Grill with Confidence: Barbequing Food Safety Tips

Barbequing is a beloved summer pastime in Canada, bringing together friends and family for delicious meals under the open sky. While the tantalizing aroma of grilled meats and veggies is hard to resist, ensuring food safety is paramount to keep those gatherings enjoyable and free from foodborne illnesses. Here are essential food safety tips to help you grill with confidence.

1. Start with Clean Hands and Surfaces

Before lighting the grill, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. This simple step is crucial in preventing the spread of harmful bacteria. Ensure that all surfaces, utensils, and cutting boards are also clean. Use separate cutting boards for raw meats and ready-to-eat foods to avoid cross-contamination.

2. Marinate Safely

Marinating adds flavor and tenderness to your grilled foods, but it’s important to do it safely. Always marinate meats in the refrigerator, not on the counter. If you plan to use the marinade as a sauce later, make sure to set some aside in the refrigerator that hasn’t touched uncooked meat. Don’t use leftover marinade that has been in contact with raw meat on cooked food.

3. Keep it Cold

Until it’s time to cook, keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood chilled at 4°C (40°F) or below. If you’re transporting food to a park or a friend’s house, use a cooler with plenty of ice or ice packs to maintain a safe temperature.

Whether you are storing the meat in the refrigerator or a cooler, always keep food out of the temperature danger zone of 4°C to 60°C (40°F to 140°F) as harmful bacteria can grow in as little as two hours in this temperature zone.

4. Thaw Safely

Make sure you plan ahead and thaw all meats in the refrigerator, not on the counter. Sealed packages can be thawed in cold water. Microwave defrosting can be done as long as the meat is placed immediately on the grill. Meat should be completely thawed before grilling so that it cooks more evenly.

5. Cook Thoroughly

Cooking meats to the right temperature is critical to killing harmful bacteria in order to avoid foodborne illness. Use a digital food thermometer to check the internal temperature of your food, by taking it off the grill and placing it on a clean plate. Insert the digital food thermometer through the thickest part of the meat.

For hamburgers, insert the digital food thermometer through the side of the patty, all the way to the middle. Make sure to check each piece of meat or patty because heat can be uneven.

To avoid cross-contamination, remember to always clean your digital food thermometer in warm, soapy water between temperature readings.

6. Avoid Cross-Contamination

Keep raw meats and their juices away from other foods. Use separate utensils, cutting boards and dishes for raw and cooked meats. Never place cooked meat back on the same plate that held raw meat, unless it has been thoroughly washed. Raw juices can spread bacteria to your safely-cooked food and cause foodborne illness.

Remember to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat.

Clean and sanitize all your cooking equipment, utensils and work surfaces with a mild bleach solution and then rinse well with fresh water and let air dry, or use clean towels.   

7. Refrigerate Leftovers Promptly

Don’t let leftovers sit out for more than two hours, or more than one hour at room temperature on hot summer days.  Refrigerate leftovers promptly in shallow containers to cool quickly.  

Remember to keep food out of the temperature danger zone of 4°C to 60°C (40°F to 140°F). When in doubt, throw it out!

8. Stay Informed

Stay updated on food safety guidelines and recalls by visiting Health Canada’s website. This resource provides valuable information to help you make informed decisions about the foods you eat and how you prepare them.

By following these tips, you can enjoy the full flavour of your barbeque without worrying about foodborne illnesses. Safe grilling practices not only protect your health but also ensure that every meal is a memorable and enjoyable experience.

So, fire up that grill, gather your loved ones, and savour the joys of barbequing with peace of mind. Happy grilling!

For more information: Health Canada – Food Safety