Safe Grilling: How Do You Know?

Safe Grilling: How Do You Know? 

When someone says, “safe grilling,” most people think of keeping the kids away when the match is lit or keeping a safe distance as you hear the “clicker” over and over again on the old gas grill until the “whoomph” of the flame lights up. Now the grill is safely heating with minor arm and facial hair damage. 

In my household, safe grilling means having one essential grilling tool: the instant-read thermometer. I have several of these if I am cooking more than one food that needs checking, and I even keep one in our camper. 

Instant Read Thermometer

An instant-read thermometer is different from a meat thermometer or a candy thermometer in that it reads the temperature of food instantly (hence the name “instant-read”).

This thermometer should not be put in the oven or grill and left during cooking but used to test or check food intermittently when you think it might be ready. Trust me. You will destroy your thermometer if you put it in your meat and close the lid of your grill. 

This tool helps you prevent overcooked fish and undercooked burgers. You can have perfectly cooked chicken breasts (not dried out) and “just right” steaks. Now you need to know what temperature “perfectly” cooked means. 

• All ground meat (such as burgers) = 160 degrees

• All red meat (this includes pork) = 145 degrees (higher if you want “well-done”)

• All poultry = 165 degrees

• All fish = 145 degrees (more than this can be overcooked)

An instant-read thermometer costs around $10 and is found in the kitchen section of most big box stores. You don’t need to get fancy – you need to use it. 

When most people say they grill, they pull out the hot dogs, burgers, or steaks. However, the grill is good for anything you want to be cooked. The grill at our house is used 12 months a year and cooks steaks, chops, chicken, fish, shrimp, vegetables, fruit, and pizzas. All it takes is a bit of oil or cooking spray, and things are good. I love it because I don’t have the kitchen oven or broiler heating in the summer.