Helpful Hints In The Kitchen

Outdoor Grill Safety

The summer grilling season is fast approaching and it is important to keep safety in mind so that your grilling experience is a happy one. The location of your grill is very important. Make sure it is at least 10 feet from your home on a flame-safe surface such as a driveway or patio rather than grass or a wooden deck and away from where children or pets might wander. If you are cooking with charcoal on a windy day, know that sparks can fly out of the grill. It is prudent to keep a spray bottle filled with water handy to quiet any sparks or flare-ups.
It is important to keep your grill grate clean. Always scrape and then oil your grill grate (with an oil-dipped wadded paper towel held with tongs) before use to help keep food from sticking. It is important that the interior basin of your grill, whether gas or charcoal, be cleaned a few times each season to wash away built-up food matter that can ignite or lend off flavors to whatever you are cooking. Empty drip pans and ash-catchers frequently to reduce mess.
Be sure to use separate platters for raw and cooked foods to avoid cross-contamination, and always dispose of excess marinade. Save sauces until the end of cooking to prevent them from burning and to keep your basting brush from becoming contaminated by uncooked meat.