When in combat and throwing grenades, do soldiers pull the pin and then throw it immediately afterwards or hold onto it to “cook” the grenade and lower the time for it to explode?

 In combat situations, soldiers generally follow the practice of pulling the pin and immediately throwing the grenade rather than holding onto it to "cook" it. Cooking a grenade refers to holding onto the live grenade for a short period before throwing it. The idea behind cooking a grenade is to reduce the time the enemy has to react, as the fuse starts burning once the pin is pulled.

However, cooking a grenade is a risky tactic. It requires precise timing and involves holding onto a live explosive device, which increases the danger to the soldier. If the timing is off, the grenade may detonate too early, causing harm to the person throwing it. Additionally, holding onto a live grenade exposes the soldier to enemy fire, making them vulnerable during that brief period.

Military training typically emphasizes the importance of quickly pulling the pin, throwing the grenade, and taking cover immediately to minimize the risk to the soldier and maximize the effectiveness of the grenade as a tactical weapon. The goal is to surprise and incapacitate the enemy rather than risking unnecessary danger to the person throwing the grenade.