Summer Grilling safety reminders
Posted: May 20, 2019
National Barbecue Month. Memorial Day. Summer 2019. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re now entering peak grilling season here in North Carolina!
As you fill your propane tank and prepare for the outdoor cooking season ahead, it’s a good idea to review important safety for your cylinder and grill.
Here are eight propane safety tips to remember as things heat up here in NC:
- Keep your grill at least six feet away from your home on sturdy and level ground.
- Never leave the grill unattended.
- Check all hoses and connections for leaks before operating the grill.
- Never light a gas grill with the lid close – to light your grill, open the lid before turning on the gas at the tank. If the grill doesn’t light after a couple of clicks, turn off the burner, turn the gas off at the tank, and wait 5 or 10 minutes before attempting to light it again.
- Make sure to keep your grill lid accessible to extinguish small flare-ups. It’s also a good idea to portable fire extinguisher on-hand.
- Never attach or disconnect an LP tank or adjust fittings while the grill is operating. If you run out of gas while grilling, turn off all the burners, reconnect the new tank, and re-light. When you finish grilling, shut the gas valve and disconnect the LP couplings before storing the grill.
- When transporting your propane cylinder for re-filling, always:
- Transport it upright (with the valve on top) in a secure position to prevent rolling
- Close and plug the cylinder valve
- Place the cylinder in a well vented area inside the vehicle
- Refrain from leaving the cylinder alone in a hot vehicle; go straight to your propane dealer and straight home when you pick it up.
- Always practice food safety:
- If you can’t wash your hands, use antibacterial wipes before eating or handling food – especially raw meat, poultry, or fish.
- Separate raw meats from cooked and prepared foods. Store raw meats in a separate cooler, place raw meat on its own plate, and use different utensils to handle uncooked and cooked food.
Still using that clunky old charcoal barbecue? Make the switch to propane today and enjoy instant start-ups, no chemical fumes, and precision temperature control for all your favorite barbecue recipes! Rand Wade Oil features top-quality grills from Phoenix and Wilmington –come in and check them out at our Snow Hill, NC showroom today.
