Living In UAE

Going for a barbecue? Follow these 8 food safety guidelines

How should you dispose of the coal after a barbecue? Find out.

Published: December 18, 2023 18:24 Zainab Husain, Features Writer

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While the winter season is the perfect time to enjoy outdoor barbecues with family and friends, it is extremely important to handle food with care, to ensure everyone’s health and wellness. — Planning to have a barbecue? It’s important to equip yourself with some basic food safety rules before firing up the grill. Image Credit: Zac Cain/Unsplash

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On Monday, December 18, Dubai Municipality issued some food safety guidelines that should be kept in mind, from the time you defrost any frozen meat all the way up to storing any of the cooked food. — If you are looking for a public park that allows visitors to barbecue, read our guide here to find out the locations, timings and entry ticket prices: gulfnews.com/living-in-uae/ask-us/1.1699452813812 Image Credit: Aral Tasher/Unsplash

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Here are the top eight tips you should keep in mind when handling food for a barbecue: 1. Defrost frozen meats, chicken, and fish in the fridge – when defrosting meats, make sure you first move the packed frozen item from the freezer to the fridge for it to thaw gradually. — If you are looking for child-friendly areas with playgrounds and activities for children, read here to find out child-friendly barbecue spots: gulfnews.com/parenting/learning-play/1.1672845111064 Image Credit: Kat von Wood/Unsplash

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Wash your hands well before cooking. Make sure your grilling tools are clean. Cook food thoroughly, inside and out. Keep raw and cooked foods separate. — “Ensure safety and maintain your health by following nutritional tips and guidelines before, during, and after the barbecue,” Dubai Municipality stated online. Image Credit: Unsplash

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After grilling, remove cooked food before putting on new raw food. Use different dishes for cooked and raw foods. Refrigerate leftover food within two hours of cooking. — Another safety rule you should remember is to keep the lighter fluid away from the stove and out of children’s reach. Image Credit: Lukas/Unsplash

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When going out for a barbecue, it is also important to remember to choose a place that allows visitors to barbecue. You will be able to spot the signs at most public parks, clearly telling visitors if barbecue is allowed or not. — Safa Park located in the Al Safa area also allows barbecue for visitors. It is open from 8am to 10pm. Image Credit: Shutterstock

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In the past, Dubai Municipality has also shared guidelines when it comes to handling the grill and other barbecue cooking items. Here are six fire safety rules you should keep in mind, as per Dubai Municipality: Make sure the stove is safe before lighting the coals. — If you are looking for a barbecue recipe for your next outing click here:https://gulfnews.com/food/guide-cooking/1.1668595383948 Image Credit: Vincent Keiman/Unsplash

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2. Do not light coal in an enclosed space or indoors. 3. Keep the burning stove away from children. 4. Keep the lighter fluid away from the stove and out of children’s reach. — Hatta Hill Park is located in Hatta, an exclave of Dubai and it offers free entry. Image Credit: Supplied

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5. Wear heat-resistant gloves and avoid wearing loose clothing near a burning stove. 6. Turn off the fire when you are done, and dispose the coal properly to avoid burns. — Also, when you are done turn off the fire when you are done, and dispose the coal properly to avoid burns. Image Credit: Michaela Markovičová/Pexels

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In December 2021, Sharjah’s Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA) also issued guidelines on how you can dispose charcoal after barbecues, which can be helpful in keeping the area safe for visitors. — Image Credit: Aral Tasher/Unsplash

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These are the steps you should follow: 1. After you’re done with your barbecue, cool down the charcoal using water. 2. Wait until the charcoal is cool. 3. Place the charcoal in a separate trash bag. 4. Close the trash bag tightly and dispose it safely in designated areas. — Image Credit: Unsplash

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