Grilling With Propane: Safety Tips

May is National Barbecue Month – a great time to get out of the house (especially this year!) and cooking on your propane grill.

Just make sure you have enough propane gas on hand before your next cookout so you don’t run out halfway through preparing your meal – and always be sure to put safety first when it comes to grilling with propane.

Propane safety starts with grill maintenance

Taking proper care of your propane grill can help it not only operate more safely, but will help it last longer and work better. Check out this two-minute video from Consumer Reports for some suggestions on how to properly maintain your propane grill.

Grilling safety tips

Propane grill maintenance is a good start. But what are best practices for grilling with propane?

Let’s take a look:

• Keep propane grills propane gas cylinders outdoors at all times; never store or use them indoors or in a garage, covered shed or carport. Not only is this a fire hazard, it can also create a buildup of carbon monoxide, an odorless and potentially deadly gas.
• Clean your grates after you grill; leftover grease is the most common cause of grill fires.
• Always use your grill on a level surface and at least five feet away from the house or anything that could catch fire like overhead branches or outdoor furniture.
• Open the grill lid before you ignite the grill, and keep it open until you’ve confirmed that the grill has been lit. A closed grill can cause propane gas to build up and create an explosion risk.
• Once the grill is lit, don’t wander off to chat with your guests or get a drink. Unattended grills are the cause of half of cooking fire-related injuries, according to the National Fire Prevention Association.
• Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill.
• Keep one part of your grill surface empty so you can easily move food to there if a flare-up occurs. After the food is moved, keep the grill lid up to burn off the flare-up.
• If the flare-up spreads, remove all the food from the grill and turn off the burners and gas.
• When you’re done grilling, turn off all the burners and close the cylinder valve before you leave the grill to go eat.

Need a propane delivery to keep your grill or other propane appliances up and running this spring and summer? We’ve got it. Contact the pros at Woodruff today to schedule your next propane delivery in South Jersey.

Please note: At Woodruff energy, your safety and comfort are always our priority. Please see our COVID-19 Service Update Page to learn more about how we are working to keep your family and our crews safe and your propane deliveries coming through this challenging time.