Gas Grilling? 10 Do's and Don't's of Propane Gas Tanks Safety

Grilling season is here. And there are many people who use Propane Gas Grills to barbecue or cook their food with. Gas grills are usually the preferred grill to use if you are having a large party or gathering.

Some people prefer them to because of the many different apparatuses and uses that come with them. You can get as elaborate as you want with a gas grill. The reason being that they will generally cook at a much faster rate than a regular charcoal grill.

One reason is the instantaneous high temperature after ignition. That is precisely the reason for this article. Gas grills present a whole different ballgame to grilling because of the use of propane tanks. Let me start by giving you a bit of understanding on propane.




Propane is a hydrocarbon (C3H8) and is sometimes referred to as liquefied petroleum gas, LP-gas, or LPG. Propane is produced from both natural gas processing and crude oil refining, in roughly equal amounts from each source. Most propane used in the United States is produced domestically, with about 15 percent imported from overseas.

It is nontoxic, colorless, and virtually odorless. As with natural gas, an identifying odor is added so the gas can be readily detected. Propane is used every day by millions of Americans and people around the world.

There are many uses for propane besides grilling. Here are some of those:

 
• For Furnaces

• Water Heaters

• Air Conditioners

• Fireplaces

• And Appliances 

There are also uses in agriculture and other commercial endeavors. However we will be dealing with your backyard gas grill.  There are 10 do's and don't's to propane safety that I want to give you so that your grilling experience is a fun and safe one this season.

I don't believe these are all inclusive. You should always use common sense when dealing with dangerous gases.

Where propane tanks are concerned here are 10 Do's when handling and using it:

1. Follow the grill manufacturer’s instructions and keep written materials handy.
 
2. If the igniter no longer works, replace it in accordance with the grill manufacturer’s instructions.
 
3. Keep the top of the grill open until you are sure the grill is lit, even if you have an electronic ignition.
 
4. Cover disconnected hose-end fittings with plastic bags or protective caps to keep them clean when the grill is not in use.
 
5. Store propane cylinders outdoors in an upright (vertical) position.
 
6. If you smell gas, and it is safe to do so, turn off the cylinder valve, turning it to the right (clockwise). If you are unable to turn off the valve, immediately leave the area and dial 911 or call your local fire department. Before you use the grill again, have a qualified service technician inspect your grill and cylinder.
 
7. Consult a qualified service technician if you are having grill or propane cylinder problems.
 
8. Keep your grill clean to prevent flare-ups.
 
9. Check for knots or kinks in gas hoses.
 
10. Make sure the area around the grill is free of leaves or anything else that could ignite.

Those are the proper ways to handle propane tanks where your grill is concerned. Can you think of more?

And the 10 things not to do where propane tanks are concerned:

1. Smoke cigarettes or anything while handling a propane cylinder.
 
2. Use matches or lighters to check for propane leaks.
 
3. Pour an accelerant such as lighter fluid or gasoline on the grill.
 
4. Allow children to tamper with the cylinder or grill.
 
5. Use, store, or transport propane cylinders near high temperatures (this includes storing spare cylinders near the grill).
 
6. Transport propane cylinders in your trunk. Instead, keep in a cool place, such as an air-conditioned car. And do not smoke in your car while transporting.
 
7. Move a lit grill.
 
8. Leave a lit grill unattended.
 
9. Attempt to adjust propane gas container(s) or hoses while the grill is lit.
 
10. Grill in a covered patio or garage, even with the doors open, because gases can build up.

Can you think of any more here?  You can never be to safe when using a gas grill!

These are a few common sense things you can think about to help you, your family and friends enjoy a safe and happy grilling season.  Enjoy happy grilling!

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Tips for Smoking Meat on Your Barbecue Grill

Ah, spring and summer are my favorite times of year. Birds are singing, wildlife are out and about and back yard barbecue grill out smells are in the air. Makes you wonder if life can get any better.  One of my favorite things to do is fire my grill up and make smoked meat.

If smoking meat isn't one of your favorite things to do, I bet after this article it will be.  At least you should try it if you haven't ever done it.  Most people of course have tasted or eaten smoked meats, but have you made your own? In this article I will give you some tips to smoke your favorite meat on your barbecue grill.

You can also purchase many different types of smokers that are just for that purpose as well. However in this article we will just be using your basic back yard charcoal barbecue grill.




My mouth is already watering just writing this article for you. Getting hungry for it. There are as many different types of meat as there are ways to grill and smoke them. Most meats fall into about 5 categories that are:

• Poultry

• Pork

• Beef

• Wild Game - such as Venison 

• And Fish

All of these can be made very delicious by smoking them.  One of the things to remember when smoking is to make sure you get the proper heat.  You want to make sure the meat is not only smoked to flavor but that its well cooked for consumption.  This is as simple as using a meat thermometer purchased at your local department store or grocery.

Make Sure Your Temperature is Right

A temperature of  145°F to 180°F is sufficient to make sure your meat is well cooked. And depending on the type of meat, smoking times can be longer then others.  Smoking times also have to do with the strength of the smoke flavor that your after.

Types of Wood

Let's have a look at the many types of wood that can be used to flavor your meat with. You can use just about any type wood to smoke with. But try to remember not to use building material wood. These wood's are usually treated with chemicals that are hazardous to the human body. Not to mention they will ruin your meat.

Where I live at there is an abundance of Maple tree wood and Oak tree wood, as well as Cherry wood. Smoking your meats on your grill is as simple as finding a dry limb of wood and placing it next to the charcoals, not on them.  You want the wood just to simmer and make a strong smoke.

Then cover your grill with a lid and leave just enough room for air to get in to keep the coals burning.  A slight breeze is really good for this.  The idea is to keep the abundance of smoke in the grill as long as possible. The types of wood that make great smoked flavors are:

• Maple

• Oak

• Cherry

• Apple

• Hickory

• Pecan

• Persimmon

• Grape

• Peach

• Red Oak

• Ash

• Cedar

To name a few. Some of them hardwood and some softwoods.  Other fuels besides wood can also be employed, sometimes with the addition of flavoring ingredients. Chinese tea-smoking for example, uses a mixture of uncooked rice, sugar, and tea, heated at the base of a wok. Some North American ham and bacon makers smoke their products over burning corncobs.

Also there are many different types of charcoal you can use that already have the wood mixed in with it.  Here again it depends on the strength of the flavor of smoke that your trying top accomplish.

Try It You'll Like It

If you've never done any smoking on your own, I'll give you an example of how to do it so you can try it and see if you enjoy it.  Presuming you have a basic barbecue grill that is fairly large, and you're going to let's say, grill and smoke a whole 2lb chicken for example.  Here are the steps to make sure you maximize your flavor:

• Make sure your grill is clean before starting

• Place a pile of charcoal just a little larger in diameter than your chicken to either side of the grill

• Use lighter fluid to start the charcoal and let burn until there's no more flame

• With the charcoal up to temperature now, place your favorite wood next to the charcoal

• Do not put the wood directly on the coals

• Wait until you see the wood begin to simmer 

• When the wood is simmering place your chicken to the other side from where the coals are

• On the grate, but close to the heat

• Cover the grill, leaving enough room for air to get inside somewhat to keep the temp up

• Periodically check the chicken and wood to make sure the wood isn't burning to fast

• If it is move it away from the coals just a bit or add more wood

• The idea is to keep as much smoke in as possible and keep the temp up as mentioned above

• Rotate your chicken periodically also

Final Thoughts 

Until you get experience with doing it, use a meat thermometer to make sure your temperature is up in ranges mentioned earlier in the article. After about 2 hours your ready to enjoy the best chicken you've ever had!  As time goes on and you become more familiar with what works for you don't forget to experiment with other types of wood.

Pretty soon you'll find a particular type wood that pleases you most for smoking. There are many places on the internet where you can purchase different types of smoking wood.  My personal favorite is Pecan wood. I can't get enough of smoked meat with it.

I hope this article has been of benefit to you. Happy smoking.

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Hunting - Deer Hunting and Various Types

Hunting today is much different than it was years ago. Years ago it was mostly done by bow and arrow by Native Americans. But today with the sophisticated firearms and multiples of tools and hunting supplies, the hunt has become much easier.

This article will give you some valuable information on a little history and various types of the sport.




Some History: Sport hunting means the tracking and pursuing of wildlife game for sport, food, and trade.

Today the term means lawful hunting. Not the form called poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capturing of wildlife for nothing, that is contrary to the law. Of course each state in North America has its own laws regulating such activity.

Hunting has predated the United States for thousands of years. It was also an important part of many pre-Columbian Native American cultures. In fact the Native Americans still today retain some of their hunting rights and are excluded from some laws and regulations.

Still a part of Indian treaties and under Federal Laws are the eagle feather laws and exemptions from Marine Mammal Protection Act. This is particularly important in the Alaskan Native communities and territories. The regulation of hunting is regulated by state laws as stated above.

One great hunting tool: Hunting supplies comes in many different tools and clothing as well as apparatus to use with your firearm all the way to even hunting oils used to deaden the human scent on the hunter. There are hunting outfitters galore on the internet for you to choose from to purchase these supplies.

But of all the various aids and hunting supplies available to the hunter, none are as useful as the dog. The domesticated dog has led to a relationship in which the hunting dog has found an important part in a hunter's life.

The Hunting dogs of today are used to find, chase and retrieve game and sometimes to kill it. Hunting dogs allow the hunter to track and kill prey that would other wise be very difficult with out the dog. Obviously, the hunting dog is an invaluable tool for the hunter.




A bit about hunting pests: Hunting can also be used in the control or elimination of various kinds of pests that plague mankind. This type of hunting can help to reduce or control diseases caused by overpopulation of certain pests. Such as rats, beavers, wolves, or the other many pesky predators. Some in populated areas and some rural areas as well.

In the United States there are Wildlife Managers who are part of hunting regulatory and licensing bodies. They help to set the rules on the number, hunting season times, and the conditions to which game may be hunted.

Various types: Hunting big game usually requires a "tag" for each animal taken. These must be purchased in addition to your hunting license. And the number of tags is usually limited to each hunter. Sometimes depending on the amount of hunters, where there is more than what the governing quota is believed of the game in question, tags are usually given on a lottery basis.

The United States has many Hunting Ranches that are run by ranchers and different gaming clubs and associations. These can be found as well on the internet for your pleasure. Here are a couple of places I have supplied if you care to check them out. I have no affiliation with these.

• http://www.highadventureranch.com/

• http://www.northmorgancreek.com/
   

Game animals are typically divided into several categories for regulatory purposes. Some categories, along with some species are as follows:

• Big Game:  Whitetail hunting, moose, caribou, bighorn sheep, elk hunting, mule deer, pronghorn, boar, and javelina hunting.
• Small Game:  Rabbit hunting, squirrel, opossum, raccoon, porcupine, skunk, and armadillo hunting.
• Fur-bearing:  Beaver hunting, red fox, mink, pine martin, musk rat, otter, and bobcat.
• Predators:  Mountain lion, bear hunting and coyote.
• Upland Game Bird:  Turkey, chukar, dove, grouse, pheasant and quail hunting.
• Waterfowl:  Swan, teal, merganser, geese and duck hunting.

Hunting Humor: President Teddy Roosevelt popularized the role of the hunter conservationist. It has been primary to the development of the modern Fair Chase tradition. When hunting games became popular on the internet, allowing people to use remotely controlled guns.

That type of hunting became wildly criticized by real life hunters. They claimed it was violating the principles of the Fair Chase tradition. A representative of the NRA said " the NRA (National Rifle Association) has always maintained that fair chase, being in the field with your firearm or bow, is an important element of the hunting tradition. Sitting at your desk in front of your computer, clicking a mouse, has nothing to do with hunting."

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Prelude To The Gun Safe Review

See that counter up there?  Thats live stuff!  Realtime.

Thanks for coming to read my prelude to the Gun Safe review.   Unfortunately those statistics for accidental deaths do not have to be.  If people that have Firearms would just purchase a good quality Gun Safe those statistics would go down to zero I believe.




If you purchase a Firearm no matter whether its a Long Gun or Handgun why not also buy a Gun Safe?  Just think of your children or children period.  Kids just seem to have the knack of finding things that the adults hide in their homes. And if they find your loaded Gun you've just placed them in harms way!

Its plain, get a Gun Safe.  Now read my review of a great quality Gun Safe for the money.  Click this link or click the tab at the top to read it.  Thanks for choosing to protect you and your family.


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