There’s no better time of year to grill out and chill out than the summertime. Gather your favorite friends and family over for a backyard barbecue to make the longer days more sublime. But before you fire things up, check out these tips that will make the things you grill even better!

1. Make smoke an ingredient

Face it…barbecue just isn’t barbecue without smoke. You can use that gas grill, but you’ll be missing that smoky flavor that makes barbecue sublime. The difference in flavor is huge!

2. Use the right wood

Toss in some wood chips to your charcoal grill and you’ll add another dimension of deliciousness. In particular, using wood from fruit trees imparts a delightful flavor with fewer impurities.

3. Soak the wood

The best way to get that flavor from the wood when you grill out is to plan ahead. Soak them overnight if possible, then drain. On limited time? At least an hour of soaking will do the trick. Wrap them up tightly in aluminum foil and toss them in the grill with the charcoal.

4. Allow your meat to rest

Barbecuing takes time to cook the meat. It’s a low and slow process, so when it’s finished, it’s hard not to dive right into it. But try to hold off because allowing it to sit and rest keeps the juices intact and prevents the meat from drying out. Don’t lose any juice during the cooking process either by using tongs to turn the meat.

5. Make clean up easy

Cleaning up after an amazing day of barbecuing fun is no fun for anyone. Make it mess-free by lining the bottom of your grill with aluminum foil before adding your charcoal.

6. Soak wooden skewers in water first

If you like meats on a stick or kebabs, give those wooden sticks a good soaking in cold water for at least 30 minutes before stabbing them into the meats and veggies you’ll be cooking up. This keeps them from burning during the barbecuing.

7. Try this trick for grill brushing

If you’ve never grilled much before, you might not have a grill brush on hand. Don’t panic. You can crumple up a large piece of aluminum foil (use the heavy-duty kind) until it resembles the size of a baseball. Then use your grill tongs to grasp it and brush the grill.

These tips will definitely make grilling in your backyard more fun this summer. So get your marinades and side dishes ready because this will be your best summer yet!