I'm afraid of my gas grill.
October 3, 2021 10:42 AM Subscribe
I never use my gas grill because I'm always afraid of it blowing up in my face when I light it. But a charcoal grill is terrible for the air and takes too long. Is there any way to make me a confident griller? Maybe a way to light it from a very great distance?
I guess you could get a welder’s mask?
Or research stats on how often it happens (NOT often) and that might reassure you?
posted by nouvelle-personne at 10:51 AM on October 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Or research stats on how often it happens (NOT often) and that might reassure you?
posted by nouvelle-personne at 10:51 AM on October 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Quite seriously, you need a model rocket launcher without the rocket or launcher.
It boils down to a controller with a button and two very long wires. When you press the button the igniter (at the end of the wires) will cause a very small, very brief flare.
Estes rocket launch controller
Estes rocket igniters
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:02 AM on October 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
It boils down to a controller with a button and two very long wires. When you press the button the igniter (at the end of the wires) will cause a very small, very brief flare.
Estes rocket launch controller
Estes rocket igniters
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 11:02 AM on October 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Get a lighter designed for grills. They're about eight inches long.
Before you turn on the gas, light the lighter and hold it at the point where the grill is normally lit. Now turn on the gas, slowly. You'll get a nice, smooth lighting experience.
The above applies whether the grill has an electric lighter or not.
posted by bricoleur at 11:23 AM on October 3, 2021 [32 favorites]
Before you turn on the gas, light the lighter and hold it at the point where the grill is normally lit. Now turn on the gas, slowly. You'll get a nice, smooth lighting experience.
The above applies whether the grill has an electric lighter or not.
posted by bricoleur at 11:23 AM on October 3, 2021 [32 favorites]
Assuming you're not using a grill with an igniter already, doesn't your gas grill have a hole on each side at roughly the burner level? Turn the gas on, stand approximately one arm's length to the side of the grill, stick a grill lighter into the hole and light it.
The other thing you can do, with a bit of practice, is drop a lit twist of newspaper or scrap paper down onto the burner, stand back arm's length, and turn the gas on slowly. This is less likely to give you the "whump" sound that is very scary but not actually a killer fireball.
In any case, no, this is not a common outdoor cooking injury. Propane disperses too quickly in air, and gas grill burners are not really functioning under high enough pressure to shoot out the kind of foot-long flames it would take to do damage - and you shouldn't have your face a foot from the burners anyway. Food catching fire remains the biggest threat of grilling. But if you are really, really terrified you should see if you can install an aftermarket igniter on your grill or replace the grill with one that has an igniter.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:25 AM on October 3, 2021
The other thing you can do, with a bit of practice, is drop a lit twist of newspaper or scrap paper down onto the burner, stand back arm's length, and turn the gas on slowly. This is less likely to give you the "whump" sound that is very scary but not actually a killer fireball.
In any case, no, this is not a common outdoor cooking injury. Propane disperses too quickly in air, and gas grill burners are not really functioning under high enough pressure to shoot out the kind of foot-long flames it would take to do damage - and you shouldn't have your face a foot from the burners anyway. Food catching fire remains the biggest threat of grilling. But if you are really, really terrified you should see if you can install an aftermarket igniter on your grill or replace the grill with one that has an igniter.
posted by Lyn Never at 11:25 AM on October 3, 2021
I had same the fear, but told myself gas grills don't just explode randomly. So I perform regular maintenance to help ensure my grill is in working order. A regularly scheduled bubble test on the tank. Cleaning the Venturi tubes a few times per season. Checking for signs of spiders or grease buildup. Keeping the grease in check. Checking the hoses are in good condition. Also keeping a fire extinguisher within arms reach, and knowing how to use it, is some reassurance in case of the worst case scenario.
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 11:27 AM on October 3, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 11:27 AM on October 3, 2021 [6 favorites]
The faster you can get the flame in there after turning on the gas, the better to avoid the heat pouff. bricoleur's suggestion of holding it in there as you turn on the gas is great. We generally only use two of our four burners and so I held the flame between them just after turning on the gas before we got the igniter fixed.
Do you have a built in igniter? If you do, I'd get a long stick/poker and see how far away you can stand and still hit the igniter button. No need to have the gas on at this point, since you will hear the clicks. Now turn the gas on, move back and hit the button.
posted by soelo at 12:32 PM on October 3, 2021
Do you have a built in igniter? If you do, I'd get a long stick/poker and see how far away you can stand and still hit the igniter button. No need to have the gas on at this point, since you will hear the clicks. Now turn the gas on, move back and hit the button.
posted by soelo at 12:32 PM on October 3, 2021
Response by poster: To answer a few questions:
- I'm afraid of the type of accident that happened to Hannah Storm.
- My grill has a push-button igniter. It always goes nothing, nothing, nothing, FWOOM.
It never occurred to me to stick the flame in there first. Seems like that would be a complete solution, right?
posted by HotToddy at 2:39 PM on October 3, 2021
- I'm afraid of the type of accident that happened to Hannah Storm.
- My grill has a push-button igniter. It always goes nothing, nothing, nothing, FWOOM.
It never occurred to me to stick the flame in there first. Seems like that would be a complete solution, right?
posted by HotToddy at 2:39 PM on October 3, 2021
Nothing's going to be longer range than a push button igniter. As soelo says, the key is to not release too much gas before lighting it. That story about Hannah Storm says she tried to relight it after it blew out. I'm guessing a bunch of unburnt gas had built up. Outdoor grills don't have the safety feature many indoor ones do where gas isn't released if it's not burning. If you ever do think you've got a gas buildup, turn the gas off, open the lid, and wait a few minutes for it to dissipate before trying to light it.
(Until you said you had an electric igniter I was sure this was my chance to share this Secret Knowledge about Weber grills: What Is The Little Chain?. Answer: a matchstick holder.)
posted by Nelson at 3:08 PM on October 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
(Until you said you had an electric igniter I was sure this was my chance to share this Secret Knowledge about Weber grills: What Is The Little Chain?. Answer: a matchstick holder.)
posted by Nelson at 3:08 PM on October 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
Ah, looks like what happened in that case is the fire blew out. So the gas had been on without a flame, and had built up, and then she tried to light it again.
The steps I'd be taking for that:
- first, yes, if you can let the flame precede the gas, that'll handle it. In general it's not something you need to worry about for lighting your stove the first time.
- don't lean over the grill while lighting it, ideally
- if the flame turns off or the gas runs without catching for more than, hm, say a minute: shut off the grill/gas and wait for it to dissipate (you don't need to try to relight it immediately)
- then, use one of those grill lighters, and approach the grill or stove from a few feet away with the lighter on and held in front of you / pointed at the grill, so any stray gas will burn off. You can swoosh it through the air in front of you, too. There might be a fwoom noise, but you will be at a safe distance.
posted by Lady Li at 3:09 PM on October 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
The steps I'd be taking for that:
- first, yes, if you can let the flame precede the gas, that'll handle it. In general it's not something you need to worry about for lighting your stove the first time.
- don't lean over the grill while lighting it, ideally
- if the flame turns off or the gas runs without catching for more than, hm, say a minute: shut off the grill/gas and wait for it to dissipate (you don't need to try to relight it immediately)
- then, use one of those grill lighters, and approach the grill or stove from a few feet away with the lighter on and held in front of you / pointed at the grill, so any stray gas will burn off. You can swoosh it through the air in front of you, too. There might be a fwoom noise, but you will be at a safe distance.
posted by Lady Li at 3:09 PM on October 3, 2021 [1 favorite]
Here is a quick write-up on the Hannah Storm case.
Note that the cover was open and there was a strong wind so a reasonable person could (and did) assume the propane had disappated. Instead the gas had gathered near the ground, which presumably was out of the way of the wind.
OP: If you want to feel safe I think you could restrict yourself to only lighting the grill immediately after the propane has been turned on. If at some point the grill goes out for some reason, turn off the propane and go order a pizza.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 3:22 PM on October 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Note that the cover was open and there was a strong wind so a reasonable person could (and did) assume the propane had disappated. Instead the gas had gathered near the ground, which presumably was out of the way of the wind.
OP: If you want to feel safe I think you could restrict yourself to only lighting the grill immediately after the propane has been turned on. If at some point the grill goes out for some reason, turn off the propane and go order a pizza.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 3:22 PM on October 3, 2021 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: So by push button igniter, just to clarify, I mean I open the valve to the propane then push the little red button over and over until the gas builds up enough to ignite.
posted by HotToddy at 3:40 PM on October 3, 2021
posted by HotToddy at 3:40 PM on October 3, 2021
Yeah, it's super important to note that the Hannah Storm accident didn't just happen when she was lighting her BBQ. She was lighting her BBQ after leaving the gas turned on and unattended with no pilot light for an unknown length of time. That kind of thing doesn't happen when you start it up to make burgers.
posted by Jairus at 3:52 PM on October 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by Jairus at 3:52 PM on October 3, 2021 [3 favorites]
Applying the steady flame of a handheld lighter allows ignition to happen just as soon as there is enough gas to ignite. So yes, that's all you need to do.
When you use a push-button igniter, there's an interval between ignition sparks and, especially if the gas is turned up, enough gas can build up between sparks that you get that bracing fwoom.
Do also follow the advice of airing out the grill before lighting if you have reason to believe that there has been a buildup of unburnt gas (due to the lighter going out, the grill going out, etc.).
posted by bricoleur at 3:59 PM on October 3, 2021
When you use a push-button igniter, there's an interval between ignition sparks and, especially if the gas is turned up, enough gas can build up between sparks that you get that bracing fwoom.
Do also follow the advice of airing out the grill before lighting if you have reason to believe that there has been a buildup of unburnt gas (due to the lighter going out, the grill going out, etc.).
posted by bricoleur at 3:59 PM on October 3, 2021
If you’re really willing to make some changes to address this you could replace your propane grill with a natural gas grill (but you’d need a professional to run a gas line). A big pro is that you never have to refill a propane tank again.
Natural gas is less dense than air so those types of explosions like Hannah Storm experienced don’t really happen as the gas disperses instead.
posted by raccoon409 at 5:42 PM on October 3, 2021
Natural gas is less dense than air so those types of explosions like Hannah Storm experienced don’t really happen as the gas disperses instead.
posted by raccoon409 at 5:42 PM on October 3, 2021
Response by poster: Oh really! The grill is about three feet from the natural gas hookup to my house! I wonder how much it would cost. . .
posted by HotToddy at 6:50 PM on October 3, 2021
posted by HotToddy at 6:50 PM on October 3, 2021
Natural gas grills still go "foom" when you light them up. I still feel myself not wanting to get too close when I'm dropping the match in and jumping back a bit, just to be on the safe side, so don't think that this will end your problem entirely. I also jump back when I hit the igniter switch on the propane grill, so believe me, there is at least one person out in MeFi Land that gets exactly where you're coming from. As uncomfortable as the whole situation makes me, I just kept telling myself that I'm on my own, and if I want BBQ, I've got to cope with it, and just do it.
That said, it's just so, so, so nice not to worry about filling the tank or running out of propane halfway through a meal, or driving around with a full propane tank in the trunk of the car, which always makes me nervous. With the natural gas hook up, just flip the switch (or in the setup I'm familiar with, a switch on the gas meter and a switch on the pipe, and the on/off/temperature dial on BBQ itself) and away you go (after lighting it).
To be on the safe side, when shutting it down, you shut it from the main, then then hookup, then the BBQ itself. That way, there shouldn't be any gas trapped in the system.
posted by sardonyx at 7:39 PM on October 3, 2021
That said, it's just so, so, so nice not to worry about filling the tank or running out of propane halfway through a meal, or driving around with a full propane tank in the trunk of the car, which always makes me nervous. With the natural gas hook up, just flip the switch (or in the setup I'm familiar with, a switch on the gas meter and a switch on the pipe, and the on/off/temperature dial on BBQ itself) and away you go (after lighting it).
To be on the safe side, when shutting it down, you shut it from the main, then then hookup, then the BBQ itself. That way, there shouldn't be any gas trapped in the system.
posted by sardonyx at 7:39 PM on October 3, 2021
I used to have to light a propane powered hot water heater, and it would really freak me out.
So I learned to make long-lasting matches out of qtips (not plastic ones, but paper is fine) - a tiny bit of lighter fluid - light that, and it will burn for a solid minute. Then I could turn on gas and light the hot water heater with my face and hands away from the 'fooom'.
I used it a few times on an old grill where the igniter had failed and on campfires.
They make long matches too, but a qtip works way better and burns longer.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:28 AM on October 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
So I learned to make long-lasting matches out of qtips (not plastic ones, but paper is fine) - a tiny bit of lighter fluid - light that, and it will burn for a solid minute. Then I could turn on gas and light the hot water heater with my face and hands away from the 'fooom'.
I used it a few times on an old grill where the igniter had failed and on campfires.
They make long matches too, but a qtip works way better and burns longer.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:28 AM on October 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: So many helpful suggestions. Thanks for the validation and advice. I feel like a more confident griller already!
posted by HotToddy at 1:08 PM on October 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by HotToddy at 1:08 PM on October 4, 2021 [1 favorite]
Weber gas grills (and maybe some other brands) come with a long bent-wire thingy generally attached to the grill with a fine metal chain. It is a match holder, meant to hold a single paper match so you can safely light the grill without sticking your hand down near the burner. Unless the grill is brand new, I find that it's often easier to use the match-holder and a match, versus using the pushbutton igniter.
If your grill doesn't have one, you can probably make one from an old coat hanger or other piece of wire pretty easily, or you might be able to use a pair of skinny tongs to hold a match and get it down through the grill grate to the burner area. Or use/make something like this. Or just use a long match.
Here's the process you want to use:
posted by Kadin2048 at 1:36 PM on October 4, 2021
If your grill doesn't have one, you can probably make one from an old coat hanger or other piece of wire pretty easily, or you might be able to use a pair of skinny tongs to hold a match and get it down through the grill grate to the burner area. Or use/make something like this. Or just use a long match.
Here's the process you want to use:
- Assemble materials: book of matches, match holder, cig lighter (optional)
- Make sure burner valves (temperature / flame control knobs) are turned to off.
- Place single match into match holder
- Open propane tank valve 3-4 full turns
- Light match in match-holder (using striker + another match, or cig lighter, or whatever), and stick the burning match down through the grill grates, between the grease-deflector things, and hold it near the side of a burner
- Without wasting time (match is burning, after all), open the burner valve (flame knob) for the burner you're holding the match next to. I usually turn it to "High" or "Medium" and typically hold the match-holder in my dominant hand while using my non-dominant hand to turn the flame knob
- If the burner doesn't immediately light, move the lit match around slightly
- If the match goes out before the burner lights, turn the knob for the burner back to Off, walk away, and let the grill air out for 5 minutes or so with the cover open. Then repeat from Step 2.
posted by Kadin2048 at 1:36 PM on October 4, 2021
Is it possible to light your grill with the lid closed? My grill is such that when you turn the burner knobs all the way to one side there's a little spark-making thingy that starts going, like on a modern gas stove. It generally takes a few tries and a "whoosh", but with the lid closed the whoosh is bearable for my anxiety levels (I am also a nervous lighter of things). I can tell when the burner is lit because of the whoosh.
posted by LadyOscar at 10:37 PM on October 4, 2021
posted by LadyOscar at 10:37 PM on October 4, 2021
Response by poster: Is it possible to light your grill with the lid closed?
It's possible, yes, but I always feel like if I'm getting too much of a fwoom with the lid off, having the lid on will just make it worse or more dangerous. Also maybe I read that you should not have the lid on? Do most people have the lid closed?
posted by HotToddy at 11:42 AM on October 5, 2021
It's possible, yes, but I always feel like if I'm getting too much of a fwoom with the lid off, having the lid on will just make it worse or more dangerous. Also maybe I read that you should not have the lid on? Do most people have the lid closed?
posted by HotToddy at 11:42 AM on October 5, 2021
This might be going in the wrong direction for the fire phobic, but sometimes I've used a small propane blowtorch to light difficult-to-reach burners if the button is kaput.
posted by sapere aude at 5:06 PM on October 5, 2021
posted by sapere aude at 5:06 PM on October 5, 2021
Also maybe I read that you should not have the lid on? Do most people have the lid closed?
You are supposed to light a gas grill with an igniter with the lid opened.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:38 AM on October 7, 2021
You are supposed to light a gas grill with an igniter with the lid opened.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:38 AM on October 7, 2021
For anyone else wondering why the lid should be open when lighting, see here or here
posted by Nelson at 9:17 AM on October 7, 2021
Open the lid before you light the grill. This is very important, as lighting the grill with the lid closed can cause a gas buildup and explosion. (I’ve seen it happen.)I've lit a closed grill once or twice with no problems but will never do that again now.
posted by Nelson at 9:17 AM on October 7, 2021
« Older Hypoallergenic down duvet alternatives | Other hammered dulcimer songs like "Little Potato" Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Are you lighting it with lid closed or open?
posted by supercres at 10:51 AM on October 3, 2021 [1 favorite]