Tips for Safer Propane Grilling
How to Handle a Grease Fire or Flare Up
Cooking, whether it’s inside or outside, always presents the potential of accidents and injuries because you’re dealing with high heat and hot flames. Letting your mind wander away from the task at hand for just a few seconds or panicking when something goes wrong could lead to bad consequences.
With that in mind, here are tips about what you should do if you ever have a grease fire or flare-up on your outdoor propane grill.
First and foremost, always be ready for an emergency. Near your grill, always keep these essentials: a fire extinguisher, insulated gloves and either baking soda or sand so you can quickly smother any fire that erupts while you’re grilling. Keeping a fire blanket nearby is another possibility.
What to Do about Flare-ups
Grill flare-ups are tall flames with a lot of smoke. These are quite common when grilling meats because of dripping fat, oil and marinades. To prevent your flare-up from turning into a full-fledged fire, do this:
- Immediately move the food to a warming rack, using long-handled tongs.
- Slowly replace the food and put it at the center of the grill to let fat burn off; continue this process for each item.
- Once food has been returned to the grill, finish cooking with a watchful eye.
What to Do If You Have a Grill Fire
The problem with flare-ups is that these can spread quickly and easily turn into a full-blown fire. Here’s what to do if it looks like your flare-up has turned into something more serious.
- Turn the grill off.
- Remove the food and smother the flames by throwing baking soda or sand on top of the fire. NEVER use water to extinguish a grease fire. Throwing water on the fire can make the fire spread. There’s a reason for that old saying: “oil and water don’t mix.”
- Close the lid and any grill vents to further starve the fire of oxygen.
- If the propane tank has become part of the fire, or if the fire expands out of control, evacuate the area at once and call the fire department.
Avoiding a Grease Fire on Your Propane Grill
The best way to manage grease fires and flare-ups is to avoid them in the first place.
- Clean your grill regularly, following instructions from your manufacturer. Regular cleaning will greatly reduce the risk of fire. Your food will taste better too!
- Grease can pool in the firebox area around the burners. If it is safe to do so, turn off the gas and leave the lid open so the grease can burn off.
- Always cook with the lid down and leave it down during cooking time.
- Oil the food, not the grates.
How to Deep Clean Your Propane BBQ Grill
You should invest time to do a complete cleaning of your propane grill at least once a year—or more if you use your grill for a lot of your cooking. This will keep it running properly and safely. (About half of the injuries involving grills are thermal burns that could have been avoided.)
You don’t need any high-tech tools to do a complete job of cleaning a propane grill from top to bottom. All you need are a few basics: rubber gloves, aluminum foil, a grill brush, and a large bucket of hot and soapy water. Dish soap is recommended. Here’s what to do.
- Make sure all the grill burners are off and that the dials are in the “OFF” position.
- Turn off and disconnect the propane tank. If you’ve just finished grilling, wait until the grill is barely warm before doing this.
- Take out the grease trap and turn it upside down over a trash can so it can drip.
- Put on the rubber gloves and remove the grates as well as the burner protectors under them. Put the grates and burner protectors in the bucket of hot, soapy water for a good soak. Put the grease trap in as well.
- Use aluminum foil to cover the burner tubes and other heating elements. Then thoroughly clean the underside of the hood and the inside walls. Wipe dry with paper towels.
- Take the grates, burner protectors, and grease traps out of the bucket and clean those. Rinse well.
- Take the foil off the burner tubes and gently wipe the tubes.
- Carefully check burner holes with a toothpick to dislodge any clogs. Replace the burner covers, grates and grease trap.
- Clean the grill exterior with a manufacturer-recommended cleaner.
Review more propane safety tips. https://www.propanenewyork.com/benefits-of-propane/propane-safety/