BARBECUE SAFETY
Barbecuing is a fantastic way to spend your leisure time but it has its own
set of unique risks that should not be underestimated. However, some
common-sense preparation can ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience.
A barbeque should be a safe and enjoyable experience but it's all too easy to be
distracted when you have friends and family around you whilst cooking. To avoid
injuries or damage to property, follow these simple precautions:
General Safety
● Make sure your barbeque is in good working order.
● Ensure the barbeque is on a flat site, well away from a shed, trees or shrubs.
● Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area.
● Never leave the barbeque unattended.
● Keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies.
● Ensure the barbeque is cool before attempting to move it.
Gas Barbeques
● Make sure the tap is turned off before changing the gas cylinder.
● Change cylinders outdoors if possible or in a well ventilated area.
● If you suspect a leak to the cylinder or pipe work, brush soapy water around
the joints and watch for bubbles - tighten to fix but do not over-tighten.
● After cooking, turn off the gas cylinder before turning off at the controls to
ensure any residual gas in the pipe work is used up.
Gas Cylinders
Always check the condition of all the pipes before use and ensure that it is
connected properly. Make sure that the barbeque controls and cylinder are fully
switched off before changing the cylinder and, if possible, you should always
change it outdoors. Never stockpile cylinders, only keep what you require for a
particular barbeque day and when you have finished with one, turn the cylinder
off before the barbeque controls as this will ensure that any residual gas in
the pipeline is used up
Food Safety
Whilst many people are aware of the fire safety precautions they need to take
when having a barbeque, many also neglect the dangers that can be caused through
the incorrect preparation, storage and cooking of food.
If you're using charcoal, you should ensure that the coals have gone through
their initial burning period, the flames have died down and are grey in colour
before placing any food onto the barbeque. Cooking too quickly will result in
lots of smoke and food which hasn't been cooked thoroughly.
Cooking Meat Safely
Raw meat including sausages, burgers and chicken, can cause food poisoning if
not enough care and attention hasn't been taken. You should keep cooked and raw
meat and utensils separate as bacteria can be transferred from uncooked meat
onto cooked food by using the same utensils, dishes and preparation surfaces.
For burgers, follow the cooking instructions on the packet and, if they can be
cooked from frozen, make sure they are cooked throughout and that there are no
pink bits left inside. To reduce the intensity of the heat, it's often useful to
place the food in a metal oven tray and place that onto the grill, than placing
the food directly onto the grill. This also prevents fat dripping onto the coals
which can cause the coals to re-ignite.
Fresh chicken, be it legs, breasts or drumsticks should never be cooked from
frozen. A good, safe tip is to pre-cook it in the oven on a low heat for 30
minutes then finish it off on the barbeque.
Wiping your hands on an apron, tea towel or using wet wipes might get any sticky
sauce from them but is not thorough enough to prevent germs that cause food
poisoning. Frequent washing using an anti-bacterial soap, especially after
handling raw meat, will help reduce the potential for bacterial transfer.
Salad, Coleslaw and Dips
Ensure that all salad is washed or rinsed thoroughly prior to use. Soil and dirt
also carry germs which can cause food poisoning. Don't prepare salads too far in
advance and always refrigerate them until they're ready to be used. Keep dishes
and bowls containing salad, dips and crisps covered on the table to protect them
from flies.
If you follow the guidelines above, your barbeque will be safe, enjoyed by
everyone and it's the perfect way to spend a nice summer's day out in the back
garden.