by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: May 28, 2009   Last Updated: October 18, 2010

Grilling is synonymous with summer. When the weather is hot, it only makes sense that people would not want to heat up their homes by cooking things in an oven or a broiler. Cooking on an outdoor barbecue allows them to enjoy the outdoors while cooking a meal. One of the tastiest ways to cook fish is on a barbecue grill. It is a method that allows the fish to taste like fish, without getting doused with all sorts of high fat sauces.

Here are some ways by which to cook fish on a grill.

GRILL BASKETS -

When cooking smaller pieces of fish, or filets, it is necessary to protect the pieces from falling into the grill. One of the easiest ways is to use a grill basket. By using a grill basket, the fish is able to absorb all of the flavors from the smoke and grill. Vegetables can be added to the basket with the fish.

Salmon is an oilier fish, but nonetheless should be brushed lightly with olive oil. Other fishes with lower oil contents really need to be brushed with oil, otherwise they can dry out very quickly. An alternative to oiling the fish is putting it in some type of marinade that will provide sufficient moisture to keep the fish from drying out.

WOOD PLANKS -

There are various types of wood planks that can be used for cooking fish on a grill. Cedar (western cedar,) is probably the most widely recognized. Other woods that might be used in grilling fish include alderwood, maple, oak, cherry, pecan and hickory. The planks generate a lot of smoke, and that is one of the ways by which they add flavor to the fish.

Planks need to be soaked in water before they can be used. This prevents them from splitting or catching on fire. Ideally, one should soak a plank for two to six hours. The longer the plank soaks, the more water the wood can absorb. After the plank has been soaked, the side on which the fish is to be cooked should be oiled lightly.

Because the coals or wood chips have been heating up for a while, the fish should cook fairly quickly. A whole fish will take longer to cook than a half a fish or filets. One can add sprigs of herbs, wedges of lemon or lime or even marinades to the fish, although that seems unnecessary since the purpose of using planks is to allow the fish to absorb the flavors of the wood.

FOIL PACKETS -

Another way by which to cook fish on a grill is to cook it in foil packets. The packets are ideal for pieces of fish that might otherwise fall into the grill. When cooking fish in foil packets, one can cook the fish along with potatoes or other

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