| The smell of memories | | | | particularly with acidic marinades, such as those with |
| Last week, we were out for a walk on one of those | | | | lemon juice or vinegar. |
| beautiful spring evenings that we relish here in the | | | | *Turn meat often on the grill using a tongs rather |
| Northwoods after a long winter. Wafting on the | | | | than a fork, since poking the meat may cause |
| breeze, we detected the fragrance of a charcoal fire | | | | dripping fat and flare-ups, which can deposit |
| and something cooking, bringing with it reminders of | | | | carcinogens onto the meat. |
| happy summer days and festive occasions. | | | | *Use a cedar plank or elevated rack to move meat |
| I know that things have changed, and nowadays, | | | | farther away from the fire. |
| many people have a gas grill in their backyard, and | | | | *Use a meat thermometer to know when meat is |
| grilling is more commonplace, but for us, growing up in | | | | thoroughly cooked, but not overcooked, since the |
| the sixties, cooking out was a very special event, | | | | longer you cook the meat, the more toxins will form. |
| whether is was roasting "wienies" and marshmallows | | | | *Grill leaner cuts of meat that will drip less and cause |
| over a campfire on a family vacation, or hamburgers | | | | less charring, and don't eat the charred portions of |
| and steaks on the grill at a backyard family reunion. | | | | grilled meat as they contain a known carcinogen. |
| Grilling meat produces toxic chemicals | | | | *Grill more vegetables, and even fruits, with your |
| In spite of the happy associations, and with the | | | | meat, since they don't produce the same toxic |
| increased popularity of cooking out, it is important to | | | | chemicals that grilling meat does. As an added bonus, |
| understand that there are some health risks | | | | fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals, which |
| associated with this cooking method. This is because | | | | help reduce the effects of those toxins. |
| the combination of animal protein and high heat | | | | *Keep your grill clean, since carcinogenic residue can |
| produces certain chemicals that may cause | | | | build up and be deposited on the food. |
| inflammation, damage to DNA and therefore, a higher | | | | *Limit grilling to special occasions such as picnics or |
| risk of developing cancer and other diseases. These | | | | backyard barbecue parties, rather than making it a |
| risks seem to increase as we age, since our bodies | | | | regular cooking method. |
| are less able to deal with these toxins. | | | | Not so much about the food |
| Tips to reduce health hazard | | | | As we were walking along enjoying the evocative |
| It would naturally be unpopular to suggest that you | | | | smell from our neighbor's grill, we tried to remember |
| give up grilling altogether, but there are some things | | | | the first time we had ever eaten food cooked |
| you can do to minimize the health risk. | | | | outdoors. We realized that the fun we remembered |
| *Grill at lower temperatures by waiting until your | | | | was as much, about the setting, the occasion and |
| charcoal is a bed of hot embers or by turning the gas | | | | the people we were with, as it was about the way |
| down. | | | | the food was cooked. |
| *Partially cook the meat in the oven or on the stove, | | | | By incorporating these safer grilling tips, you can still |
| to shorten time on the grill to produce fewer | | | | make your outdoor cooking occasions special, while |
| carcinogens. | | | | at the same time protecting the health of your family |
| *Marinate meat before grilling to decrease cooking | | | | and friends. |
| time and reduce formation of toxic chemicals, | | | | |