Estimating Grilling
Times The estimated grilling times
shown below are just that, estimates! As always your mileage may
vary. The old chef's adage which says, "it's done when it's done,"
applies. In other words, doneness is a function of the internal
temperature, not an amount of time. The type of grill, weather conditions, type of fuel and other factors render
the art of grilling, well, an art, not a science. So while these estimates, along
with guidelines for determining doneness, should be all you need to achieve great results,
you'll want to refine them with experience using your particular grill in
your particular location.
This information comes largely from Weber© (the grill manufacturer) although I have made a number of changes based on my own
experience.
Grilling Beef
Steaks: Grill steaks for the time given in the chart or till desired
doneness, turning once halfway through grilling time.
Cooking Method: Multi-Level - sear over high heat then finish over
medium heat.
For searing, allow 2 minutes for 1-inch-thick steaks and 4 minutes for 1½ -
2-inch-thick steaks. Turn steaks and move to a cooler medium heat to finish grilling, turning
once halfway through remaining grilling time. The cooking times in the chart include
searing.
Cut |
Thickness |
Rare (125°) |
Medium (140°) |
Well (170°) |
Flank steak |
1-1½ lbs. |
10-15 min. |
15-19 min. |
|
New York strip |
1 in. |
8-10 min. |
10-12 min. |
12-14 min. |
Ribeye |
¾ in. |
5-7 min. |
7-9 min. |
9-11 min. |
Steaks: Porterhouse, rib, ribeye sirloin,
T-Bone, tenderloin, top loin |
1 in. 1½ in.
2 in. |
6-7 min. 10-12 min
15-17 min. |
7-9 min. 12-15 min
17-19 min. |
9-11 min 15-19 min.
19-22 min. |
Roasts: Place meat, fat side up, in center of cooking grate. Grill
indirect for time given in chart. Use a meat thermometer to check meat for desired
internal temperature.
Cooking Method: Indirect
Cut |
Weight |
Rare (125° F) |
Medium (140°) |
Well (170°) |
Brisket, fresh |
5-6 lbs |
|
|
2½-3 hrs |
Eye of round |
2-3 lbs |
50 min-1¼ hr |
1¼-1¾ hrs |
1¾-2 hrs |
Rib eye |
4-6 lbs |
1-1½ hrs |
1½-2 hrs |
2-2½ hrs |
Rib roast, small end |
4-6 lbs |
1¼-2¼ hrs |
2¼-2¾ hrs |
2¾-3¼ hrs |
Sirloin roast, boneless |
4-6 lbs |
1½-2 hrs |
2-2½ hrs |
2½-3 hrs |
Half Tenderloin |
2-3 lbs |
45-60 min |
|
|
Whole Tenderloin |
4-5 lbs |
50 min-1 1/2 hrs |
|
|
Tip |
3-5 lbs 6-8 lbs |
1-1¾ hrs 1¾-2½ hrs |
1¾-2¼ hrs 2½-3 hrs |
2¼-2¾ hrs 3-3½ hrs |
Top round |
4-6 lbs |
1¼-1¾ hrs |
1¾-2¼ hrs |
2-2½ hrs |
Grilling Pork
Chops And Steaks: Place chops on cooking grill. Grill for the time given
in the chart or till desired doneness, turning once halfway through grilling time.
Cooking Method: Grill directly over medium heat. The
thickest cuts may need to be moved off heat (i.e. indirect) to finish.
Cut |
Thickness |
Rare |
Medium (145°) |
Well (170°) |
Blade steak |
½ in. |
|
10-12 min. |
12-14 min |
Chops |
¾-2 inches |
|
10-14 min. |
14-19 min |
Loin, rib, and shoulder |
1¼-1½ in. |
|
35-40 min. |
40-45 min. |
Roasts: Place the meat, fat side up, in center of the cooking grate. Grill
indirect for time given in chart. Use a meat thermometer to check meat for desired
internal temperature. For best results cook to medium, not well
done.
Cooking Method: Indirect
Cut |
Thickness |
Rare |
Medium (145°) |
Well (170°) |
Ham, fully cooked |
|
|
|
|
Slice |
1 in. |
12 min. |
|
|
Boneless portion |
¾ lbs. 4-6 lbs. |
50 min.-1 hr 1-2 hrs. |
|
|
Smoked picnic |
5-8 lbs. |
1-2½ hrs. |
|
|
Whole ham, bone-in |
10-12 lbs. |
2-2¾ hrs. |
|
|
Loin blade or sirloin roast |
3-4 lbs |
|
1-2 hrs. |
2-3 hrs. |
Loin center rib roast, backbone loosened |
3-5 lbs |
|
1-2 hrs. |
2-2½ hrs. |
Rib crown roast |
4-6 lbs |
|
¾-2 hrs. |
2-3 hrs. |
Country-style ribs |
3-4 lbs. |
|
|
1¼-1½ hrs |
Loin back ribs or spareribs |
3-4 lbs. |
|
1-1¼ hrs. |
|
*Tenderloins (see note below) |
¾-1 lb. |
|
|
|
Top loin roast, boneless Single loin
Double loin |
2-4 lbs.
3-5 lbs. |
|
¾-1¼hrs.
1½-1¾ hrs. |
1¼-1½ hrs.
1¾-2½ hrs. |
*Tenderloins: Tenderloins are the exception to these
guidelines. They should be cooked like steaks, seared over high heat
and finished over medium heat to an internal temperature of 145 degrees.
Grilling Poultry
Boneless breast, turkey patties and turkey tenderloin steaks:
Grill over medium heat for the time given in chart, turning once halfway through grilling
time.
Cooking Method: Direct
Type Of Poultry |
Thickness/Weight |
Medium (170 ) |
Well(180°) |
Chicken breasts, skinned and boned |
4-5 oz. ea. |
|
10-12 min. |
Turkey patties (ground raw turkey) |
¾ in. thick |
|
10-12 min. |
Turkey tenderloin steaks |
4-6 oz. ea. |
|
10-12 min. |
Poultry pieces (with or without skin): Grill over medium
heat for the time given in the chart. During the last 10 minutes of
grilling time, brush with sauce, if desired.
Whole birds: Place whole chicken or turkey, breast side up, in center of
the cooking grate. Grill for the time given in the chart or until registers
180°. When checking for doneness with a meat thermometer, insert in the center
of the inside thigh muscle, making sure the probe does not touch the bone.
Cooking Method: Direct for pieces. Indirect for whole birds.
Type Of Poultry |
Thickness/Weight |
Medium (170°) |
Well (180°) |
Broiler-fryer chicken, halves |
1½-2 lbs. |
|
1-1¼ hrs. |
Broiler-fryer chicken, whole |
3-4 lbs. 4-5 lbs.
5-6 lbs. |
|
1¼-1¾ hrs. 1¾-2 hrs.
2-2½ hrs. |
Chicken breast halves, thighs, and drumsticks |
From
3-4 pound bird. Adjust slightly for larger bird. |
|
35-45 min. |
Cornish game hens, halves |
½-¾ lb. ea. |
|
40-50 min. |
Cornish game hens, whole |
1-1½ lbs. ea. |
|
45-60 min. |
Turkey, boneless, whole |
2½-3½ lbs. |
|
1¾-2¼ hrs. |
Turkey, *unstuffed, whole |
6-8 lbs. 10-12 lbs.
14-18 lbs. |
|
1¼-2 hrs. 2-3 hrs.
3-4 hrs. |
Turkey breasts, half |
3-4 lbs. |
1½-2 hrs. |
|
Turkey breasts, whole |
4-6 lbs. 6-8 lbs. |
1½-2¼ hrs. 2-3½ hrs |
|
Turkey drumsticks |
½-1½ lbs. ea. |
|
¾-1¼ hrs. |
Turkey hindquarters |
2-4 lbs. ea. |
|
1-1½ hrs. |
Turkey tenderloin, whole |
1 in. thick |
|
14-15 min. |
Turkey thigh |
1-1½ lbs. |
|
50-60 min. |
*Be sure to fully defrost turkey before grilling. When defrosting turkey in the
refrigerator, allow 24 hours for every 5 lbs.
Grilling Fish
and Seafood
Cooking Method: Direct
Cooking time is gauged by the heat of the fire, the width of the
fish at its thickest part, and the distance of the grill from the heat source.
- For most shellfish and steaks, use a
medium-hot grill.
- The rule-of-thumb for steaks is 10 minutes per inch at four inches from the heat source.
- For peeled shrimp, scallops and calamari use a
hot grill
- Tuna steaks should be seared on a hot grill and
finished on a medium grill
- Whole fish should be cooked at a
lower heat.
- All times in the guideline chart below reflect total cooking time.
To test for doneness, cut into the center of the fish at its
thickest part. If it is opaque throughout but still moist, its done. Another test is
to press the flesh; if soft, its not done; if hard and firm, its overdone; if
firm but springs back, its done. Shellfish should also be just opaque and
will be dry if overcooked.
These grilling times are approximate, so you need to keep a close
eye on the fish to keep it from overcooking. Because it doesnt hold heat, fish needs
to be served immediately, hot off the grill.
Thickness |
Weight |
Grilling Time |
|
|
|
Whole Fish |
|
|
1 to 1½ inches |
½ to 1 lb. |
12 minutes |
2 to 2½ inches |
3 to 5 lbs. |
20 to 30 minutes |
3 inches |
5 to 7 lbs. |
30 to 40 minutes |
|
|
|
Steaks and Filets |
|
|
½ inch |
|
4 to 6 minutes |
¾ inch |
|
6 to 8 minutes |
1 inch |
|
10 minutes |
|
|
|
Shellfish |
|
|
Shrimp |
large |
4 to 6 minutes |
Lobster |
whole (1½ - 2 lbs.) |
8 to 10 minutes |
Lobster |
tail (10 ounces) |
8 minutes |
Crab |
whole (2 lbs.) |
10 minutes |
Clams |
medium |
6 to 8 minutes |
Vegetables
Cooking Method: Direct over medium heat
The trick with vegetables is getting them to cook
through at the same time - not always an easy task since we frequently like
to eat a variety of different veggies together but their grilling times vary
widely. Following these guidelines should help. After a time or
two you'll be able to judge how to apply them to your particular grill and
preferred degree of doneness.
Make sure you marinade the veggies or brush them first
with oil to prevent sticking. You may thread them on skewers, use a
grilling basket or place them directly on the grill. Cook them in a
closed grill and turn once, halfway through the cooking time.
|
Thickness |
Grilling Time |
|
|
|
Scallions |
ends
trimmed |
5
minutes |
Tomatoes |
½"
slices |
5
minutes |
Summer
Squash |
¼"
slices |
10
minutes |
Zucchini |
¼"
slices |
10
minutes |
Eggplant |
¼"
slices |
10
minutes |
Asparagus |
thick
end trimmed |
10
- 15 minutes |
White
Mushrooms |
whole |
10
minutes |
Bell
Peppers |
1"
wide strips or rings |
10
minutes |
Onions |
½"
slices |
15
minutes |
Potatoes |
¼"
slices |
15
minutes |
|