browned in spots. The fresher the better, grilled in the husk or not. Keep a cast iron skillet full of salty butter melting in the cool part of the grill for dousing the seared ears of corn in butter just before serving.

Grilling accessories help your freshly grilled creations cook faster and tastier, and make grilling more comfortable.

• Grill utensils are for more than flipping burgers or turning over chicken or fish. They can also help cook fruit and vegetables on the grill. Use skewers for kabobs and a basting brush for coating the vegetables with a tasty glaze.
• Use a grill basket to quickly sauté vegetables and bite-size meats like shrimp and pieces of chicken and fish.
• Use cast iron cookware on the grill just like you do inside. Cast iron is an excellent choice for searing meats and vegetables. Look for cast iron skillets and grill pans for quick cooking on the grill.
• From inexpensive to high-tech, grill thermometers help you keep track of food temperatures and some brands even offer the convenience of a smartphone app.
• Stay comfortable underfoot when grilling. Use a grill mat to keep all the focus on the grilling at hand.
• When the party’s over, let your grill cool down, then cover it until the next gathering. Keeping your grill covered will protect it from the elements and help it last longer.