The warmer temps and longer days mean grilling season is upon us once again. Whether you are planning on grilling for a night in or hosting and feeding a crowd, you want to feel confident in your abilities to serve the best product as well as keep your property and the people you love safe from the dangers of fire.
No matter if you are new to grilling, or it is a regular experience for you, the following tips, tricks, and hacks will help you perfect your craft and stay safe this summer:
Summer Grilling Tips and Tricks
- Control the Heat: The little thermometer on the lid of your grill isn’t there just to collect dust! Whether you are working with propane/gas or charcoal, make sure the temperature of your grill doesn’t read too hot, or you will burn the outside of your food before the inside has time to cook. Or worse, you could catch your food on fire. Also, avoid lighter fluid unless you want to taste it in your food!
- If You’re a Beginner, Start With the Basics: Don’t overextend yourself. Start with grilling basics, like burgers, bratwurst, etc., and master them! Once you nail the more basics, you can expand your main dish recipes on the grill, to things like steak, fish, vegetable dishes, and more.
- Start and End with a Clean Grill: One of the most basic elements of a well-cooked grilled meal begins and ends with a clean grill. Charcoal and gas grills need to be brushed with a stiff wire brush. Then, after the grill has cooled, apply vegetable oil to clean the grate using a rag or folded paper towel.
- Marinade Meats and Vegetables: The end result of your grilled dishes will greatly depend on the marinade you use, and the way you season your food. Consider some good recipes for marinades for meats and vegetables that include vinegar, oils, citrus juices, plenty of salt, sugars/syrups, and other spices.
- Study Your Equipment: Know how to use your grill to its greatest ability. Read your manual, check out YouTube videos of your model and find out what it can do. Most importantly, it is important to know how to light and put out your grill in order to stay safe.
- Create an Emergency Plan: It’s a good idea to have an emergency plan in place should something go awry when you are grilling. This should include having something on hand to put out an out-of-control fire.
- Slightly Undercook Your Foods and Rest Your Meats: While it can be tempting to keep grilling your meat until you are sure they are completely brown throughout, to achieve the best taste, you really want to slightly undercook your foods. As the food sits after being removed from the grill, it will continue to cook. If you cook meat or veggies too long on the grill, then they can become dry.
- Grill Far From Your Home: Make sure that you never grill right up next to your home or any other structure that could be susceptible to fire. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends grills be placed at least 10 feet away from any structure.
- Don’t Leave Your Grill Unattended While Lit: Yes, you need to leave your food on the grill for extended periods of time while food cooks, but this doesn’t mean that you should leave it unattended. Always have someone watching and in charge of the grill while it is lit.
- Preheat Your Grill, and Don’t Open the Lid: Before you begin cooking, it’s important to preheat your grill with the lid closed, allowing the grill to warm up to the correct temperature for optimal cooking.
- Invest in Metal Kebab Skewers: Skewers are a great investment if you own a grill. Purchasing some metal kebab skewers can really come in handy when cooking vegetables or even fruit, and are an easy way to impress your guests with special presentations.
- Wear The Right Gear: Finally, make sure you are dressed properly for grilling. This means protecting your hands from the heat of the grill. Don’t wear loose clothing or keep your hair down if it’s long.
Bottom Line: Be Safe While At-Home Summer Grilling
We hope that these tips have inspired you to make sure you are safe from the risk of perils like fire while enjoying the fun pastime of grilling. Contact our team at Arnold Insurance to learn more about what you can do to keep your property safe from any and all risks.
