SUNDAY, July 17 (HealthDay News) -- Backyard barbeques are a big
part of summer fun, but avoiding their hidden dangers is key to
staying healthy and enjoying a cookout, a doctor suggests.
Barbeques can result in food poisoning from raw or undercooked
foods; temperamental grills can cause burns; and charred meat may
contribute to the development of certain types of cancer, according
to Dr. Martha Howard, a Chicago Healers practitioner.
But it doesn't have to be that way, Howard noted in a news
release from the health care network. As the summer heats up and
more people fire up their grills, Howard offers the following tips
to help ensure safe and healthy barbeques:
- Keep it clean. Be sure to scrub the grill and remove old
fats.
- Use wood starters for charcoal -- not petroleum. Stack charcoal
in a two-pound metal can with the ends cut off. Spread out the
coals with tongs once they are well-lit.
- Become familiar with the grill. It's important to know how to
operate and turn off a propane grill safely.
- Use proper hygiene. Remember to wash your hands and use
separate plates and cutting boards for raw and cooked meats.
- Use marinades. Marinated meat may char less. Just don't let
meat sit out while it's marinating.
- Precook. Avoid taking meats or poultry directly from the
freezer to the grill. Precooking before grilling reduces overall
cooking temperature and charring.
- Cut down to size. Cut meat and chicken into smaller pieces so
they cook thoroughly.
- Check temperatures. To avoid food poisoning, check temperatures
with a meat thermometer: chicken, 165 degrees; hamburger, 160
degrees; pork, 150 degrees; hot dogs, 140 degrees; steak, 160
degrees for medium.
- Don't allow meat to become charred. Charred meat contains three
potentially cancer-causing chemicals: PhIP, HCAs (heterocyclic
amines) and PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons).
- Trim the fat. Less fat on meat and poultry means fewer
PAHs.
- Try more vegetables. Vegetables can be grilled for a healthy
alternative to meat.
- Turn it off. At the end of the barbecue, be sure to put out
charcoal completely, or turn the propane valve off.
More information
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has more about
barbeque safety.