grill marks
Barbecue branding lines
Grill marks are the dark lines seared onto food from contact with a hot grill's metal grates.
They're prized for the visual appeal they add to steaks, burgers, and vegetables, and for the caramelized flavor from the Maillard reaction.
Cooks rotate food partway through to create crosshatch patterns: Perfect grill marks on those chicken breasts.
- charredBurned until black
- searBurn the outside
- barbecueSlow-cook over coals
- smokyFilled with combustion haze
- open flameUncovered burning source
crosshatch · caramelized · flame · burger · steak · medium rare · grate · cast iron · branding · stripes · heat · juicy · outdoor · propane · charcoal · tongs · spatula · summer
- grillingsearing, charring, coals, blackening, skewers
- Steakhousefilet mignon, ribeye, New York strip, porterhouse, sirloin
- BBQ techniquessmoking, direct heat, indirect heat, low and slow, hot smoking
- food photographyhero shot, food styling, plating, garnish, overhead shot
- cooking termsbaste, baking, blanch, braise, roasting
- barbecuebrisket, ribs, pulled pork, smoker, smoke