Greening Your Grill

It’s hot out there so get your aprons, burger flippers and most importantly your grills ready for another season of barbecuing!

Nothing is more indicative of summertime than the smell of sizzling barbecuing and the taste of hot-off-the-grill food. But how can we enjoy this favorite summer past time while reducing our impact on the environment?

Barbecues that are fueled by either natural gas or Liquefied Petroleum Gas are far better than those fueled with the average charcoal briquette immersed in petroleum solvents. The benefit of gas over charcoal is that there is less smoke, and therefore less contribution to air pollution. Also, charcoal briquettes could pose a health risk, as they produce hydrocarbons, which, when released into the air, can aggravate heart and lung problems. However if you already have a charcoal BBQ, try to purchase charcoal that is natural and locally sourced.

Now that you have your grill ready, it’s time to cook! When deciding what to grill, try to choose local meats, preferably organic, sustainably caught fish and locally grown vegetables for your feast. After an initial warm up period of around 3 to 4 minutes, turn your barbecue down to a lower setting and if your barbecue has a lid, keep it closed during cooking to preserve heat.

Once the delicious food is ready to be served, use reusable or compostable dishware and lastly send the leftovers home with your guests in reusable containers!