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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.

The most common way to light charcoal is with lighter fluid. While this proves to be effective, it often times leaves behind an unpleasant flavor on your food, so be sure to allow all of the fluid to burn off of the charcoal pieces before you begin cooking. This should take about 20 minutes. There is also self-lighting charcoal, but, again, be sure to let the pieces burn thoroughly before cooking. Nowadays, though, there are many alternatives to lighter fluid, such as the Charcoal Chimney Starter and electric charcoal starter, both available at your local Westlake Ace Hardware store.

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.

Many think that charcoal grills will give you a more "grilled" flavor, but the flavor produced by both the gas and charcoal grill are quite similar. This is because the "grilled" flavor is not produced by the smoke that comes from charcoal, but rather from vaporized fats and juices that drip down and burn up (either on the coals or by the gas heat source). If you're looking to produce a "smoky" flavor, you will need to add smoke. You can do this by using damp wood chips or wood chunks in conjunction with a smoker box.

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.

The answer to the question is no. Simply hooking up your propane grill to your natural gas line won’t work. If you’re interested in using natural gas for your grill, you should buy a grill specifically designed for natural gas.

NOTE: If you already have a propane grill and still want to use natural gas, contact the manufacturer about possibly getting a conversion kit.

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.

While all types of smoking woods generate a nice smoky flavor, they do have subtle differences and are used with different types of proteins. The most commonly used woods are hickory and oak. Both are great for traditional barbecuing. Oak has a nice clean taste to it, where as hickory is a more assertive wood and will increase the smoky flavor. Mesquite is another popular flavor for barbecuing and is the hottest and strongest of the woods. This is the flavor you will most often find in Texas BBQ. If you want to go a sweeter route, try apple wood. This best complements white proteins, such as pork and poultry.

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.

Whether your grill is charcoal or gas, performing regular cleaning and maintenance will lengthen its life and keep it operating in top form. These tips can help:

• Clean drip trays to prevent flareback.
• If turning the grill on high doesn't burn off drippings and other debris on the smart bars, clean them with mild, warm soapy water.
• Clean the outside. Not only will it look better, but grease and salt can damage painted surfaces. Avoid using a harsh cleaner; mild soapy water will do just fine.
• Discard your charcoal grill's ashes -- after they're cooled, of course.
• If you keep the grill outside, protect it with a water-resistant cover after each use.
• If you haven't cleaned your grill in a while, the job may take a little more work, but these ideas can make the task easier:
• Combine one part water and one part distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle and heavily spray the inside of the grill. Close the lid and let the mixture work for at least an hour, softening the burned particles and making them easier to remove.
• Clean the grate with an oven cleaner, following manufacturer's instructions. This is the only part of the grill where it's okay to use oven cleaner; the harsh chemicals can damage other surfaces on your grill.

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.