Char-Griller Ambassador James Llorens of Certified Creole BBQ has spent a fair amount of time around the pit. In that time, he's come up with his own guidelines for how to keep himself and his family safe around the life fire and hot surfaces that accompany grilling and BBQ.
Check out his tips below!
From James: When BBQ’n and grilling you always have to be cautious and careful so you can have a successful and safe cook without any incidents. Here are some safety tips to use during your next bbq/grilling session so you can avoid any issues.
1. Clean your cooking grates on a regular basis. A little bit of time and elbow grease will go a long way.
This will help prevent flare ups and make sure that your grates are ready to go for the next cook.
2. Wear heat resistant gloves when managing your fire.
Fire is obviously hot and you want to make sure that you are staying protected when you are stoking the coals or creating zones for your fire. Heat resistant gloves make this job much easier!
3. When using a gas grill, always check the hoses for leaks and turn off the gas when not using the grill.
Leaking gas around an open fire is no joke. Make sure everything is in good working order before you fire up the grill or griddle.
4. Keep your grill away from your house, garage and holiday décor.
You should keep your grill a minimum of 10 feet away from any structure and make sure that you are not putting your grill or griddle on a wood deck.
Which brings me to number 5.
5. Do not use a grill on a wood deck.
6. Make sure you grill is placed on a flat surface so it does not fall or tip over.
This also helps to ensure that the grease runs to the grease cup and not all over your yard or patio.
7. Don’t allow kids or pets near the grill/smoker.
8. Have a fire extinguisher nearby. It's better to have one and not need it, than to not have one and need it. Or worse to have one somewhere where you can't easily access it.
9. This should go without saying but never use a grill/smoker indoors.
10. Periodically check for loose screws in and around the grill/smoker and tighten them up. This is a good practice to get in the habit of. Try to do it once every few months.
And finally, a tip from my 7 year old Daughter who BBQ’s: "Put your hair up so it doesn’t catch fire!"