Outdoor Cooking: Dangers And Preventive Measures

No matter how fun or easy you may find outdoor cooking, you sometimes fall prey to a few accidents here and there. Danger lurks just around the corner and this fact not only applies to outdoor cooking but to just about everything else as well. Check out the following list of things you can do to prevent disaster before it strikes.

• ANIMALS. Yes, you love animals but you're no charitable institution either. Your outdoor party-mates will hate you if you accidentally donate all your cooked goodies to your furry pals. To prevent bears, raccoons, squirrels, dogs, cats and rodents from nosing around and devouring your culinary delights, keep all ingredients and cooked food stored inside secure containers. However, if you can't resist showing off your superb food presentation skills, assign one or two people to hover around the eating area and guard your food.

• DUST AND DIRT. Technically, you are left at the mercy of nature when you cook outdoors. Protecting your raw ingredients and cooked food from dust and dirt will seem like a lost cause, but do not despair. The least you can do is to be observant and to exercise best judgment on planning when and where to hold the outdoor cooking session. Do not hold one when the weather forecast says the day will be very windy. Avoid sandy and overly dry areas. If you're cooking out in your own yard, have a sprinkler take care of this problem. You don't want dust particulates passing off as black pepper.

• FIRE. The dangers of causing a fire may be greater outdoors. There are a number of things that amplify this observation: the lack of the safety features and equipment in an enclosed kitchen, the open air and your inability to control where it blows, and the proximity and abundance of flammable materials such as leaves, grass and stray twigs. Needless to say, you can't do any outdoor cooking without a fire, so exercise vigilance instead. Do not leave the fire unattended. Do not allow kids to play nearby. Choose a non-grassy spot to minimize chances of letting the flame catch any leaves. Have a fire extinguisher on hand.

• GERMS. Just when you thought you have animals and fires in check, do not leave out the tiny things that escape your eye: bacteria, parasites and viruses, to name a few. These things can catalyze the spoiling of your food leading to poisoning. For instance, the E. Coli bacteria, which can be found in human feces, also abound in chicken and beef. Although you cannot completely kill all germs, you can reduce their number and minimize their toll on your health. Wash foods thoroughly. Wash your hands as well after handling them. Use only clean plates.

These four dangers will always be around every time you decide to cook out, but do not let them spoil your fun. Treat them instead as a constant challenge and check to your safety and sanitation practices.