By SUSAN MYKRANTZ Ohio Correspondent WOOSTER, Ohio — Garrett Wirth has been grilling as long as he can remember; it was just one of the activities he enjoyed doing while growing up. “I enjoy grilling just about anything you can think of, from the usual steaks, burgers, and ribs, to breakfast and cookies,” said Wirth. “I haven’t grilled any type of plant-based protein products, simply because they don’t interest me very much.” He also enjoyed showing steers, hogs, and lambs as a Wayne County 4-H member and had a fair amount of success in the show ring – and that livestock experience is paying off now at the grill. “Meat judging helped me to know the cuts of meat and what makes quality, marbling, color, and size,” he explained. He said the secret is starting with a high-quality meat product. “If you start with low quality, it will probably be low quality at the end,” he pointed out. “That goes for everything from hot dogs to steaks.” Recently, he had success at the barbecue grill as the winner of the 1572 Roadhouse Bar-B-Que Ohio State Steak Cook-off in Waynesville, which earned him a cash award and a trip to the world championship in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 5. “Winning the Ohio Steak Championship is probably my most memorable grilling experience so far,” he mused. Wirth said during the contest, everyone grills beef ribeye steaks that are provided by the organizers. “At around 10 a.m., everyone draws numbers to see the order of picking their steaks,” he explained. “They are laid on table, and everyone picks their steaks. Each contestant gets to pick two steaks. “You have until 2 or 2:30 to do whatever you want to do to your steak. By 2 to 2:30 the steaks need to be done and turned in for judging. They are judged on appearance, doneness, taste, texture, and overall impression. Steaks are supposed to be cooked to a perfect medium.” While Wirth will use a sauce or rub on his meats to make sure everything is seasoned, his first rule of successful grilling is the purchase of a good-quality instant-read meat thermometer. “You can always add salt and pepper if it has no flavor, but if it’s undercooked or overcooked, it’s ruined,” he said. He offers other tips for budding grilling enthusiasts. “Whatever you are using to grill, learn it learn how it cooks,” he advised. “Second, buy the best instant-read thermometer you can afford.” When it comes to selecting a grill, he said the first thing is to figure out what options suit you the best, and the second is to buy the highest-quality grill you can afford – because you really do get what you pay for. For Wirth, his grill of choice is a PK Classic. “I use it because it’s a steak-cooking machine,” he noted. “It’s cast aluminum, so it will never rust. The way it’s built and designed, it really cooks. There are people still using models from the (19)50s.” For Wirth, grilling is a team sport, from his family who enjoy the results of his work at the grill to his good buddy Jason McNickles, who helps him with the cooking. “I also want to say a special thanks to the sponsors who help to make it possible: XL Pattern Shop, Lehman’s, Kidron Town & Country, Meatheads Union, and Ugly Duck Extreme Sport-B-Grill have been very supportive.” Wirth’s tips for perfect steak •Take your favorite cut of beef out of the refrigerator and season it with your favorite steak rub, or just salt and pepper. Let it rest on the counter. •Go light the grill; get the grates up to around 500 degrees. •A 1-inch steak should cook about 3 minutes per side for medium-rare doneness. So, cook for 3 minutes, flip and baste with melted butter, then cook 3 more minutes. Start checking doneness at 2 minutes. •When you reach your desired doneness, take off the grill and rest in tinfoil, basting with the melted butter one more time. Let rest, wrapped, for 5-10 minutes, then enjoy. Steak- A PERFECTLY COOKED steak makes a marvelous centerpiece for any meal. Garrett- GARRETT WIRTH, along with his team, celebrating a win in the cook-off; it includes Jason McNickles, his right-hand man, and Jaxson Wirth, grillmaster in training. (Photos provided) |
