Kabob Secrets Make a fun holiday treat!

 

 

Kabobs, or kebabs, are simply pieces of meat, vegetables, or fruit threaded on skewers. But there are tips and tricks to making the best kabobs.

• Keep all ingredients about the same size so they cook evenly.
• If you're cooking foods with very different cooking times (like pork and cherry tomatoes), keep the same foods on one skewer. Cherry tomatoes, which cook in about 2 minutes, will overcook in the time it takes to cook pork, about 10 minutes.
• Metal skewers are best for foods that take longer than 5 minutes to cook.
• Bamboo skewers should be soaked in water for 30 minutes before adding the food so they don't burn in the intense heat.
• Watch kabobs carefully on the grill, and turn them frequently.
• Be sure the grill is clean, hot, and well oiled so the food will release.
• If you brush the kabobs with a marinade while they cook, discard any unused marinade at the end of cooking time. And give the kabobs a chance to cook for 2-3 minutes after the last marinade application to kill any bacteria.
• For foods that can twirl on the grill, like shrimp, use two skewers, parallel to each other, to pierce the food.

Published 12/21/07