Food Archives - The Cardamom's Pod

June 8, 2020 By kimarie Leave a Comment

The Best Wood Pellets For Grilling of 2020

If you are going to have a BBQ party with your family and friends, some of the best wood pellets for grilling will come in handy. They are not only useful for lighting fire, but they also create a pleasant and mouthwatering aroma for your grilled food.

Currently, on the market, there are many kinds of wood pellets. This situation can make it difficult for you to get what you need. Well, You don’t have to worry anymore because we will solve all of your problems here.

Top 5 Best Wood Pellets For Grilling

#1: Traeger PEL319 Hickory-Utterly made from natural hardwood-Best for price

Buy from Amazon

This particular version of the Traeger pellet brings the distinct aroma and hardwood taste to your food regardless of your cooking methods.

Unlike other wood pellets sold on the market, Traeger PEL319 Hickory is made from 100% natural hardwood without any toxic chemicals added. Therefore, you can rest assured that nothing unpleasant will get on your food and ruin its taste.

Grill pellets from Traeger are widely used in the USA

All the procedures for producing Traeger pellets are carried out in the USA, so the company has to follow the strict requirements of quality and safety from the government. As a result, there is no doubt in the value of Traeger PEL319 Hickory; you will get what you pay for.

A significant advantage of Traeger products is that they are manufactured using the sawdust from hardwood without cutting down the trees. Hence, using products from Traeger is not harmful to the environment.

As for the food you can cook with it, Traeger PEL319 Hickory can be used for grilling beef, poultry, pork, and vegetables.

Pros

Natural ingredients
Environmentally-friendly
Examined through strict procedures
Affordable price

Cons

Only used for grilling beef, chicken, pork, lamb, and baked.

Verdict: These grill pellets from Traeger are environmentally-friendly. Also, they are produced under strict regulations and supervision of the US government, so the quality of the product is needless to doubt.

#2: CookinPellets 40PM Perfect Mix-Best for materials

Buy from Amazon

The pack of 40PM Perfect Mix from CookinPellets is the mixture of 4 natural hardwoods: Hickory, cherry, hard maple, and apple. All of these are excellent materials for making wood pellets, so it goes without saying that they can give wonderful results when being mixed.

Not every kind of wood is chosen to make CookinPellets 40PM Perfect Mix; the company just uses heartwoods, also known as the center of the log. In case you wonder, the bark is never the material for manufacturing pellets of CookinPellets.

The reason why the company doesn’t add bark into their pellet production line is that the amount of lignin in bark doubles than that in the heartwood. Lignin usually creates too much smoke and ash. Anyone using a pellet will know the disturbing feeling of cleaning ash after enjoying the meal.

CookinPellets Mix is made of natural wood

CookinPellets 40PM Perfect Mix creates a long-lasting fire with more than 6 hours of burning and does not leave behind much ash. Also, for better taste, value and smoke flavor, they never add oak or any kind of filler wood to their product during the manufacturing phase.

Pros

Made of heartwoods
Long-lasting burning
Little ash and smoke
A mixture of great pellet flavors

Cons

It’s dry and doesn’t let out lots of smoke

Verdict: By using heartwood, CookinPellets has created an outstanding type of grill pellets for its customers. What’s more, the combination of many flavors can provide a better smell and taste for your meal, and you don’t need to clean a massive heap of ash after using.

#3: Camp Chef Bag Of Premium For Smoker-Best for flavors

Buy from Amazon

A bag of pellets from Camp Chef is always filled with premium solid hardwoods for the best experience of customers. No additives or chemicals are put in the product of Camp Chef because they care for the health of users.

What’s more, the Camp Chef will deliver the pellets to you packed in an anti-moisture zip bag for more efficient storing and use. Still, You should bear in mind that if the pellets are exposed to the sunlight or the heat for a while, its burning ability may be negatively affected.

Blend from Camp Chef can be utilized for grilling many kinds of meat

One prominent factor of Camp Chef Premium pellets is that it comes in seven different flavors. Each flavour is made from one separate kind of wood or plant like Mesquite, Alder, Hickory, Apple, Cherry, Oak, and the Competition Blend.

The Competition Blend pack is the most outstanding of all these seven flavors. Why? It can be used for grilling beef, poultry, pork, seafood, baking, and veggies, while other flavours can serve only some of these purposes.

Pros

Diverse flavors
The Competition Blend is multifunctional
Consistent fire
Excellent package

Cons

Take time to burn

Verdict: Camp Chef Premium Hardwood pellets has seven flavors in total. However, the Competition Blend is the best one of them because it can be utilized to grill any kind of meat. A pack of premium pellets will provide you with delicious flavor and consistent fire

#4: RecTec Grill Ultimate Blend Pellets-Best for durability and quality

Buy from Amazon

Natural wood pellets are the best. As they are not mixed with any chemicals, their smoke will not do harm to our health. And if you are looking for a completely natural pack of grill pellets, RecTec pellets will definitely be a wise choice.

With RecTec, you can even make your meal tastier. The Ultimate Blend Pellets package consists of a mixture of oak and hickory hardwood so it can improve the smell of your dishes.

Plus, the versatility of this grill pellet is going to satisfy any user because it can be used with many kinds of the grill like electric, gas, brick, or stone grill.

RecTec Grill Ultimate Blend Pellets has significant durability

Pros

100% natural components
A mixture of oak and Hickory
Durability
Little ash
Good smell
Versatility

Cons

Take time to burn

Verdict: With a mixture of oak and Hickory, this RecTec Grill Ultimate Blend Pellets can satisfy any fastidious customer. It creates little smoke and ash, pleasant smell, and consistent fire. Also, no matter what kinds of grill you have, you can still apply this pack of RecTec grill pellets to.

#5: Green Mountain Grill-Premium Texas Blend Pellets-Best for flexibility

Buy from Amazon

If you do not carefully choose the right grill pellets for a BBQ party, it may come with the reversed effect. Even when there is nothing wrong with the way you cook, your meat can be filled with the bad odor of unsuitable grill pellets.

However, with GMG Premium Texas Blend Pellets, you don’t have to be concerned about what types of grill to use. The reason is that these grill pellets from GMG are appropriate for any kind of grill.

The product is a 100% natural with a mixture of black oak, Hickory, and Texas mesquite. Therefore, it is friendly to your health and doesn’t let out harmful smoke to the environment.

This product has good quality but quite a high price

If you are keen on camping, RV’ing, Picnicking, or Tailgating, this pack of grill pellets is just right for you. Premium Texas Blend Pellets come in a modest-sized bag – designed to save the space of your luggage. Also, it can be resealable.

Pros

Used for many grills
An ideal package for carrying
Low ash

Cons

Quite pricey

Verdict: Despite the roughly high price, the grill pellets from Grill Mountain Grill are worth-purchasing. Apart from the extraordinary quality of the pellets, GMG provides customers with an impressive resealable zip bag for better storing and carrying around.

What To Look For When Choosing The Best Grill Pellet

Natural hardwood

To gain more profits, many manufacturers add more chemicals or fillers into the grill pellet. The chemicals and fillers can make the pellets burnt quickly, but they will do harm to the environment and the health of users. It will not do you any good when eating meat that contains toxic chemicals.

In some cases, these chemicals and fillers even have the same aroma as the authentic,100% natural products. However, the smell of a natural product is still more attractive than the low-quality one.

Grilling Frozen Steak

Types of flavors

Some people assume that grill pellets are just for lighting fire, so they don’t need a flavor. Yet, a grill pellet with a specific flavor will improve the taste of your meal. So, choosing the right grill pellet flavor is quite crucial.

In pellet grilling, Hickory is the most widely used one. This type of wood provides you with the traditional flavor of BBQ, and it doesn’t create too much smoke, making it eco-friendly. Moreover, Hickory grill pellets can be utilized for many kinds of meat like beef, poultry, lamb, and so on.

Another remarkable kind of wood for grill pellets is apple. Some people may find the smell and taste of Hickory too strong. In this case, apple grill pellets will serve as the best alternative. Grill pellets made from apple trees will bring a faint sweet smell to your grilled food.

There are other types of wood for producing grill pellets like cherry and maple. When using cherry grill pellets, you will find the apparent smell of smoke. With maple one, your food will have a relatively sweet taste.

But truth be told, none of them are better than another as some have what others do not and vice versa. So, a bag of mixed pellets is highly recommended if you want to serve your party the best food.

Although mixed pellets are often sold at a high price, their quality is quite impressive. Just think about it. The best traits of every outstanding natural flavor come together in one single bag. Definitely worth a try.

Conclusion

Lastly, if you ask what the best product among these five in this top list is, we will recommend that it is the RecTec Grill Ultimate Blend Pellets.

These grill pellets can be used with any grill in the world. Each bag contains a mixture of 100% natural wood – which means 100% natural flavor for better taste and better aroma. Furthermore, RecTec Grill Ultimate Blend Pellets does not let out much ash so you don’t have to waste your time cleaning it.

Moreover, its fire lasts longer, so it is cut out for long parties. We guest that after reading this post, you have realized what the best wood pellets for grilling are. If you are interested, keep following our website for more articles about grill pellets.

July 4, 2019 By kimarie Leave a Comment

Grilling Frozen Steak

Not many people think that it is possible to grill a frozen steak. They think that the grill might not be hot enough to defrost the steak and to grill the steak to perfection. Or, that the steak will not end up juicy and tenderized.

But you will be surprised about how delicious grilling a frozen steak can be if you are doing it correctly. There are a couple of things that you need to know about grilling steak that is still frozen. Then, you will see yourself that it can be really a great time saver, and you will have the most delicious grilled steak. You just need to make sure that you remember this complete guide in grilling frozen steak.

How to Tenderize Steak With Salt

Benefits of Grilling Frozen Steaks

You might think on why should you grill your steaks, while they are still frozen hard? Isn’t it much harder to grill frozen steak, than waiting a couple of hours for the steaks to defrost? With these benefits, you will understand much better why people are going through the trouble of grilling steak, while it is still frozen.

You can decide to grill at the last minute. Many people can’t decide what is for dinner, and then at the last minute, they decide that grilling is something they are in the mood for. Waiting until the meat or steak is defrosted can take forever. With grilling frozen steak, you don’t have this problem.

Many people might find this a surprise, but the meat is juicier and more flavorful when they are grilling it while it is still frozen. This is because it is getting cooked on the outside before it is cooked on the inside. Drying out isn’t a problem with frozen steak. Making sure that the steak stays moist and juicy.

Downsides of Grilling Steaks That Are Still Frozen

Something that you should consider, is that there also some downsides and problems that you should know and consider when it comes to grilling steaks that are still frozen.

The first downside is the fact that the frozen steaks are going to take a bit longer to be cooked than with the steaks that aren’t frozen at all. You should be prepared to wait a bit. The other thing is that you should freeze your meat correctly. Otherwise, you are going to have a problem to grill the steaks, while they are still frozen. You should also make sure that there isn’t any ice laying on the meat when you are grilling the steak.

Before You Even Start With Grilling the Steak

This is really essential to remember. If you are considering grilling your steak frozen, you should prepare your steak correctly, before you put it in the freezer. This is because you will need to be able to freeze the steak flat, and not struggle to get more than one steak off each other.

It is essential that you are going to freeze the steak one at a time, for being able to grill them while they are still frozen.

How to Grill Frozen Steak Correctly?

With this guide, you will know exactly how to grill frozen steak correctly.

The first step is going to be, to sear the steak on both sides. This normally is taking about 10 minutes on each side. This is to make sure that you are keeping the moisture inside the steak.
Taking the steak off the heat and add the seasoning that you prefer. You should never add the seasoning to the meat before you have seared it first. You are going to take some of the moisture away.
Putting the steak back on the heat, making sure that you are cooking it to perfection. To your liking. Some prefer raw, some prefer medium raw, while other people prefer cooked. Making sure that you are turning your steak on the grill on a regular basis.

Tips That You Should Remember When You Are Grilling Frozen Steaks for the First Time

You need to remember that the steak should be rather thick. The thicker the steak, the better it will work with grilling it frozen. You should also make sure that you are freezing the steak correctly, to start with. It should not be freeze two pieces of steak on top of each other. And, it should be freeze flat.

Grilling frozen steak isn’t only possible, but it is also really delicious. You will taste the difference between grilling defrosted steak and grilling frozen steak. The secret is that you should know how to grill the frozen steak correctly.

With this guide, you will be able to become a professional when it comes to grilling frozen steak. And, everyone else will want you to tell them the secret. At the end of the day, it isn’t as difficult. It is just knowing a couple of grilling secrets.

July 4, 2019 By kimarie 1 Comment

How to Tenderize Steak With Salt

Tenderizing steak with salt? Is that really possible? We always know that salt is making the meat dry and that you should not add salt to steak until it is cooked or at least sealed on both sides. Are you telling me, we have prepared steak wrong the whole time?

Yes, you can tenderize steak with salt. However, there is a certain, secret method for using salt to tenderize your steak. If you are doing it wrong, you are going to get the opposite effect. This is why you should make sure that you know everything about tenderizing steak with salt before you try it for the first time. This is everything you need to know about this secret.

Salt Drying Out Raw Meat and Steak?

Is this then the truth that raw meat and steak are getting dried out when using salt on it? Yes, this is still the truth. When you are cooking any meat, especially steak, you should only add the salt when the steak is sealed or seared on both sides. Otherwise, the salt is drawn the moisture out of the steak, making it dry.

And, if you are purchasing low-grade meat, this is going to make the meat dryer and tougher to eat. Really not enjoyable. This is why everyone learns from a young age that adding salt to your meat, before it is cooked isn’t a great idea. With tenderizing your steak with salt, you are using a secret method that will not dry out the meat.

Can You Use Just Any Salt for Tenderizing Steak?

This is the secret. You just don’t use any type of salt for tenderizing your steak. You especially don’t use table salt. This is the salt that will take all the moisture out of your steak, and that will not tenderize your meat for sure.

You should only make use of sea salt or kosher salt. Don’t try any other salt, or you will not get the same results. This is the mistake that many people are making. They think that any salt can be used, and then they are ruining a great piece of steak.

Should It Still Be a High-quality Steak, or Would Low-quality Steak Do?

Another important question that you should be asking. Should the steak that you are purchasing be a high-quality grade steak, or will the cheaper type steaks work as well?

This is good news. If you are purchasing the high-quality grade steak, you will not really need to worry about finding ways to tenderize it, will you? This method will work best on low quality, cheap steak. However, something that you should keep in mind is that the steak should be at least 1inch thick. Thin, minute steaks won’t work at all.

Guide in How to Tenderize Your Steak, Using Salt

Here is the step by step guide on how to tenderize your steak, using the sea salt or kosher salt.

Make sure that the steak is defrosted properly
Laying the steak flat out on a plate, making sure that you are able to cover both sides thoroughly with salt. You should make sure that you are covering the whole steak with salt.
You should leave the meat for at least an hour with the salt on. The longer you left the salt on the steak, the softer and juicier the steak will become.
Rinse off the salt before you seasoning the steak. You don’t want to leave the salt on the meat. It is going to taste like pickles.
Cook or fry your steak as you normally would.
Rest the steak for a couple of minutes before serving.
Enjoy tenderized steak that wasn’t costing you an arm and a leg.

Last Tips to Remember

how to tenderize steak with salt and vinegar

Remember that the type of salt that you are using is the secret ingredient. If you are using the wrong salt, your meat will not have the result that you were hoping for. You should also make sure that you are rinsing your meat before you are seasoning it for cooking. You need to rinse all those salt off.

Something that most people forget is that you didn’t season your meat. You just tenderized it. You should add the spices as normal before cooking, or baking your steak.

Tenderizing your steak with salt can really work if you are using the right salt. And, if you are using the right method. There are many people that have tried this but failed. This is mostly because they didn’t know that they should have used a specific type of salt and that they should have rinsed their meat before cooking.

However, if you are following this guide, you will never have to eat cheap, dry steak again. You will be able to enjoy a juicy steak, that wasn’t expensive at all. You just use one secret ingredient: salt.