Outdoor grilling is one of the best things about summer, especially with these tips to help you have a fun, safe, and easy clean-up barbecue.

• A pyramid-shaped pile of charcoal in the grill lets air circulate so that the coals heat evenly. Preheat coals about 45 minutes; the fire is ready for cooking when the flames die down and the coals turn gray-white.
• No-burn grilling. To grill foods so that they cook through but don’t burn, place them on the outer edge of the grill and cook with the lid closed. More charcoal will be needed to make the fire last.




• Flavor meat, chicken and fish by adding herbs to the fire or placing them on the grill so that the smoke wafts over the food. Try sage, thyme, or rosemary; citrus rinds work well too.
• Using a grill tray enables you to cook almost anything – small items such as sliced vegetables or delicate food such as fish – without worrying about them dropping through the rack.
• Open or shut? Grilling with the cover on slows the cooking time and is best for roasts, whole chickens, and thicker cuts of meat. Open grilling, or cooking foods directly over the coals without a cover is recommended for burgers, steaks, or other foods that require quick, intense grilling.
• Easy cleaning. Here’s a no-fuss way to clean your grill. After barbecuing, place a sheet of aluminum foil on the hot grill. The next time you cook-out, peel the foil from the grill, crinkle it into a ball and use it to scrape away any remaining burned food.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), gas and charcoal grills cause an annual average of 1,500 structure fires and 4,200 outdoor fires in or on residential properties, resulting in a combined direct property loss of $29.8 million.

From making a quick dinner to barbecuing a feast for family and friends, when lighting a charcoal or gas grill, it’s important to remember that a savory barbecue is a safe barbecue.

• Only use your grill outside. Grills are not designed to be used in a trailer, tent, garage, or house. Carbon monoxide can build-up and poison you.
• Keep barbecue grills on a level surface away from the house, garage and, most importantly, children and pets. When grilling on your patio, make sure that all furniture and accessories are far from the grill. On balconies, it is always safer to move festivities to available lawn space.



• Set-up a grill in an open area away from buildings, overhead combustible surfaces, dry leaves or brush. Be sure to avoid high traffic areas and always barbecue in a well-ventilated area. Be aware of wind blown sparks. Never leave a grill unattended once it is lit.
• Always read the owners manual before using the grill and keep a multipurpose fire extinguisher within easy reach. When purchasing a fire extinguisher, choose the largest size that can be handled comfortably. If an extinguisher isn’t available, consider keeping a bucket of sand or a garden hose nearby.
• Your grill generates high temperatures, so keep it covered whenever possible. Keep lighted cigarettes, matches and open flames away from the grill, and move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces and grease. Use a can to catch excess grease.
• For charcoal grills, use only starter fluids designed for your grill and never use gasoline. Limit the amount of fluid used. If the fire is too low, use dry kindling and add more charcoal, if necessary. To avoid a flash fire – a fire that spreads rapidly through the vapors of an ignitable liquid – never add more liquid fuel to a lighted grill.
• Use long-handled utensils to avoid burns and splatters and wear clothing that does not have hanging sleeves or apron strings. Use flame retardant mitts when adjusting hot vents.

These precautions should be used for all outdoor cooking devices, including propane turkey fryers and outdoor fire pits. Above all, remember that whatever you’re cooking with outdoors will remain hot for hours and that wooden surfaces, such as decks, can present fire hazards, so never place cooking devices directly upon them.

Related Fuller Brush Products:

Barbecue Grill Cleaner – Item #788

Loosens burnt-on grease and food from grills and racks for easy cleaning. Pleasant sassafras scent. 15 oz. Use with Barbecue Grill Brush for an exceptionally clean grill.

Click on the picture below to learn more…

Barbecue Grill Brush – Item #292

Hardened steel bristles scrape away tough deposits from grills and racks. 8-1/2″ overall length. Use with Barbecue Grill Cleaner for an exceptionally clean grill.

Click on the picture below to learn more…

Independent Fuller Brush Distributor #0232034

If you have any questions about The Fuller Brush Company or their products, feel free to contact me.

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Tags: fuller brush, how-to, outdoor cooking

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 at 2:02 pm and is filed under How-To, Quick Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.