Outdoor Cooking Safety Tips for the Summer

By Justin Kniley, Region 2 FEMA Corps Member

Does munching on juicy watermelon at a summer barbeque, toasting marshmallows by a campfire, or breathing in the sweet aroma of grass at picnics spark fond memories? For many, quintessential summer and fall activities involve sharing food outside with family and friends. Taking care to follow basic food and grill safety tips can prevent a big headache (or stomachache) from ill-prepared food and fires.

Food Safety:

While the large amount of preparation that goes into gathering all the right ingredients and cooking supplies for a big meal might lead you to feel fully prepared, picture this: you’ve just enjoyed an afternoon tossing frisbees in a cool breeze, paddling on a sparkling lake, and hiking through sun-dappled trees and you’re ready to put the final touches on a perfect day with a classic barbeque. Alas, you pull out some lukewarm potato salad and greyish meat from your cooler and realize that you forgot to add ice and move it out of the sun’s reach, ending that otherwise stellar day on a sour note. Go beyond just preparing ingredients and follow these tips to be SOOPeR prepared!

• Sanitation: Wash your fruits and vegetables, hands, counters, and cooking utensils before and after use. Pack water, soap, and moist towelettes to keep your hands clean.
• Organization: Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood separate to prevent cross-contamination—don’t reuse utensils or dishes that have handled raw meat without first washing in hot, soapy water.
• Operation: If cooking on a grill, make sure to follow proper safety protocols—more on that below.
• Preparation: When preparing raw meat, make sure to cook it to a safe internal temperature using a food thermometer. Keep cooked food hot by moving it to the side of the grill rack or covering it in foil.
• Refrigeration: Keep perishable foods in a shaded, closed cooler with ice until ready to eat. Don’t leave it out for more than 1-2 hours as it could attract unwanted wildlife and increase the speed that food spoils—bacteria grow between 40°F-140°F and at a faster rate when directly exposed to sunlight and higher air temperatures. Don’t forget, when in doubt, throw it out!

Grill Safety:

Regardless of whether you’re a novice or a grizzled iron chef, cooking outdoors increases the risk of fire. Each year, tens of millions of dollars in property damage results from almost 9,000 grill fires at U.S. homes. Following these basic tips will simultaneously help keep people and the environment safe while keeping you off the front page of your local newspaper. 

• Before you begin, make sure to check local rules about the use of fire pits, campfires, and barbeques at your home or campsite. Don’t wear loose clothing as it has a higher chance of catching alight while cooking.
• Build campfires at least 15 feet away from tent walls, cabins, shrubs, or other flammable materials to reduce the risk of starting a wildfire.
• Remember the three-foot rule: Grills should be no closer than three feet to a building, children and pets should stay at least three feet away from an active grill, and people should stay three feet away from an active campfire.
• Mechanical failure and malfunction, which includes flammable liquids, gases, and accelerants, is the largest cause of grill fires on residential properties. Routinely check grill components like propane tank hoses to ensure they are safely operational.
• Only light the grill when the lid is fully open with grilling lighter fluid. Use a metal screen over wood-burning fires to keep sparks from floating out.
• Stay near the grill the entire time you’re cooking and never leave the site until the flames—whether from a campfire or a grill—are gone. Have a fire extinguisher nearby to quickly stop any fires from spreading.
• Remember to clean the grill thoroughly to remove grease build-up after use—if using charcoal, cool down the used coals in a metal can covered by a lid.

Lastly, don’t let inclement weather dampen your day—check the weather forecast in advance and monitor developments to figure out when to reschedule plans or take shelter. If forced to relocate, don’t continue to cook on the grill inside or in an enclosed space as charcoal and gas grills produce carbon monoxide gas.

Sharing meals outdoors is a great way to socialize with friends and family in a reduced-risk setting for spreading COVID-19. Implement these safety tips to ensure that your fun festivities proceed smoothly and lead to more happy memories.

Check out these resources for more information:

Food Safety by Events and Seasons | FoodSafety.gov

Plan Ahead for Disasters | Ready.gov

Handling Food Safely While Eating Outdoors | FDA

Social media toolkit: Wildfire and outdoor fire safety (fema.gov)

Cooking fire safety outreach materials (fema.gov)

A Guide to Outdoor Grilling Safety - StaySafe.org