For many, heat and grilling go hand in hand with a summer weekend. At the same time, several risks coincide: easily perishable food is left outside, children run around in the garden, fat drips into the embers, and a hot grill remains after the meal. With a little planning, the barbecue evening becomes significantly safer.
It is important not to treat grilling as a side task. One person should keep an eye on the grill, food should remain chilled until just before it is placed on the grill, and children need a clearly recognizable safety zone.
Before grilling: keep food cool
Meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, sauces, and ready-made salads should not stand on the garden table for long in the heat. What is not yet needed should remain in the cooler bag or refrigerator. Raw food to be grilled should be kept separate from bread, salads, and ready-made side dishes.
- Take out only shortly before grilling: It is better to add smaller portions than to put everything out in the heat at once.
- Separate raw and ready-to-eat: Use separate plates, boards, and tongs for raw meat.
- Do not reuse marinades: Do not pour marinade that has been in contact with raw meat over finished dishes.
- Keep ready-made salads cool: Be especially careful with mayo, eggs, dairy products, and fish.
- Check leftovers critically: Anything that has been standing in the warmth for a long time should not be put back in the refrigerator.
Set up the grill safely
The grill needs a firm, level surface and distance from flammable objects. Cushions, wooden furniture, parasols, plants, packaging, and napkins should not be placed directly next to it. On balconies or terraces, house rules, rental agreements, and sufficient distance from walls, roofing, and neighbors also apply.
For charcoal, use only suitable grill lighters. Spirits, gasoline, or alcohol are not a shortcut, but a significant risk for flare-ups. A bucket of water, a fire blanket, or a suitable fire extinguisher should be within reach before the grill gets hot.
Make the child-safety distance visible
For children, the grill is often exciting but difficult to assess. Therefore, a simple rule helps: there is a zone around the grill that children must not enter. This zone can be marked with chairs, planters, or a clear announcement. It is important that adults consistently follow the same rule.
- Do not leave children alone with the grill, even if the food is already finished.
- Do not leave hot grill tongs, skewers, and gloves on the ground.
- No running or playing directly by the grill.
- Do not move the grill after lighting it.
Grilling healthier: avoid flames and black spots
When fat or marinade drips into the embers, flames and smoke are created. Marinated food can be patted dry slightly before being placed on the grill. Heavily charred black spots should not be eaten. Cured meat products such as many pink sausages or ham are unfavorable for grilling.
Vegetables, corn, zucchini, bell peppers, halloumi, or firm fish bring variety to the grill and often require less heat time. Restraint is advisable with aluminum trays, especially with acidic or salty marinades.
After the meal: embers remain hot for a long time
After grilling, the dangerous part is not automatically over. Residual embers can remain very hot under ash for a long time. Charcoal grills should cool down completely and be extinguished safely. Hot ash does not belong in plastic containers, cardboard, or dry trash cans.
- Do not leave the grill unattended as long as it is hot.
- Extinguish embers completely or let them cool down safely.
- Continue to keep children away.
- Only dispose of ash when it is truly cold.
- Put away grill gloves and tongs once they have cooled down.
Read also
- Packing a cooler correctly: Bringing groceries and picnics home safely in the heat
- Storing food properly in the heat: Fridge check for hot days
- Drinking properly in the heat: 7 simple summer drinks without the sugar trap
- Salads in a jar: 5 quick ideas for picnics and the outdoor pool
- Avoiding wasps at the dining table: What really helps now
- The best recipes for a picnic
Sources and further information
- gesundheit.gv.at: Eating and drinking in the heat, grilling
- AGES: Storing and processing food safely
- KFV: Grilling accidents and safe grilling with children
- KFV Fire Protection: Fire protection when grilling
- ORF.at: Current heatwave in Austria
Article image: AI-generated symbolic image.
