Propane Grill Maintenance And Safety

Written on: May 14, 2021

Did you know that May is National Barbecue Month? Of course, the way to celebrate is to go out to your backyard and do some fun outdoor cooking on your propane grill. To whet your appetite, here’s a tasty recipe for Georgia mustard barbecue sauce.

Before you get too far, remember this: your propane grill will work better for a longer time if you take care of it with regular maintenance. If you use your grill often, you have to be diligent about keeping it as clean as possible and inspect it regularly for any potential problems that could put a damper on your next barbecue. Here are a few tips.

• Thoroughly clean the grill grates and do a full inspection of all the internal parts.
• Make sure to check the burners to make sure there are no clogs in the ports (the holes where the flames come out). Blocked ports create uneven flames and can cause the burners to fail.
• If you find any clogs or obstructions in the burners, use a pipe cleaner or a piece of thin wire to clear out the ports.
• Check to see if the igniters have a good spark and the grill lights properly

How To Grill Meat Safely On A Propane Grill

Here are a few tips to help you keep your grilled meat as safe as can be:

• Trim excess fat before cooking to prevent flare-ups.
• Use rosemary in your marinade; studies have shown this can significantly reduce toxins. Garlic, lemon juice and onion are other recommended marinade ingredients.
• Make sure the meat is cooked to a safe temperature by using an instant-read thermometer. It also prevents you from over-cooking those gorgeous pork chops.
• Don’t put your cooked meats on the same platter you used for the meat when it was raw. Use a clean platter to prevent the spread of bacteria.

Reacting To Flare-ups

Flare-ups on the grill are caused by fats and oils dripping down onto the propane burners. These flare-ups are usually temporary, but can cause burns on your food, and even worse, on you!

As stated before, you can prevent flare-ups by trimming any excess fat off meats. You should also blot off excess marinade before grilling.

Be prepared! Keep a portion of the grill empty while grilling so, if there’s a flare-up, you can quickly move food to the empty spot. Once the food is moved, keep the grill lid up and let the flare-up burn off. If the flare-up spreads, take all the food off the grill and let the fire burn off. If the fire gets out of control, remove all the food and turn off the burners and gas, leaving the lid open so the fire can safely die down.

More Safe Propane Grilling Tips

Any time you cook, there is a chance of getting an accidental burn. July is the peak month for grill fires and about half of the injuries involving grills are thermal burns that could be avoided if safety guidelines are followed. With that in mind, please review these propane grilling safety tips.

• Clean your grill after every use. Leftover grease not only creates flare-ups, but is the leading cause of grill fires.
• Keep your propane grill outdoors all the time.
• Never use a propane grill indoors. That includes garages, sheds or nay other outdoor structure on your property. Not keeping your grill in the open not only becomes a fire hazard, but propane combustion in an enclosed space will expose you to a build-up of carbon monoxide.
• When you’re grilling, the grill needs to be at least five feet away from the house, on a level surface, with no fire hazards like overhead trees or outdoor furniture nearby.
• Have your grill cover open when you ignite it, and keep it open until you’ve confirmed the grill is lit. A closed grill lid can cause a buildup of propane gas, creating an explosion risk.
• Unattended grills are the cause of 46% of cooking fire-related injuries, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. Don’t wander off to check the Braves game on TV or get distracted entertaining your guests. Stay close to the grill and keep it in sight at all times. Remember, there is always a chance of a flare-up occurring.
• Children and pets should always be kept at least three feet away from your hot grill.
• When you’re done grilling, turn off all the burners, close the cylinder valve and clean off the grill grates.

You can read much more about propane safety by going here.