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There's nothing like a good steak off the grill, but your versatile grill can cook up so much more. Vegetables, fruit, even pizza -- all of these can be prepared on either a charcoal or gas grill.

Grilling vegetables such as zucchini, asparagus, mushrooms and peppers can be done several ways: Coat with a little oil, toss onto a hot grill, turn a couple times, season to your taste and cook until tender; place them on a kebab skewer and grill until tender; place a skillet or pan on the grill and saute in butter or olive oil; or, for vegetables too small to place directly on the grill surface, slice them uniformly so they cook evenly, wrap them in foil with a bit of butter or olive oil and seasoning and place on the grill.

Fruits cooked on the grill may surprise you with their delicious taste.

Cut apples, pears and similar fruits in half and seed and core them. Slice them if you prefer smaller pieces. Leave the peels on, because it helps them keep their shape.

Place the fruit in a bowl and add just enough cold water to cover it, along with 1 tsp. of lemon juice to keep the fruit from discoloring, and let it soak for 30 minutes. This hydrates the fruit so it stays juicy on the grill.

When you're ready to grill, lightly brush the fruit with melted butter to keep the pieces from sticking and place them on a clean grate over medium heat and cook until they're soft.

Make a homemade pizza by starting with a pre-made crust and apply your choice of sauce, such as tomato, pesto or plain olive oil. Then, pile on the sliced toppings and pre-cooked meat.

Place the pizza onto the grill and close the lid until the cheese is melted and slightly brown.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

You can cook just about anything in a smoker, including burgers. Keep in mind, though, that it will take longer for them to cook. If you're looking for convenience, you'll probably still want to have a gas, electric or charcoal grill on hand.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Your versatile grill can be used as a smoker by changing up your grilling routine just a bit.

Gas Grill

Before you turn the grill on, remove the left and center cooking grates and place a 9x13 disposable aluminum pan filled with wood chips (that you’ve soaked for 30 minutes and drained) directly on the flavor bars or lava rocks in the far left corner.

Place a couple smaller disposable pans with a little water beneath the center grate to catch drippings and keep the meat from drying out.

Replace the cooking grates, close the lid and preheat all burners on high for 15-20 minutes, which gets the chips smoking and smoldering.

Turn off the middle burner and place the meat on that cooking grate. Never place the meat directly over the wood chips, or your food will taste like ashes.

Charcoal Grill

Remove the cooking grate and place an aluminum pan containing water in the center of the grill’s charcoal grate. As with the gas grill, this pan will catch drippings and add moisture.

Place about 25 charcoal briquettes on each side of the pan and light them. When the coals are covered with gray ash, place a little handful of wood chips that have been soaked in water for 30 minutes on each pile of charcoal.

Place the meat over the drip pan and put the lid on quickly. Open the air vents just slightly to keep as much smoke as possible inside the grill.

Smoking takes longer than grilling, of course. Baby back ribs may cook anywhere from 90 minutes to two hours and chicken may require one to two hours. But you’ll quickly find that the wait was definitely worth it.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Robust rubs can make all the difference in the taste of the meat that comes off your grill. These rubs, courtesy of Weber, known for their grills, are sure to generate some hearty appetites.

Chicken and Seafood Rub

4 tsp. granulated onion
4 tsp. granulated garlic
1 Tbsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. prepared chili powder
2 tsp. ground black pepper

Mike's Award-Winning Rub

1Tbsp. coarsely ground black pepper
4 tsp. coarse kosher salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried thyme
1tsp. paprika
1 tsp. minced garlic

Pork Rub

2 tsp. pure chili powder
2 tsp. ground black pepper
2 tsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. granulated garlic

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.

Yes. Painting a grill is common for color touchups, rusting or chipped paint. BUT be sure to do so with high temperature paint.

Check your state and local codes before starting any project. Follow all safety precautions. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and safety of this information. Neither Westlake nor any contributor can be held responsible for damages or injuries resulting from the use of the information in this document.