Our Top Tips for Grilling with Grapeseed Oil
Nanette HumerSummer grilling is a simple, spontaneous and relaxed way to entertain. The outdoor grill is the perfect place for friendship and good company. Whether you're sharing fresh fish with a well-paired wine, recapping the day's adventures over epic burgers or serving a treasured family favorite at a reunion, gathering around the table is one of life's great pleasures.
Invite your friends for a casual get-together. Long summer days, firefly evenings and a good meal make for brilliant memories. Just gather a few pantry staples, fresh vegetables from the garden or farmers market, and your main dish, and you're ready to fire up the grill.
The short answer: brush your food, not the grill, with a light coat of grapeseed oil, season with salt and pepper, and cook over a hot grill (around 400°F). Grapeseed oil has a high smoke point of up to 485°F and a clean, neutral taste, so it helps food brown without sticking, smoking or tasting oily. Finish with a drizzle of infused oil for extra flavor.
Why chefs grill with grapeseed oil
Salute Santé! Grapeseed Oil is loved by world-class chefs, but you don't need to be a pro to appreciate it on the grill:
- It takes the heat. A high smoke point of up to 485°F means it won't burn or turn bitter over a hot fire.
- It tastes like nothing, in a good way. Its neutral flavor lets your steak, fish and vegetables taste like themselves.
- It's light. It won't weigh food down with an oily texture or aftertaste.
- It makes a great marinade. It mixes easily with herbs, citrus and vinegar and helps carry their flavor into the food.
What you'll need
- Salute Santé! Grapeseed Oil for brushing, marinating and seasoning the grates
- Salute Santé! Infused Grapeseed Oils: roasted garlic, lemon and basil are favorites, or chili if you like a little kick
- Salute Santé! Balsamic Vinegar for marinades and glazes
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
- A grill pan, tongs, a basting brush and an instant-read thermometer
The Chef's Choice Since 1994 - 2023 SOFI Gold Award Winner Light, clean, and delicately nutty, our cold-pressed grapeseed oil has long been...
A trio set of our roasted garlic, lemon and basil infused grapeseed oils. The trio set is ideal for tasty vinaigrette, marinades...
Our top tips for grilling
Before you grill
- Start with a clean grill. Brush the grates clean, then wipe them with a paper towel dipped in grapeseed oil. Grapeseed oil is also perfect for seasoning cast iron grates and grill pans.
- Marinate. Use a grapeseed oil marinade for steak, chicken or fish. No time to make one? Brush on one of our infused oils: roasted garlic, lemon and basil are popular choices.
- Let meat come to room temperature. Take steaks and chops out of the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before grilling so they cook evenly.
- Prep your vegetables. Slice them evenly and brush lightly with grapeseed oil to keep them from sticking.
- Season before grilling. Add salt and pepper just before the food goes on the grill.
On the grill
- Get it hot. Preheat to at least 400°F for searing.
- Sear first. A good hot sear builds a flavorful, golden crust. Leave food alone until it releases easily from the grates, then turn it.
- Use a grill pan for delicate foods. Flaky fish, green beans and asparagus can break apart or fall through the grates. Brush the pan with grapeseed oil first. Hosting vegetarian friends? Cook their meal in a separate grill pan, away from the meat. They'll appreciate it.
- Don't crowd the skewers. Leave a little space between pieces so everything cooks through evenly.
- Keep flare-ups in check. Set up a cooler zone on your grill. If flames jump up, move food there for a moment so it doesn't char or dry out.
- Use a thermometer. It's the only way to know for sure when food is done. See the chart below.
After you grill
- Let meat rest. Rest steaks and chops at least 5 minutes before slicing. A good rule of thumb is about one third of the total grilling time.
- Finish with flavor. A drizzle of infused oil right before serving adds a fresh burst of flavor: lemon on fish, rosemary on lamb, basil on vegetables.
- Clean as you go. Brush the grates while they're still warm and wipe down your work surfaces before you close up for the night. You'll thank yourself next time.
Know your temperatures
These are the USDA's recommended safe minimum internal temperatures. Take them with an instant-read thermometer in the thickest part of the food.
| Food | Safe internal temperature |
|---|---|
| Beef, lamb and pork steaks, chops and roasts | 145°F, then rest 3 minutes |
| Fish | 145°F, or until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily |
| Burgers and ground meat | 160°F |
| Chicken and turkey | 165°F |
Our favorite summer grilling recipes
Best Grilled Chicken
Just three ingredients, and it comes out juicy and crispy every time. Slice 1 lb of chicken breast into strips, brush with 2 tablespoons of Salute Santé! Grapeseed Oil, and season with salt and freshly cracked pepper. Grill over a 400°F fire for about 3 minutes per side, until cooked through. For whole breasts, grill a little longer, about 4 minutes per side, turning twice. Serve over a salad or as a main dish.
Grilled Salmon Fillet
A crispy outside and tender inside. Finish with a drizzle of our lemon grapeseed oil. Get the recipe →
Grilled Rack of Lamb
Impressive enough for company, easy enough for a weeknight. Get the recipe →
Grilled Summer Vegetables
Halve a zucchini, a torpedo onion and a few small peppers lengthwise. Toss with 3 tablespoons of Salute Santé! Basil Grapeseed Oil and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Cook in a grill pan over a 400°F grill for about 10 minutes, tossing often, until golden brown. Serve alongside grilled chicken, ribs or sausages. Leftovers are great with scrambled eggs the next morning.
Grilled Summer Peaches
Don't forget dessert! Grilled peaches are sweet, smoky and ready in minutes. Get the recipe →
And a Balsamic Vinaigrette for the side salad
Our house favorite takes two minutes to shake together. Get the recipe →
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The flavor and scent of our Salute Santé! Lemon Grapeseed Oil is reminiscent of freshly squeezed lemonade! It’s high smoke point makes it perfect...
Perfect for spicing up scrambled eggs or for sautéing onions for soup or stew! Mix with the basil and roasted garlic grapeseed...
Bringing something to a barbecue?
If you're visiting friends or family for a cookout this summer, our gift sets make a great host gift that will be appreciated long after the wine is gone.
Salute Santé! To good food, and to your health.
