News Taffy

Few things signal the arrival of summer better than the smell of fresh cut grass and meat sizzling on the grill. Conversely, few things have the potential to be as dangerous as a lawn mower and a hot grill. Before summer gets going, I thought I’d remind everyone of some simple safety tips. This week, let’s talk about using a grill or smoker safely.

A friend had a mishap while grilling this weekend and I’m happy to say that some singed hair was all that happened but it could have been much worse. We all get in a hurry or react without thinking sometimes, but a bit of prior planning prevents a lot of pain. Before you even light the grill, make sure to have an extinguisher, bucket of sand or large box of baking soda handy to extinguish any flames. NEVER, EVER put water on a grease fire as the rapid evaporation will cause the flames to flare up tremendously. If you can safely reach the gas tank, turn off the gas.

When you get a new grill or smoker, READ the manufacturer’s instructions, especially if you are doing some assembly. Don’t assume you know it all or that this grill’s features are exactly like your old one. Place your grill on a level surface so it can’t be tipped over. It should NOT be near the house, under trees or worse, in an enclosed area where carbon monoxide can accumulate and kill you. If the grill flames up, fire can spread faster than you think. It is a good idea to place a heat resistant grill pad under your grill.

Check your grill at the start of the season for worn, leaky gas lines or loose bolts on the lids or legs or rust. Give your grill a good cleaning as well. After using your grill, wait till the coals, ash or any remaining pieces of wood are completely cooled before removing them. Place them in a metal container to dispose of them. Store your grill for the winter in dry place out of the weather or at least put a sturdy cover on it to prevent rust.

Use the proper tools with long handles for grilling and wear protective gloves. Soak wood planks first if you are using them to cook food but grill masters vary on whether to soak wood chips. You might want to invest in a smoker box for wood chips. If you have a charcoal grill, be extremely careful when lighting it. Do not make the mistake of adding lighter fluid to hot coals as an explosion is likely to result. Never try to move your grill after it is hot. Avoid backdrafts by carefully opening your grill a couple of inches to let air in more slowly, doing this a couple of times.

Keep children and pets away from your grilling area; this is not the place for a game of pick up or tossing the frisbee for Fido. Don’t leave the grill unattended either unless you want to eat blackened meat. Following these tips will help ensure your family enjoys a whole summer of back yard barbecues!