Grilling is a great way to limit heating up your kitchen in the summer months. Since my husband handles the grilling at our house, it also gives me a little break from cooking! We have several neighbors who enjoy grilling year-round. My husband on the other hand is a fair-weather griller. He prefers to wait until the weather is nice enough to comfortably spend time outside. Once summer is in full swing and temperatures start to climb, I find myself regularly reminding him about a few important food safety practices.
Below are some simple tips to help you enjoy grilling season while keeping your food safe to eat.
- Thaw meat safely- meat should be completely thawed before it goes on the grill. To keep things easy, I place the meat we plan to grill into the fridge the night before. This ensures the meat is fully thawed and ready to cook.
- Be careful with marinades- I love using salad dressings as marinades like this Honey Mustard Dressing. Marinate your meat in a sealed bag or container and keep it in the fridge anywhere from a few hours to overnight. Marinades that have been in contact with raw meat should be thrown away and not reused.
- Follow safe storage and cooking temps- Keep the meat in a cooler with ice or in the fridge until the grill is pre-heated. This article from the USDA shares safe internal temperatures for popular grilled items. Leftovers should be placed in containers and refrigerated within 1-2 hours to prevent food-borne illness.
- Swap out plates and utensils- Keep separate plates or platters for raw and cooked meat. When it’s time to remove food from the grill, use clean utensils and serving dishes to prevent cross-contamination.
- Clean your grill after use- Our grill is used quite a bit and without proper cleaning, the grease build up could become a hazard! Instead of using a grill brush, my husband scrubs the grill grates with crumpled aluminum foil once the grill is fully cooled. For stubborn grease, mix baking soda and water to create a paste, spread it on the cool grates, and then wipe clean.
Grilling is a fun way to switch up your meal plan during the summer months- or really any time of year! Share these food safety tips with others to enjoy delicious grilled meals safely all year round.
