With summer in full swing and July 4 around the corner, you’re likely gearing up for some family barbecues. The question is, are you taking Mother Earth into account every time you fire up the grill? Fortunately, it’s not too late to give your barbecues an eco-friendly spin — and we’re not just talking about ditching those plastic cups and straws. Here are a couple of novel ways to enjoy green grilling this summer.
First, be sure to trim excess fat from the meat you’re grilling. Why exactly is this environmentally friendly? Because it reduces the number of hazardous chemicals being released into the atmosphere. Along the same lines, be sure to clean out the grill regularly. This is important because the buildup of food particles and grease in the grill produces unnecessary smoke in the air.
Also, be sure to reduce your grill preheat times. The majority of gas-fueled grills are ready for use in five minutes to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, charcoal grills take between 15 and 20 minutes. Plan your grilling time so that it corresponds to when the grill is more than ready to be used. Also, avoid leaving the grill burning longer than necessary.
Furthermore, try to avoid using lighter fluids that are petroleum based to start your grill. In the same way, stay away from self-lighting charcoal. These products unfortunately release petrochemicals that can harm the environment. Instead, use a natural lighter fluid or charcoal chimneys to start your grill. Better yet switch to a gas grill, which produces fewer pollutants and will be more efficient than charcoal time and time again.
