Safety Tips for Grilling

With all the grilling shows that are on television they make it appear like anybody can grill. While that is true, many shows fail to explain the importance of safety. This is especially important for new grillers. Shows and books will emphasize "the thrill of the grill", but before experiencing that thrill, here are some tips for those of you that are new to grilling about safety.

1. Keep in mind you are playing with fire- The coals or the coils on your gas grill get very hot. Many times these temperatures are even higher than what you deal with on your oven inside the house. Therefore make sure you are in the right state of mind when grilling that you can pay attention to your surroundings. Many enjoy an adult beverage or two when grilling. That is fine, but the grill is not somewhere to take safety risks from if you are too drunk to protect your own safety as well as the safety of those around you.

2. Check Your Surroundings- When lighting your charcoal keep in mind that flames will become airborn at times until the charcoal starts to get an ashen coating. Look around your grill and make sure there aren't any low hanging branches that could catch fire or overhangs from your house. If it has been very dry in recent days you might want to spray the area around your grill including limbs of trees with water to limit the risk of them catching on fire. Finally, make sure your grill is not in the area where children will be playing.

3. Water Is Your Friend- Keeping a small water bottle with your grill can be very helpful when grilling. This can help douse any flare-ups that grease or fat dripping off the meat you are cooking can cause. Going along with tip number one, never pour beer on the grill to try to put a flare-up out. I have seen others do this and the results are never good.

4. Don't Use The Grill As A Serving Plate- Yes, it is fun to be able to have your friends and family come to the grill and get their own food straight from the grill, but it is not safe. There is too much of a risk of someone touching the hot surface of the grill when they aren't paying attention or a young child getting burned. Set up a serving area well away from your grill and you won't have to worry about children in line, or people that have had one too many beverages risking the safety of others.

5. The Risk Remains After The Grilling Is Done- Just because you have removed the meat from the grill, closed the lid, and the charcoal is no longer red coals does not mean the safety threat is done. Your grill will remain hot long after you have removed the meat from the grill. An average charcoal grill can remain hot for close to two hours after you remove your meat from the grill. Make sure you maintain the same safety precautions after the meat has been removed from the grill as you did while it was cooking. Manage your schedule, and plan to remain nearby until your grill has cooled down to ensure the safety of your home and those around it.

If you follow these safety tips you are going to be able to enjoy your path to becoming a grillmaster and ensure the safety of yourself and your guests.