Top 5 Tips for Grilling Seafood

As Summer approaches, it’s exciting to plan new ways to experiment with seafood. Firing up the barbecue is a great opportunity to try some new seafood recipes. Here are our top tips for grilling seafood. 

1. Choose the Right Types of Seafood

When putting fish and seafood on the barbecue, consider the structure and texture of what you’re grilling. Flaky fish can fall apart once it hits the heat, so it isn’t ideal for the barbecue. Try a dense fish like mahi-mahi or monkfish. 

Shrimp is ideal for grilling because there’s no risk it will fall apart and drop onto your coals!

2. Try Skewers for Your Seafood

Skewers are the perfect tool not just for cooking but also for eating. They’re easy to handle, so you can ensure even cooking as you turn them, and there’s less mess when you eat with them too! Shrimp and scallop skewers are a great combination because they have a similar density and cooking time. 

Be sure to soak wooden skewers in water before loading them up to avoid charring. 

3. Opt for Pre Cooked Seafood

A barbecue is great for that rich, charred flavor, but who says you can’t pre-cook? If you’re apprehensive about getting your seafood cooked through, you can either cook it in advance or buy ready-cooked seafood. 

Buying cooked, frozen seafood is a great way to ensure you won’t risk food poisoning! Simply thaw and then reheat on the grill to finish it with a great smoky taste. 

4. Variety Is Key

Including seafood at your barbecue helps add some variety compared to an all-meat feast, so try and include several different types. Mollusks like clams and mussels are super tasty and take no time at all to cook. 

To lock in their juices, consider wrapping them in foil before tossing them on the grill. Serve them steaming with a squeeze of lemon or some garlic butter. Clams and mussels are excellent carriers for sauce and perfect to graze on throughout a sunny afternoon! 

5. Go for the Showstopper

Seafood is arguably nicer to look at than standard barbecue food, so why not go all out with a feast for the eyes as well as the belly? 

A large shrimp cocktail can add color and excitement to your table, and scattering the (cleaned) shells of scallops or clams can make cute table decorations. If you’re looking for an extravagant centerpiece, a whole cooked octopus makes a fantastic showstopper!

However you choose to add seafood to your barbecue this summer, make sure it’s cooked and piping hot throughout.