Enjoy your summer barbecues

Enjoying your home to the fullest in the summertime usually includes a barbecue out on the patio or deck. Barbecuing has become one of America’s favorite summer pastimes and can be a fun and delicious way to whip up a quick meal both on the weekends and after a long workday. It’s important to remember some safety precautions to take both with the equipment you use to grill and the food you are grilling.

•Maintaining an adequate distance between the grill and the outside wall of the house is important to reduce the chance of fire. Gas and charcoal grills should never be used indoors, in closed garages or on enclosed patios and balconies. Not only is fire a threat in these areas, the toxins released by the charcoal can be dangerous.

•Make sure the grill is placed on a level floor so it won’t tip, and set it away from any potential flammable objects such as cars, lawn mowers, gas tanks or compost heaps. Keep a clear walking path from the grill to the eating area so there is no danger of tripping and knocking down the grill. Always keep a fire extinguisher handy for any emergencies and keep an eye on children in the area. Curious little ones might be tempted to put their fingers and hands on hot grill surfaces or barbecuing utensils, or could knock over a hot grill, causing significant injury or creating a potential fire hazard.

•Another barbecuing concern is preparation of the food, especially the problem bacteria called E. coli. To avoid contamination, handle raw meat carefully. Keep it separate from other foods and never reuse a plate on which raw meat has been placed. Wash your hands in warm, soapy water after handling raw meat and clean with hot, soapy water all surfaces and utensils that touch raw meat before using with other food. Meat should be thawed on a plate in the refrigerator or microwave oven, not out at room temperature.

•Food should be cooked to a safe internal temperature – judged by using a food thermometer – to destroy harmful bacteria. Don’t simply judge its doneness by how brown it is on the outside. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry Hotline, whole poultry should reach an internal temperature of 180 degrees Fahrenheit; chicken breasts, 170 F. Hamburgers made of ground beef should reach 160 degrees F; ground poultry, 165 degrees F. Beef, veal and lamb steaks, roasts and chops can be cooked to 145 degrees F. All cuts of pork should reach 160 degrees F.

•Don’t let food sit out for more than an hour in weather above 90 degrees and promptly refrigerate any leftovers in shallow containers. Discard any food that has been sitting out for more than two hours in weather cooler than 90 degrees. For more information, visit the hotline’s Web site at www.fsis.usda.gov or call 1-800-535-4555.

•After you’ve grilled the perfect hamburger you’ll want to relax and enjoy eating it. That means keeping the bugs away. To help lessen insects’ intrusion on your picnic, keep sweets and sodas covered and capped and eat while it is still light to avoid mosquitoes in the evening. Use spray repellent, mosquito coils or citronella-laced candles or torches to help keep the pests away. And most importantly, have a safe and fun barbecue!