Grilling Safety 101
Who doesn’t love freshly grilled hamburgers and hot dogs on a hot summer afternoon? According to the Forbes’ article “The United States of Barbeque – America’s Love Affair with Backyard Cooking”, 75% of U.S. adults owned some type of grill or smoker. With that high of a percentage of American Homes with a grill, it probably isn’t surprising that grill fires are responsible for an estimated $37 million in property losses each year.
Here are some ways to grill safely & make sure the only burn you need to worry about is to the burgers and not your backyard oasis!
Grill outside!
Make sure that grills are at least 10 feet away from any structure.
Check for propane leaks on your gas grill if you have one.
Make sure the grill is stable.
Never leave a grill unattended, especially when there are small children and pets in the area.
Wear the right clothing.
Be ready to put out a fire by keeping a fire extinguisher nearby.
Keep baking soda handy!! For smaller and more contained grease fires, baking soda puts out fires by releasing carbon dioxide and smothering the fire.
When cooking with charcoal, wait for charcoal to be completely cool before disposing of it.
Do not overload the grill with food, especially when cooking with fatty meats.
Do not start your gas grill with the lid down.
Quick References: Below are some links that provide quick reference sheets to review in a pinch. There is a first time for everything! In the event you have a child going off to college or spending some time away with friends, these are great tools to provide as a reminder of grilling safe.
Happy grilling!