14
Cooking Tips
Cooking Tips For Your
New Phoenix Grill
Your new Phoenix eliminates flare-ups because the cooking
surface is shielded from direct flame contact by a drip pan.
For
best results we recommend that all preheating, grilling,
smoking, baking and steaming be performed with the lid
closed!
WARNING: ALWAYS LIGHT YOUR GRILL WITH THE
LID OPEN.
GETTING STARTED
Before you use your grill for the first time be sure to read and
thoroughly understand all grill safety, lighting, locating, operat-
ing and maintenance procedures found in this book.
We recommend you “break-in” your grill by cooking the
first 2 or 3 times at medium or low temperature settings.
This allows the drip pan to “season/break-in”. Please note:
as long as the grease can flow into the grease bucket it is
not necessary to clean the drip pan after each use. Clean
as needed or approximately every 10 uses.
After each use, we recommend you turn the control knobs
to “HIGH” (with the lid closed) and run the grill for approxi-
mately 10 minutes. This will allow the accumulated fats and
greases to cook off, and avoid a possible flare up on the
next use. HINT: The fats and greases are cooked off when
no more smoke is flowing from grill vents.
We recommend cleaning the cooking surface (cooking grid)
before each use and before you light the grill. Simply run a wire
brush front to back and side to side across the diamond shaped
cooking surface. This can be performed with the cooking grid in
place or you can remove the cooking grid for cleaning.
The drip pan valve should be kept open while your grill is
in use.
This allows the grease that drips from your food to con-
tinuously drain into the grease catch bucket. If you are cooking
a small quantity of food or food with very little fat, you may not
notice any grease collecting in the grease bucket. However, if
you notice grease accumulating in the drip pan but is not run-
ning into the grease bucket, then either your drain valve is not
open or the drip pan pipe is clogged. Don’t attempt to clear the
clog while the grill is hot! Wait until the grill has cooled, remove
the cooking grid and run a stick down the drain pipe until the
clog is cleared.
The only time the drip pan drain valve should be closed during
grill use, is when you are steaming or smoking with liquid
smoke. See below for steaming and smoking instructions.
The following grilling steaming, smoking and baking tips are
provided as helpful guidelines. With experience you will find the
cooking times and temperature control settings that best suit
your taste. Please refer to page 15 for suggested cooking
times.
GRILLING
Pre-
heat your grill with both controls on “HIGH” for 15 minutes.
If you are cooking hamburgers or steaks we recommend that
you leave the temperature controls on the “HIGH” setting. Re-
member, for best results, cook all your foods with the lid closed.
If you are cooking chicken, turkey, roasts, hot dogs or sausages
we recommend that after preheating your grill on “HIGH”, turn
both controls on the “MEDIUM” settings (half way between the
high and low setting). To keep food warm, or to further slow the
cooking process, you may try running only one side of the grill
and warming or cooking on the opposite side. Or you may try
cracking the lid (with a wood spacer) to let out heat.
BAKING
Pre-
heat with both controls on “HIGH” for 10 minutes. Then set
your controls to the following setting that most closely matches
the temperature you want to achieve.
(Hint: the lid thermometer will help to more accurately set you
control).
SMOKING
Caution:
Before you proceed, make sure that your grill is on a
solid level surface. Check to see that your drip pan is relatively
clean. Smoking or steaming with a dirty drip pan can affect the
taste of your food. To clean your drip pan, simply unscrew the
drain valve and lift out the drip pan. Never attempt to clean the
drip pan while the grill is hot or if the grill is in use. A putty knife
or scraper works well for cleaning out the drip pan.
WOOD CHIP OR CHUNK SMOKING
Place the desired amount of wood in a wood chip container.
You can fabricate your own container(s) by folding heavy gauge
aluminum foil into an open square or purchase a MHP stainless
steel smoker box (part #SDSSST) from your Local Dealer.
Place one or more containers directly on top of the drip pan
located under the cooking grid. Do not place the container in
the middle of the drip pan. For best results place the container
halfway between the center and the edge of the drip pan. Heat
the grill on “HIGH” for 30 minutes, or until you detect smoke,
before you place your food on the grill. Cook to desired taste.
Low Setting
350° Degrees to 400° Degrees
Middle Setting
400° Degrees to 450° Degrees
High Setting
450° Degrees to 500° Degrees
