I’m sharing #SausageFamily in my life as part of a Johnsonville sponsored series for Socialstars™

When it comes to meal time in the summer there is one place the majority of our food is cooked… on the grill! There is absolutely no doubt about it, food tastes significantly better when cooked on the grill. We made the switch to a charcoal grill a few years ago and there is no way I could go back to cooking on a gas grill. The food is far more flavorful and there are so many different kinds of wood chips you can use to smoke your meat. With Summer in quickly approaching, it is time to start thinking about all of the exciting barbecue parties! I am here to share with you today how to add some excitement to your next party and show you the only way to cook beer brats!

 Johnsonville Brats are the original “thrill for the grill” that started an American fun food revolution. They are perfect for any occasion and a favorite at picnics and barbecues everywhere. These are by far the juiciest and most mouthwatering brats out there! Don’t you dare throw these brats on the stove top, fire up that grill and toss them on there to create the perfect brat!

The original “Beer Brat” is made with premium quality real Wisconsin beer and gives it a unique flavor that you are sure to love. The key to grilling a highly flammable food like sausage is to use moderate heat and grill it slowly. You will want to make sure you are cooking with lump charcoal, this is a pure charcoal that has no additives to it to make it burn better. You really want to avoid searing your brat because it might burst and cause the casing to split, releasing all those good juices. Plus you don’t want your brat to be charred on the outside but under cooked on the inside. To achieve the perfectly cooked brat, I highly suggest grilling brats on a moderate flame for about 25 minutes. Closing the grill lid while cooking helps minimize flare-ups.

Piercing the brat with a fork is a huge mistake, do not do this! Poking the brat will release all of the juices and result in a dried-out brat. If grilled properly, these brats are full of so much flavor and juices, so make sure not to let all of the good stuff escape during the cooking process!

I hope these tips were helpful to you! I can not emphasize enough that cooking brats is a slow process and not to be rushed! The results will be so worth it if you take your time, don’t burn them or let the delicious juices escape.  Once you have perfected the process of cooking brats, your guest will be begging you to grill up more1