Looking forward to grilling fish this summer? Now, it's easy with this foolproof guide. Even delicate fillets and tiny bay scaollops work well on the grill when you give them something to rest on so that they are easy to flip. Whether you are grilling sturdy steaks directly on the grill, cooking more-delicate fish in a basket, or steaming tiny scallops or calamri rings in a pouch, you'll be able to handle anything with following six techniques. Just pick up the freshest fillets you can find, fire up your grill and get cooking. 

Grilling with Direct Heat

Grilling right on the grate provides high heat and nice, smoky flavor. It works best with studier, meatier types of fish that don't easily flake, so you can move them without breaking. Make sure you habe a medium-high heat (if the fire's too cool, the fish will stick) and remember to oil the grate well before adding the fish. A wide thin-bladed spatula (or tongs for shellfish) makes flipping easier.

Direct grilling works best for fillets and steaks of firm fish, such as salmon, tilapia, and sea bass; jumbo shrimp, clams, mussels, and oysters in their shells as well as lobsters (split in hald before grilling). 

Grilling in a Pouch

Cooking in a pouch is ideal for delicate fillets and small items, becuase you don't need to turn them. The pouch traps the heat and steams everything at once -- think of it as the grill equivalent of a one-pot dish. To make a pouch, place the fish on a square of foil together and fold to seal, creating a loose tent. Place the pouch on the grate and cook until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Open the packet carefully so you don't get hit with escaping hot steam.

Pouch grilling works best for thin, delicate fillets such as sole and flounder, or very small pieces like bay scallops. 

Grilling on a Skewer 

Skewers make it easy to flip multiple chunk of sturdy fish or pieces of shellfiish at once. And the presenetation is summery and fun. Soak wooden skewers 20 minutes before threading to prevent them from smoking on the grill, or just fill then with food so there's minimal area exposure to the flame. Thread large items like jumbo shrimp or calamari on 2 parallel skewers to help them cook flat. 

Skewers work best for chunks of firm fish like halibut, salmon or swordfish and shellfish, like scallops and shrimp. 

Grilling with Planks

This hands-off cooking method infuses fish with warm, woodsy flavor and is great for delicate varieties and large sides that are unwieldy to turn. Prepare a grill for medium-low heat. Season the fish on both sides and place it directly on a presoaked wood plank (cedar, maple and adler are all nice). Cover and let cook --- no flipping necessary. Keep a spray bottle of water handy to douse any flare-ups. 

Grilling on a plank works best for almost all varieties of fish, from delicate fillets like flounder to meaty salmon steaks. 

Whole Fish Grilling

This is pretty self-explanatory. Fish cooked on the bone is inimitably flavorful and juicy and makes a dazzling dinner-party dish, too. Season and stuff the cavity of the fish with herbs or lemon slices. It not only adds flavor but also creates a space to let the heat through, allowing the fish to cook more evenly. Another way to help even cooking is to score the fish every 2 inches on both sides, almost to the bone. Brush the fish with oil, sprinkle with sea salt and put it on the grill. The next step is crucial: Don't move it around or peek underneath. Step back and wait. The fish is ready to be flipped as soon as it no longer sticks to the grill. At that point, slide a spatula underneath and turn it gently. 

Whole grilling works best for any 4- to 12-inch fish, such as trout, striped bass, sardines or tilapia. 

Grilling in a Basket

A basket works well with delicate fish and fillets. It makes it easy to flip the fish without breaking, and you still get all the wonderful smoky flavor of direct grilling. To prevent sticking, oil the basket before filling (or use a nonstick version). 

Baskets work best for fillets and small fish such as fresh sardines, anchovies, mackerel and herring. 

Cooking Tips

Last but not least, it's important to know how to tell when fish is cooked. 

Fish cooks quickly and is done when it flakes easily with a fork and the flesh appears opaque all the way through. If any part of the fish is partially translucent, return it to the grill for anothe few seconds. For even cooking, use steaks and fillets that are evenly cut and have a similar thickness.