by If the quality of the air you breathe inside your home is important to you, then you’ll want to know what to consider if you’re thinking of bringing grilling to the great indoors.
More folks are spending quality time at home than ever before, due to changes in our lifestyles over these last couple of years. We’re spending more time in our backyards and more time on hobbies, like learning to cook in new and exciting ways.
Nothing says “keep those home fires burning” quite like the American tradition of grilling. Today, a wide range of “healthy” grilling products are on the market. Some of these are made for use indoors.
At A Healthier Home, we’re getting an increasing number of questions about grills and indoor grilling in particular. Here are the 6 things you need to know to protect your indoor air quality and maintain safe operation of indoor grills.
1. Do not ever use a regular grill indoors.
Natural gas, propane, charcoal and wood pellet grills made for exterior use should never be used indoors under any circumstances. The combustion process produces fatal gasses – like carbon monoxide – that can result in death. The same goes for setting your grills up next to the house. If you must, close any windows or vents. Easier: Don’t do it.
For those who “rig” their grill in a shed or garage, an open window, chimney or cracked door won’t vent enough gasses to stop the negative effects. Don’t do it.
The gasses produced by regular grill combustion are odorless and colorless and can enter the house poisoning the air and occupants of the home.
Warning signs for carbon monoxide poisoning.
2. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions of any indoor grilling device.
Anything other than electricity may not be suitable for indoor use. As manufacturers launch new products designed for indoor grilling, bear in mind that you want to minimize any open flames indoors. Used incorrectly, any indoor grilling product could degrade internal air quality. Proper ventilation is key.
3. Ventilation should exhaust to the outdoors, diffusing heat and smoke.
Your electric indoor grilling device will require a vent hood, but not one that just sends the fumes back into the kitchen. The exhaust needs to lead to the outdoors. In addition to use of the exhaust, you may want to crack a window to let any smoke escape. This will help maintain a better quality of air inside your home.
Proper ventilation is crucial for Indoor Air Quality
4. Clean your indoor grill regularly
The smoke from “burning off” the drippings from an unclean electric grill can degrade the quality of your home’s air. It’s better to clean it than burn it off. If you have a non-stick electric grill, use a non-abrasive cleaner to preserve those surfaces. Otherwise, the non-stick coating could begin to flake off into your food. Blech.
Another reason to clean an indoor grill is to protect the cord. If there is fat build up, the cord could absorb fats and become a fire hazard.
5. Place the indoor grill on a heat proof surface.
Tile or granite countertops are heat proof, but formica or wooden counters will need protection when safely operating an indoor grill. I recommend a trip to the local home and garden center, where you should find an array of large, thick tiles and stones to provide a layer of protection between your grill and your counters.
6. Never leave an indoor grill unattended.
The outdoor grilling industry has sold us the “set it and forget it” model of grilling, which is supposed to tell us it’s easy to use. However, when it comes to indoor grilling, an unattended grill is not an option. The high heats and accelerated cooking timelines mean you need to monitor your indoor grilling devices constantly while preparing your family’s meal.
Is it time for A Healthier Home Examination? Or is someone in your family struggling with respiratory illness, heart disease, or cancer? Check out what we do and how we help.
Learn More:
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