Method

• Carrots can be boiled or steamed to tenderize them before grilling. They'll continue to cook for a few minutes after you remove them from the heat, so boil them only until they're slightly tender. If you cook them too long, you'll end up with mushy results. After you remove the carrots from the heat, douse them in ice water to halt the cooking process. Drain the carrots completely and store in a covered container. Allow them to come to room temperature before you toss them on the grill. They'll brown more quickly and evenly this way.

Grilling

• Carrots, as well as other vegetables, such as onions, zucchini, peppers or eggplants, taste delicious when grilled. Use baby carrots or slice larger carrots into 1/2-inch chunks for fast and uniform cooking. A grill basket works well because it holds the carrots so they don't fall through the grates, but you can also use kabob sticks. Spray the grill basket with oil before adding the vegetables. Grill hard vegetables, such as carrots, for a few minutes before adding fast-cooking vegetables, such as peppers. Because you boiled the carrots the night before, they'll cook on the grill in only five to eight minutes.

Serving

• Grilled carrots taste good with just a sprinkling of salt and pepper, or you can dress them up with a few additions. Try brushing them with butter and brown sugar during the last minute or two of baking. The heat from the grill caramelizes the sugar, creating a sweet glaze. Honey or balsamic vinegar also make tasty glazes. Rosemary, dill or even chipotle chiles are other good accompaniments.

Variations

• Cooking carrots and other vegetables ahead of time is a useful strategy, but you can even grill the vegetables the night before. Boil or steam the carrots and toss them on the grill for a few minutes to brown and tenderize them. The carrots can be stored overnight in a covered container and heated or allowed to come to room temperature the next day. Serve them in cold salads or as a vegetable tray with other grilled vegetables. Grilling the vegetables ahead of time means you can focus on grilling meats and main dishes to perfection at party time.