Summer's here and it's time to grill.

Step up your grill game by checking out our list of dos and don'ts for marinating meats, poultry, seafood and veggies.

Do: Think ahead. Start marinades for tougher cuts the night before or in the morning.

Don't: Marinate items at room temperature. Placing items in the fridge prevents the growth of dangerous bacteria that can lead to food-borne illnesses.

Do: Know your times. Marinate vegetables for 15 to 30 minutes; fish and seafood for 15 minutes to 1 hour; poultry for 30 minutes to eight hours; and meat for 30 minutes to overnight.

Don't: Cross-contaminate. Make sure to marinate meat, poultry, seafood and vegetables in separate containers. Each will have different cooking times and marinating together can lead to cross-contamination.

Do: Use proper containers. Heavy-duty storage bags or glass, ceramic, stainless steel and plastic containers work best.

Don't: Marinate in aluminum, foil, cast-iron or copper containers. The metal can react chemically with the acids, changing the flavor of the marinade and discoloring or even spoiling the food.

Do: Include acid in your marinades. Acidic components like vinegar, citrus, yogurt, buttermilk, wine, beer or liquor help to penetrate to the meat, tenderizing and infusing flavor.

Don't: Forget the oil. Use oils with high smoke points like peanut, canola, safflower or soy.

Do: Impart flavor. Include flavored oils, fresh herbs and spices.