5 Ways to Instantly Upgrade Your Grilling Game This Summer

If you’re anything like me, you probably spend most warm weekends hovering over your grill, spatula in hand, hoping this round of burgers turns out better than the last. The truth is, no matter how many times you’ve grilled, there’s always room for a few simple upgrades that make everything smoother and the food even better.

You don’t need to be a pro pitmaster. With a couple of smart adjustments and the right gear, you can step up your summer BBQ game without blowing your budget. Here’s how to do it with a few favorites from Trusted BBQ that are genuinely worth your time.
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Use a Grill Mat, Seriously

Let’s start with the unsung hero of grilling: the non-stick grill mat. If you’ve never used one, it sounds almost too good to be true but it’s a game-changer.

No more chicken sticking to the grates. No more veggies falling through the cracks. And no more spending half your night scraping off charred bits after your guests leave.

Trusted BBQ’s grill mat lays right over your cooking surface. You can grill pretty much anything on it from fish fillets to sliced zucchini and it comes off clean. It keeps your grates from getting grimy and gives you a flat surface to work with. I didn’t think I’d love it as much as I do, but here we are.

If you’re only doing one upgrade this summer, make it this.

Give Your Grill Time to Heat Up

This sounds basic, but you’d be surprised how many people skip it. Lighting the grill and tossing on steaks two minutes later? That’s not doing your meat (or your grill) any favors.

When you preheat your grill gas or charcoal you’re setting yourself up for success. It gives you consistent heat, helps sear meat properly, and keeps things from sticking. With gas, let it run with the lid down for 10–15 minutes. With charcoal, wait until the coals are covered in a light layer of ash.

Don’t rush it. A little patience up front pays off when your burgers aren’t raw in the middle and your chicken skin actually crisps up instead of steaming.

Upgrade Your Grill or At Least Your Setup

You don’t need a $1,500 monster grill to cook great food. But if your current setup wobbles, flares up every time you grill something fatty, or barely gets hot enough to toast bread… maybe it’s time to retire it.

If you’re cooking for the family or hosting friends often, the Trusted BBQ 2-Burner Propane Grill is worth checking out. It’s not oversized, but it’s got enough space and consistent heat to actually cook well. Moreover, the warming rack is perfect for keeping finished food warm without drying it out.

More of an on-the-go griller? Tailgates, campsites, backyards? Their portable charcoal grill is solid. It’s compact but sturdy, and it doesn’t feel like it’ll fall apart if the wind picks up.

Bottom line: gear doesn’t make the chef but it definitely helps.

Control the Air Like You Mean It

This one’s especially for charcoal fans: the vents on your grill aren’t just decoration. They control airflow, and that controls temperature.

Top vents, bottom vents they all affect how much oxygen feeds the fire. Open vents = hotter fire. Close them = cooler, slower cooking.

If you’ve ever ended up with burnt edges and raw centers, odds are your airflow needed adjusting.

Trusted BBQ’s portable charcoal grill makes this easier than most. The vent placement is intuitive, and you don’t have to burn your fingers trying to tweak it mid-cook. With a little practice, you’ll know how to keep your heat where you want it whether you’re searing steaks or slow-cooking ribs.

Keep Your Grill Clean (You’ll Taste the Difference)

I know, cleaning the grill is the last thing you want to do after a meal. But it matters. A lot more than people think.

Old grease and leftover food bits mess with flavor. They smoke, they flare up, and they coat your food with weird, bitter char. A dirty grill also messes with heat flow and airflow, making it harder to control temps.

The good news? If you’re using a grill mat (like Trusted BBQ’s), you’ve already cut your cleaning in half. But even without it, a quick brush while the grates are still warm will keep things in good shape.

Pro tip: Keep a stiff brush and a pair of heat-resistant gloves nearby. Get in the habit of brushing down the grates right after cooking. It takes 2 minutes, and you’ll thank yourself next time.

Wrapping It Up: You Don’t Need to Be Fancy

Grilling is all about getting out in your backyard, making good food, and enjoying the process smoke, mess, all of it. But a few smart moves? They can save a great deal of irritation.

Preheat your grill, clean it when you’re done, learn how to control the heat, and don’t be afraid to swap out that old shaky setup if it’s just not working anymore. Tools like the grill mat and a solid two-burner gas grill or portable charcoal setup from Trusted BBQ can make those changes feel easy.

That’s it. No need to reinvent the grill. Just cook, adjust, and enjoy the time around the fire.

Now go grab a cold one and fire up the grill. Summer’s calling.