Weekends are the perfect opportunity to throw a barbecue party for friends and family to enjoy some hot food in the backyard. Nothing smells better than basted bits of meats, veggies, and even fruits cooked perfectly over open heat. While it seems exciting, you must pay attention to several things when using the hot grill. For a hassle-free experience, before you host a barbecue, check out these five common outdoor cooking mistakes to avoid.

Cleaning with poor technique
Cooking outdoors under the sun sounds like a fun activity. But you must pay attention to a few things, especially on the grill. For starters, just dusting and rubbing the grill once with a cleaning rag will not be enough. You need to clean thoroughly using a scrub pad or a balled-up piece of aluminum foil to scrape out leftover food and cooking residue. Once the grill is clean, oil it properly for the next use. Oiling prevents the meats and vegetables from sticking to the grill.

Adding lighter fluid
If you are using a charcoal or wood-fired grill, do not light it up with lighter fluid or any flammable fuels. Flammable liquids react quickly with air and shoot up sudden flames that can spread across several feet. It is safer to use fire starters that you can purchase with the grill to safely light up and heat the pit. Also, you must allow sufficient time for the coals to burn and become soft, glowing embers before covering up the grill and starting the barbecue.

Not managing the heat
Incorrect heating technique is one of the biggest outdoor cooking mistakes to avoid. It happens when you spread the coals evenly across the grill. Remember, only one side must be searing hot for cooking the thick fatty proteins. When the meats and vegetables are cooked perfectly, place them on the cooler side to continue rendering the fats and juice. Also, never serve directly off the grill as the meats need time to rest and let the juices naturally distribute between the muscle fibers.

Not using proper tools
Appliances like outdoor grills also come with a set of tools that should be used for turning the meats, stoking the coals, and keeping the grill clean. For example, a long-handled spatula and tongs allow you to manage the foods being prepared from a safe distance away from the hot grill. You can also use forks and skewers to cook smaller chunks of meat and vegetables to prevent excessive heat from charring the foods. Using the right set of tools minimizes any risk of injury while cooking outdoors.

Leaving the food unattended
One of the biggest outdoor cooking mistakes to avoid is leaving meats and veggies unattended on the grill. Coal, wood, and even gas grills are designed to produce excessive heat. So, you need to flip the foods on the grill and move them around to avoid charring. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature from time to time and season the foods multiple times while grilling. It is a time-consuming process, you must be patient and get the heating, seasoning, and resting techniques just right to get that perfect brown sizzle on the foods.