This week is the first of a four part series of blogs on the art of char grilling. We will begin with an adaption from the eNewsletter of the master himself – Steven Raichlen, on grilling safety. You will all hopefully learn a lot more about char grilling over the next four weeks so that you may put your new skills to the test with Heat Beads® BBQ Briquettes!

We all know that when literally playing with fire, there are significant safety hazards. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, from 2004-05 exposure to fire/heat caused 5% (for males) and 7% (for females) of all injuries requiring hospital treatment. When you next pull out your BBQ or kettle for use you should follow these simple safety tips to make sure you have a successful and safe BBQ experience!

Here are our top 10 BBQ safety tips:

1. Most importantly: Burning BBQ fuel inside can give off carbon monoxide which has no odour and can kill you. NEVER burn BBQ Briquettes inside homes, vehicles or tents.

2. When returning to your BBQ after a long period of neglect; check it over for problems and clean it thoroughly including cleaning out all the old ash (make sure you don’t forget about the ash catcher) and making sure the grill plates are clean. Most importantly, if there’s rust forming on the grill walls, we’re afraid it’s time to wave goodbye to your beloved BBQ (keep your BBQ in a dry place such as a garage to avoid rust occurring).

3. Vlado Gregurek, owner of Vlado’s, suggests that an steel brush should be used to clean off all fat that may remain on the grill before lighting, as this can lead to excess smoke and even fire.

4. Place a heavy sheet of metal underneath your BBQ to catch grease splatters or as protection against sparks.

5. Coarse salt is useful for putting out a grease fire. However, if there is a real danger of the fire spreading, call 000 immediately for emergency assistance.

6. When using a Heat Beads® BBQ Quickstart Chimney or lighting Heat Beads® BBQ Briquettes, remember to always use gloves and wear enclosed shoes for your protection. To learn how to light your BBQ using a Heat Beads® BBQ Quickstart Chimney, click here.

7. Keep your grilling as an activity conducted out in the open – enclosed verandas, overhanging trees or nearby shrubbery can all be fire hazards.

8. Leave 30% of the grill free of coals to allow for a ’safety zone’, as Steven puts it, for your BBQ delights to rest in case of flare ups.

9. Never leave your BBQ unattended as this poses a fire risk and safety risks for children, or just those who have had a bit too much to drink at the family BBQ.

10. And finally, when the BBQ is over, close all the vents and leave the Heat Beads® BBQ Briquettes to cool completely before removing. Never attempt to extinguish the Briquettes with water as this will only lead to dangerous amounts of smoke.

Once removed into a fireproof container (e.g. a galvanised metal rubbish tin with a tightly fitting lid), wait until the next day to dispose of the ash as live coals can last longer than 12 hours.

Now you have many of the tools to thoroughly enjoy a BBQ safely with family and friends! Stay tuned for our top 10 BBQ tips, next week!

To learn more about this important issue directly from the master himself, you can access Steven’s May eNewsletter by clicking here.