Safe Haven Wants You To Fire Up the Grill Safely This National Filet Mignon Day

By: admin,

Safety may not be the first thing on your mind when grilling up a delicious summer steak, but it should be. While proper maintenance of your grill goes a long way, there are other helpful practices that go beyond merely scraping your grilling surface, according to CharBroil. Use these tips to help ensure your food is delicious and your eyebrows are intact on National Filet Mignon Day!

Cleanup
While this tip may seem like a no-brainer, many supposed grillmasters fail to properly clean their grilling surface. All grills have a drip pan and tray under their cooking grids and burners. When the tray and pan become too full and the collected food oil has reached its maximum temperature, a grease fire can occur. The pans and trays under your grill are removable and should be checked and emptied weekly. However, if you’re a frequent griller they should be checked twice a week.

How to empty your grease pan:
Make sure the grill is OFF and cool, then slide the drip pan out of your grill.
Scrape off and dispose grease and dried food particles.
Under warm water, soak and rinse the drip pan. For a deep clean, use a small amount of mild soap and a non-abrasive cloth and be sure to rinse well.
When dry, place back in the grill.
Scrape Your Grinds
Because dried-on meat and grease attracts bacteria that can affect the outcome of your food, as well as cause unwanted flare-ups on the grill, you should scrape the surface of your grill before and after you barbeque. It’s best to perform this cleaning task while the grill is hot, as food remains will be easier to remove when the surface temperature is high. A specialized grill brush is the best tool for this job.

Prepare Your Grilling Station
You’ll want to keep your grilling station stocked with necessary items to help put out a grease fire should one arise. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby, as well as baking soda, which acts to cut off the supply of oxygen to the flame. One should never use flour and/or water to extinguish a flame as it will only make the flames larger and could potentially lead to an explosion. While cleaning your grill every week is the best safety precaution against a fire, every grillmaster should be prepared for any safety-related scenario.

Practice these tips every time you grill and the only thing you’ll be sweating is making sure the meat reaches that perfect temperature! Head to our Facebook page and website for other home safety tips!