I know many people who grill year round. I’m not a huge fan of the cold and I prefer to cook inside when the temperatures are cooler. With that said I am happy to announce that grilling season is just around the corner! And who doesn’t love the thought of a fire grilled burger and some outdoors fun with family and friends? Burger King promotes their “fire grilled” burgers and you can certainly smell them when you are near a Burger King. And you also know when your neighbors are grilling outdoors because you can smell the scrumptious food cooking. While this time of year can be so much fun, there are safety concerns that you should be aware of when it comes to grilling specifically if your using a propane barbecue tank. Here are a few tips:
- Keeping your grill at least 10’ away from your house when in use is very important. Keeping the grill away from car ports, garages, porches or any types of over hangs will ensure that any flames coming from the grill will not touch any part of the house or nearby structure.
- The gas should never be turned on when the grill lid is closed. If the grill lid is closed there can be buildup of propane inside the grill that would cause a small explosion once the grill is lit. Always open the grill lid before turning your gas on.
- Never leave a grill unattended. A fire could spark and would spread so quickly if the grill is not being watched at all times. This leads to another related safety tip; always have a small working fire extinguisher within site when grilling. This will be needed if a fire should happen. I’ve often seen friends have a spray bottle with water handy as well for precautionary measures.
- The grill should not be full of too much food. It is better and safer to cook a smaller amount of food. If the food is fatty and the fat drips down onto the flame it could cause a fire. So better to have smaller amounts of food as it is much more manageable!
Happy grilling, take safety precautions, and enjoy the beautiful weather ahead!
Written By Amy Ortiz
