9 Essential Safety Tips for Grilling and Smoking

Grilling and smoking are two of the most popular ways to cook food. Everyone loves it! Nevertheless, it comes with some inherent risks you should be aware of. Here are some tips to make sure your outdoor cooking experience is as safe as it can be.

1. Keep it outdoors – You should do all of your cooking outdoors. Yes, I know your smoker has low heat – even less than your oven. But the smoker isn’t insulated the same way as your oven so that heat can escape. Plus, every cooker produces some smoke that needs to be let out into the air, away from people.

2. Keep it clear – Make sure your grill or smoker is kept away from your home, deck, and anything that hands down, like an awning, eave, branches or canopy. Assume that you’ll spill a big tray of grease or knock out a hot coal. Are you far enough away from anything that can catch on fire?

3. Keep your cooker clean – No matter how good you are, there’s always going to be some residue on your cooker, especially if you use a sauce or rub. Most people don’t clean their grills once they’ve finished cooking (because there’s food to eat!), so make sure to do it as the grill heats up the next time.

4. Keep children away – The grill should be a no-play zone for obvious reasons. Make sure all kids and pets are kept away from the cooker at all times.

5. Keep the lid covered – Not only should keep the lid closed for best cooking, but it’s also safe. When the lid is closed, oil or fat can’t splatter and burn someone. Plus, if someone collides with the grill, they won’t accidentally touch something super-hot inside.

6. Use your cooker properly – I know you’re an inventive person who likes to try new things, but your outdoor cooker is a serious piece of equipment that needs to be respected. Make sure you’re using it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.

7. Wear safe clothing – When you’re cooking, make sure you are wearing clothing without any lose pieces that might hang over the grill. These pieces can fall into the heat and catch fire.

8. Be prepared for fire – While fire is unlikely with a quality grill or smoker, it’s still important to be prepared. Keep a fire extinguisher in an easy-to-reach location so you can put out any unwanted flames.

9. Keep it still – Once you’ve begun cooking, keep your grill in the same spot until it has cooled down. If you try to move it, you might tip it and cause a fire.

Written by Ian Baranesky of The Smoker Broker

The Smoker Broker is the go-to resource for competitive-grade smokers and grills and all things BBQ in Canada. With a passion for BBQ and great experience, they carry the best BBQ products to sell to stores and direct to consumers. As the exclusive Canadian distributor for Yoder Smokers, the Smoker Broker looks for the highest quality grills and accessory products to bring to the public.

The Smoker Broker began in 2013 by two successful entrepreneurs with a passion for all things BBQ. Their goal is to empower retailers to bring their customers a world-class BBQ experience. They provide retailers the best brands in the market and offer knowledge and support. With The Smoker Broker, retailers are to make the best purchasing decisions that mirror the wants and needs of customers – leading to increased sales, retailer credibility, and more.

For more information, visit https://www.smokerbroker.ca.

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