Are you excited to flip some burgers, grill some wings, and crank up the tunes?
This month, we recommend ensuring your home and outdoor grilling space are safe and enjoyable for the entire season.
Here are some essential tips for preparing your home (and grill) for the season:
Quick Checklist for Outdoor Safety
Follow this checklist, and you’ll have tasty burgers and peace of mind throughout the season.
Inspect Outdoor Electrical Outlets
Ensuring that all outlets are safe and functioning is essential. Always inspect outdoor outlets if you’re using an electric grill or plugging in outdoor lights. Ensure cords are not frayed, plugs don’t show wear, and cords aren’t a tripping hazard. If you’re using an electric grill, always plug it into a grounded source.
Clean the Grill
Don’t neglect your grill when starting your spring cleaning! Clean off any old food remnants, grease, or ash that’s been lingering since last season. Invest in a wire grill brush to clean the grates. When your grill is clean, you’ll avoid unwanted flare-ups while cooking and help improve food flavor.
Secure a Well-Ventilated Area
Proper ventilation and indoor air quality are also key to a comfortable indoor space, so always grill in a well-ventilated area. Be careful when grilling on balconies and never grill indoors or in areas with little airflow. Improper ventilation could lead to carbon monoxide buildup, which is a considerable hazard. Are you experiencing stale indoor air? Home air purifiers are a great way to keep indoor air balanced and clean.
Schedule an AC Tune-up
Your indoor space is just as important as your outdoor one. This is especially true if you’re hosting a barbecue party and your house will be full of guests. A seasonal AC cleaning will give you 100% peace of mind and keep your guests cool and comfy if they need to retreat indoors.
Create a Safe Environment
In addition to cooking in a well-ventilated area, it’s smart to create a safe grilling station (especially important if small children are present). Keep sharp utensils, lighters, lighter fluid, and other hazardous items out of the reach of small children and pets. Keep your grilling station separate from partygoers.
Prep Your Indoor Bathroom
If you’re hosting a barbecue, address any plumbing or toilet issues before your gathering. No host wants toilets overflowing or drains gurgling with a house full of guests.
Check Internal Temperatures
Cook food to a safe minimum internal temperature by using a food thermometer.
Whole cuts of meat: 145 F with a three-minute rest time
Fish: 145 F
Ground meats: 160 F
Egg dishes: 160 F
Poultry (ground or whole): 165 F
Thoroughly Cook Frozen Meat
Although frozen products may appear to be pre-cooked or browned, treat them as raw food and cook thoroughly. Products labeled as “Cook and Serve,” “Ready to Cook” and “Oven Ready” must be cooked.
Quick Checklist for Outdoor Safety
Follow this checklist, and you’ll have tasty burgers and peace of mind throughout the season.
Inspect Outdoor Electrical Outlets
Ensuring that all outlets are safe and functioning is essential. Always inspect outdoor outlets if you’re using an electric grill or plugging in outdoor lights. Ensure cords are not frayed, plugs don’t show wear, and cords aren’t a tripping hazard. If you’re using an electric grill, always plug it into a grounded source.
Clean the Grill
Don’t neglect your grill when starting your spring cleaning! Clean off any old food remnants, grease, or ash that’s been lingering since last season. Invest in a wire grill brush to clean the grates. When your grill is clean, you’ll avoid unwanted flare-ups while cooking and help improve food flavor.
Secure a Well-Ventilated Area
Proper ventilation and indoor air quality are also key to a comfortable indoor space, so always grill in a well-ventilated area. Be careful when grilling on balconies and never grill indoors or in areas with little airflow. Improper ventilation could lead to carbon monoxide buildup, which is a considerable hazard. Are you experiencing stale indoor air? Home air purifiers are a great way to keep indoor air balanced and clean.
Schedule an AC Tune-up
Your indoor space is just as important as your outdoor one. This is especially true if you’re hosting a barbecue party and your house will be full of guests. A seasonal AC cleaning will give you 100% peace of mind and keep your guests cool and comfy if they need to retreat indoors.
Create a Safe Environment
In addition to cooking in a well-ventilated area, it’s smart to create a safe grilling station (especially important if small children are present). Keep sharp utensils, lighters, lighter fluid, and other hazardous items out of the reach of small children and pets. Keep your grilling station separate from partygoers.
Prep Your Indoor Bathroom
If you’re hosting a barbecue, address any plumbing or toilet issues before your gathering. No host wants toilets overflowing or drains gurgling with a house full of guests.
Check Internal Temperatures
Cook food to a safe minimum internal temperature by using a food thermometer.
Whole cuts of meat: 145 F with a three-minute rest time
Fish: 145 F
Ground meats: 160 F
Egg dishes: 160 F
Poultry (ground or whole): 165 F
Thoroughly Cook Frozen Meat
Although frozen products may appear to be pre-cooked or browned, treat them as raw food and cook thoroughly. Products labeled as “Cook and Serve,” “Ready to Cook” and “Oven Ready” must be cooked.
Use Food Thermometers Correctly on Burgers. Insert the thermometer through the side of patty until the probe reaches the center.
Beware of the Danger Zone. Bacteria multiply rapidly between 40 F and 140 F, a.k.a. the Danger Zone. USDA recommends that perishable food be consumed or refrigerated within two hours (one hour in room or outdoor temperatures of 90 F and above).
Store Leftovers Properly
Divide leftovers into smaller portions and place them in shallow containers in your refrigerator or cooler.
Keep It Cool
Pack coolers with ice bags, gel packs or frozen water bottles. Use an appliance thermometer to monitor that food stays chilled at 40 F or below.
Defrost Safely. Thaw frozen beef, poultry or fish safely in the refrigerator, cold water or a microwave oven. Cook immediately after thawing.
Prepare for Emergencies
For extra safety, always have a first-aid kit handy during a cookout. Accidents happen. And even when you practice safety measures, you may still experience cuts, bruises, or minor burns. A first-aid kit will come in handy should an accident happen.
Following these safety tips, you can enjoy a fun and safe barbecue season during National Barbecue Month and all summer!
This article was brought to you courtesy of Farmers Insurance agent, Jonathan Priest, with an office at 57 Tandberg Trail, Suite 7, Windham and StaySafe.org. Call him at 207-893-8184 or send him an email at jpriest1@farmersagent.com <