There are some foods that can benefit from a nice crusty sear the extra flames create—a steak, for example. The trick is trying to judge how big and long the flare-up will last, because there's a very fine line between charred and burned.
To do this, you need to know the fat content of what's cooking and make a judgment call on whether that fat will continue feeding the flare-up or if it will go out almost as quickly as it came. If ever in doubt, take the flare-up to town and save the food. Alternatively, there are some foods that should never be allowed to stay in a flare-up, requiring swift and immediate action.
This includes anything with a sugar-based sauce or marinade or foods rubbed down with a delicate spice mixture. These will definitely go straight to burned, skipping the char phase altogether. Whatever you do, no matter the advice you might have been given, never use a water squirt bottle on a flare-up.
Again with the oxygen, the 1 part of it in water will feed the fire rather than dampen it, making the situation more dangerous than it originally was. Some squirts of water will send an ashy mess everywhere and is often not enough to put out a flare-up—at least not without extinguishing the coals—and the flare-up will just come right back.
I've read and heard people mention keeping a water bottle next to the grill to deal with flare-ups, but I cannot recommend it based on my experience, especially when moving the food or covering the grill works so well. Lastly, although any amount of fat or oil that could start a real fire should never be around the grill, it's always good practice to keep a fire extinguisher nearby in case the unthinkable happens. I've never used it and never plan to, but it's there so I don't "burn down the neighborhood," as an old neighbor was sure I was destined to do.
And because it is out of sight, it is more likely to have unsafe amounts of grease accumulate there. This is because the drip pan is outside of the firebox, which can help contain a grease fire in most occurrences. If you have a cabinet below your grill that contains the grease management system, your drip tray could overflow out of sight.
And if the grease in the catch pan catches fire, it can spread to those other areas. Grease fires are the most common reason for fires related to gas grills. While other causes are less common, they can be just as dangerous, if not more. A mechanical issue, like a rusted out burner, could lead to excessive gas flow resulting in a larger fire than the grill is designed for. Having any combustible materials in or near the grill can also result in a fire from your gas grill.
Finally, the most severe gas grill fire can be the result of a gas leak. A leak can allow the flammable gases to accumulate, leading to a fireball or explosion when you light your grill. When you preheat your grill, you should heat it up on high for minutes. Doing this will help burn off the residue from prior use on the grates and other grill surfaces. After your grill has heated up, use a grill brush to clean the grates. Take the grill brush and dip it in water before using it on the grates.
This will effectively steam clean the grates before putting any food on it. And always look down below the grates for any buildup of grease and other residues. If you see this, it is a good indicator you need to do a more thorough cleaning.
If flames persist or increase in intensity, use a fire extinguisher or clear the area and call your local fire department. Recently Viewed. Reset Your Password. Email Address. Cancel Submit.
This solution partially isolates the fire source from the dripping fats and oils, which are the main reason for grill flare-ups. The briquettes are usually reusable and self-cleaned. You just need to mix them once in a while to expose the clean side. Make sure the briquettes sit on a wire grate between the fire source and the top grill grate. Another benefit of using such a product is a more even distribution of heat, instead of just having hot spots above the burners.
Here is an example of briquettes. Grill mats allow you to cook with less oil. Less oil means less chance of gas grill flare-ups. Grill mats combined with a clean drip pan and catch pan can truly eliminate grease fires and flare-ups in your gas grill.
Grill mats can sustain a certain temperature and have a range of warranty possibilities. Here is a degrees mat on Amazon paid link. By cleaning the grill grates, you make sure no access food, oils, and fats are stuck to the grates, promoting flare-ups and unwanted fires in your grill. Keeping your grill grates clean also prevents those leftovers from sticking to your food.
Generally, I can say that clean grates are a win-win. There are many kinds of brushes for grills on Amazon. Make sure you have a good one the cleans well and removes all oil and fats residue. With time, the burner covers catch fats and oils. They create a layer that can easily catch fire. Though it may not be the most comfortable solution, for me it is a quick fix for grill flare-ups and grease fires. Since heat is a crucial part of a grease fire, leaving the grill door open lets the oil and fats keep a lower temperature and airflow thus preventing them from catching fire.
I am not saying this is a recommended way of cooking with a gas grill but it is worked for me, and as I said, it is a quick fix for when I can't perform the above tips. Gas grill flare-ups can really ruin the grilling experience and your food when grilling. Though it requires some trial and error process. Prevent grill flare-ups by following the simple tips I suggested above, It will surely dramatically reduce grease fires and flare-ups.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or thoughts. All Posts Avocado Plant Care. Ben Loy. Preventing gas grill flare-ups. Recent Posts See All.
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