Propane Grill Safety Reminders

Posted: May 3, 2021

First proclaimed in 1963, National Barbecue Month in May is just a fun way to encourage us to do some outdoor cooking. Not that we need much encouragement! Food just seems to taste better when it’s cooked outdoors. If you want to expand your horizons as a chef, check out these top barbecue and grilling recipes—from seafood and steaks to fruits and vegetables–from the Food Channel.

Staying Safe With Your Grill

Hopefully, you’ve inspected your propane grill for leaks by now and gave it a full cleaning for all of the outdoor cooking that lies ahead. But it’s always a good idea to review some important safety reminders. Here are five tips to keep in mind as you get fired up for the coming season.

1. Keep your grill at least six feet away from your home and position it on sturdy and level ground.
2. Never leave the grill unattended.
3. Never light a gas grill with the lid closed. To light your grill, open the lid before turning on the gas at the tank. If the grill doesn’t light after a couple of clicks, turn off the burner, turn the gas off at the tank, and wait 5 or 10 minutes before attempting to light it again.
4. Close your grill lid quickly to extinguish small flare-ups. It’s also a good idea to have a portable fire extinguisher nearby—just in case.
5. Never attach or disconnect a propane tank or adjust fittings while the grill is operating. If you run out of gas while grilling, turn off all the burners, reconnect the new tank, and re-light.

Read more safe grilling tips here.

Best Practices For Food Safety

It’s also a good idea to review some food safety reminders. Here are just four.

1. If you can’t wash your hands, use antibacterial wipes before eating or handling food – especially raw meat, poultry, or fish.
2. Separate raw meats from cooked and prepared foods. Store raw meats in a separate cooler, place raw meat on its own plate, and use different utensils to handle uncooked and cooked food.
3. Always cook meats to recommended internal temperatures; there are wireless meat thermometers that allow you to monitor temperatures from your phone.
4. If you aren’t eating immediately, refrigerate food quickly after cooking.

For more tips and information on safe food preparation and handling, visit the Partnership for Food Safety Education website.