Grilled to Perfection Cookout and Picnicking Tips

Cooking outdoors goes hand-in hand with summer fun. Follow these tips to keep your cookout safe and tasty:

• Place the grill at least 10 feet away from any other objects, such as the house, shrubs, or bushes.
• Use appropriate starter fluid for charcoal grills and check the gas connection for gas grills. Never use a match to check for leaks.
• Keep kids and pets away from the grill until it is completely cool, and stay by the grill when cooking.
• Cook all meats to a safe minimum internal temperature, which should be checked with a food thermometer. Temperatures should be:
  • 145 degrees for beef, veal, lamb steaks, and roasts
  • 160 degrees for hamburgers
  • 160 degrees for all cuts of pork
  • 165 degrees for all poultry

Whether you’re taking the kids to the playground or spending a day at the beach, packing a healthy picnic meal only takes a little planning to reap great benefits.

• Avoid sodas and juice boxes. Packing water saves money and helps you avoid excess calories. A frozen bottle of water can also be used to cool other items and will stay cold longer on hot days.

• Pack fruits and vegetables for snacking.

• Avoid using meats and dairy-based ingredients that might spoil.

“Bagels with peanut butter and wraps with hummus, sliced carrots, and cucumbers work well on picnics,” says Julie Brown, CDE, Registered Dietitian on staff at Crittenton. “You can also freeze cups of yogurt beforehand for a sweet treat and to keep other picnic contents cool—just be sure to eat them while they are still cold.”