Memorial Day is right around the corner, and for Columbus, it is the welcoming of summer. What better way to welcome summer than grilling with friends and family on Memorial Day! Columbus movers want new residents to know that here in Columbus, we are all about the grilling and barbecuing! In lieu of the holiday, The Columbus Dispatch has tips for Memorial Day grilling, from local Columbus cooking teacher Tom Hughes.

– Heat the Grill well – regardless of whether you are cooking with wood or charcoal briquettes, make sure that all coals are hot before you put the meat on the grill. This way, your meat will cook evenly and perfectly.

– Distribute heat according to what you are grilling – pile the coals to create direct spots for quick grilling, and place meats that you know will take longer, over cooler spots so that it can cook but not get overly charred.

– Coal vs. Wood – when it comes to choosing between wood briquettes and charcoal, Hughes prefers wood briquettes, so that the food does not end up with a chemical smell and taste that comes from charcoal and lighter fluid.

– Let it sit – Hughes explains that many people constantly check whatever they are grilling, poking and probing it, rather than letting it sit. His tip to grillers – get comfortable letting the meat sit untouched, allowing it to cook with great flavor and evenly.

– Grill your veggies – Cut vegetables in large enough slices that they will not fall through the grill grates, in case you do not have a grill basket; you can even use skewers.

If you are moving to Columbus and like to cook, you can even catch one of Tom Hughes grilling classes at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Seasoned Farmhouse, and Sur la Table.