Broiling Points

Before you begin broiling, study these broiling tips from the Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen:

• Preheat the broiler before cooking, but don't preheat the pan and rack. Doing so can cause them to warp and may cause foods to stick. If you don't have a broiler pan, use a wire rack set in a shallow baking pan.
• Position the broiler pan and its rack far enough away from the heat source so the surface of the food, not the rack, is the specified distance from the heat. Use a ruler to measure this distance. Slit the fat and membrane of a steak or chop at 1-inch intervals to prevent the edges from curling.
• Brush melted butter or an herb-oil mixture on lean cuts of meat. This keeps the meat surface moist and adds flavor.
• Sprinkle salt or seasonings on meat just before the food is turned or when it is brought to the table.
• Use tongs, not a fork, to turn the meat--a fork will prick the meat and cause a loss of juices.