But don't forget to prepare for safety first. John Drengenberg, consumer safety director for Underwriters Laboratories, shared his safety tips with ABC7:
General Grilling Tips:
Always grill outdoors Try to keep your grill a safe distance from your house, garage or carport. Never grill indoors or on porches, even if it's raining. Place grill on a level surface Try to keep children and pets away from the grill area Never leave the grill unattended Keep a spray bottle filled with water handy to knock down large flare-ups Have a UL Listed fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergencies Try not to wear loose fitting clothes when grilling, wear oven mitts and use cooking tools with long handlesCharcoal Grilling Tips:
Never use gasoline or kerosene to start the grill Allow charcoal to cool down or use a garden hose on it before disposing Gas Grilling Tips Check hose connections to be sure they are tight Store extra propane containers away from the grill Do not store propane tanks in car trunk or in direct sunlight Be sure to leave lid open while starting Check burners to be sure there are no leaves or nests in the burner areaFor more information, check out www.SafetyatHome.com and also, follow UL on Facebook and Twitter for information all year round.