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Who doesn’t love a barbecue? There’s something special about eating grilled food in the great outdoors, while relaxing with family and friends on a summer day. America is a nation of barbecue lovers with 75% of the population owning an outdoor grill or smoker. Barbecuing is a great way to celebrate a family member’s birthday or to mark labor day and when it comes to choosing the best barbecue grill there are multiple options to select from. But, whichever grill you choose, it’s imperative that you follow these safety tips to ensure an enjoyable and memorable experience.
Tools and equipment
Having the right tools when barbecuing is the key to a successful and safe grill. You need to ensure that you have multiple utensils to prevent cross contamination from raw meats when cooking, so be sure to pick up a good quality set which contains numerous pieces. Different foods will take variable times to cook and the cooking time will likely differ to the time it takes to cook in your kitchen oven. An egg timer is a great way of monitoring the time sausages and burgers have been cooking whilst you’re busy prepping other food stuff.
Staying safe around heat and flames
A barbecue grill can heat up in excess of 600 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’s important you take steps to protect yourself, your guests and your home from the heat and flames emitted. When grilling at high temperatures, it’s recommended you wear heat resistant gloves to protect your hands from being burnt. An apron should also be worn to protect yourself from hot fat which could burn your clothes and skin, but ensure the tie string is secured firmly and kept away from the fire.
Always ensure that children and pets are kept away from the barbecue to prevent injuries. A barbecue should always be set up away from the house so that smoke can’t enter the property and to reduce the chance of items catching alight. Your grill’s manual will specify the recommended distance where it should be placed for optimum safety.
Remain by the grill’s side
At a party or social event it’s so easy to get distracted and to vacate your post at the side of the grill. However, this is when accidents are most likely to occur. As the designated cook, if you walk away you’re likely to forget how long food items have been grilling for and which tools have been used on which pieces of meat. Therefore, the risk of serving undercooked and contaminated food is greater. By not being at your barbecues side, you also run the risk of someone else coming along and ruining the system you’ve got in place. It’s always best to stay by the grill until everything is cooked and the flames distinguished. If you need anything from the kitchen, ask one of your guests to retrieve it for you rather than leaving your post.
A barbecue is a joyous activity for families across the world, therefore, be sure to grill safely and responsibly to ensure the day is enjoyed by all.
