A salmon steak cooked on a charcoal grill is hard to beat, and grilled fish are a staple of many waterside restaurants. Grilling fish gives it a special flavor and is a good way to cook many kinds of fish. Fire up the grill, add a few fish steaks, and eat as if you're at a restaurant on the beach.

Grilling — Good and Bad

Cooking fish outdoors keeps the house cool in hot weather and keeps odors outside. Grilling gives fish a very good flavor all its own. Cleanup is easy and cooking is simple.

On the downside, charcoal used for grilling can add chemicals to the meat, and fish tends to tear apart when you turn it on the grill. It's more difficult to adjust the temperature of the grill and harder to get the fish done without overcooking it. And finally, weather can be a factor in your comfort while cooking outside.

Ways to Grill Fish

The simplest way to grill fish is to lay a steak on the grate of the grill and let it cook. You can rub it with oil or spices before cooking to give it extra flavor and keep it moist. Basting during cooking with butter or oil will also keep it moist. Marinating fish before cooking it will change and enhance the flavor of some fish. Brown one side and then turn it to brown the other side. Try not to overcook the fish.

You can also wrap the fish in foil and cook it on the grill. The foil seals in the moisture, which is similar to baking inside in the oven. Add onions, tomatoes, butter, peppers, and other ingredients to change the basic flavor. This also eliminates the problem of turning fish on the grill when one side is done, and cleanup is very easy.