Grilling-for-the-Kids

Grilling for the Kids

In Backyard grilling tips by marketninjas

Grilling and cooking outdoors is a time-honored summer tradition for most families. You probably have fond memories of cooking delicious foods and eating outside on warm evenings. If you have young children, you’ll undoubtedly want to share this joy with them.

In this article we’re going to talk about grilling for the kids as well as grilling with the kids.  We’ll start off talking about safety and then what kinds of foods are great for grilling for the kids. 

Safety First

As enjoyable as grilling can be, it comes with its own precautions and dangers. You may be wondering how old your kids need to be before they can learn to grill steak on a gas grill.  While they’re still young they can always cook on a toy grill.  We recommend one of these top toy grills! 

And, when they’re ready, is it safe for them to cook over charcoal as well? Safety is always the primary concern when grilling to prevent fires and burns, especially with little ones.

Little Tykes Cook n' Play Outdoor BBQ

If your kids haven’t been around the grill or a campfire before, the first step is to let them know not to play with fire.  An adult should always be the one to start the fire until children are old enough and have more responsibility.

Those who don’t yet have a grill but want to start barbecuing in the summer months are probably asking themselves what is the best BBQ grill to buy for cooking with kids.  Should you opt for propane, charcoal, or gas? While each has its own pros and cons, the type of grill you have will influence how you use it and the precautions you take.

Propane Grilling

For example, with a propane grill, you will need to check the tank, hoses, and connections for any leaks prior to starting it. Applying a little soapy water to the hose is a good way to check for leaks. If you see any bubbles, then there’s a leak and the grill shouldn’t be used until the hose can be replaced. Make sure you can’t smell propane and, if you do, call the fire department for help immediately. You could make a short checklist of things to verify before getting the grill going and quiz the kids on this so they remember the important safety points around a propane grill.

Charcoal Grilling

If you’re using a charcoal grill, get it going with newspaper and lighter fluid. However, you should never put additional lighter fluid on charcoals that are already lit. Let your kids know this up front and then ask them later on if it’s okay to do so to test if they remember. Also make sure to put the lighter fluid somewhere safe and out of reach of children. If you have a more responsible older child, task them with putting the lighter fluid away in the garage or wherever it is stored. Any stray matches should also be kept out of the hands of kids and you can reward the children if they find any lying on the ground and turn them in to an adult. 

Regardless of what kind of grill you use, always make sure it is placed in a safe place far from the house, garage, deck, fence, or any other out-buildings that could catch fire. It shouldn’t be placed under eaves or overhanging branches either. Make sure it’s far enough from places with a lot of foot traffic or where kids are playing too. You may want to consider making a grilling safety zone that you adhere to each time you barbecue so kids get used to staying a safe distance away. A three-foot barrier is usually enough and the kids can help you mark it with chalk or toys so they feel included. 

Always know the location of your fire extinguisher when grilling. It might be a good idea to have one of the kids run and grab it just to keep nearby as a precaution and for extra peace of mind. And it goes without saying to always grill outdoors and not be tempted to put the grill inside a garage or under a tent even in bad weather because this can be a fire hazard or cause a buildup of carbon monoxide. 

Ensure the grill is clean and make sure to continuously clean as you cook to prevent grease from building up and catching on fire. Although keeping the grill clean isn’t one of the most glamorous aspects of grilling, it’s very important and provides an opportunity to teach the kids good habits and discipline. Most importantly, never leave the grill unattended once it’s going and you start cooking

Grill Menu for the Kids

Once safety concerns have been addressed, it’s time to think of the menu since kids are usually pretty picky eaters.  So what do you serve at a backyard BBQ that kids will love? What are some recipes you can incorporate that will get them excited without compromising on authenticity and giving up traditional recipes?

The menu will depend on the kind of event you are hosting.  For a BBQ dinner party menu, you may want to opt for:

  • Higher end cuts of meat like filet mignon or
  • Fancier kabobs and sides.  

However, for a casual weekend backyard BBQ, ideas may range from simple:

  • Burgers and hot dogs or even
  • Chicken wing or shrimp.  

However it’s a little more challenging when you have to rack your brain, asking yourself, “What can I grill for a party for a kid’s birthday?”  In that case, all the food should all be very kid-friendly and you may not be able to feature a meat-centric menu for younger children.

In addition to the ever popular hot dogs and hamburgers, kids may also love:

  • Kabobs made with glazed shrimp and grilled fruits such as pineapple and peaches.

When it comes to getting kids to eat hot dogs and hamburgers, make sure to keep things simple and have their favorite toppings and condiments on hand.  Simple items like:

  • Potato wedges can also be thrown on the grill and
  • Chicken nuggets can be cooked on a wooden skewer along with
  • Corn rubbed with some butter and salt

Thinking Outside of the Box

The sky is really the limit on what you can cook on a grill and, if the specific food won’t sit well on the grates, you can always put a cast iron skillet or baking sheet on top and use that.  Then you can make:

  • Quesadillas
  • Pizza
  • Meatballs and
  • Any kind of vegetable without worrying about it falling into the grill and burning.
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Sweets & Dessert

Another great way to get kids excited about grilling it to make some sweet treats on the grill. Try making:

  • Banana boats in foil and melting some chocolate chips on top and then sprinkling with marshmallows for dessert.  Or
  • Grill a peach in foil, drizzling it with a sweet sauce and topping it with crumble and ice cream for a spin on peach cobbler.

Regardless of the event, you can get the kids involved by asking them to recommend recipes they would like to make.  If you have a cookbook or even a magazine full of backyard BBQ menu ideas, sit down together and have them look at the pictures to see what looks good.  If you want a little more control over the menu, select some options in advance that you would be okay serving and ask them to choose from a limited menu.

Getting Kids Involved

Once the recipes have been decided, involve the kids in making them.  This is a great opportunity to teach them how to read a recipe, measure ingredients, and follow instructions.  Have them start by reading the entire recipe and ask what steps need to be done first and how long each phase will take. They can also help you make a grocery list or run and check inventory in the pantry before heading to the supermarket to shop.

In addition to helping you prepare side dishes and layout utensils, kids can also be involved in the grilling even if they aren’t old enough to try their hand at the grill just yet.  Give them grilling jobs that involve more of the food prep side such as:

  • Applying seasoning or rub to burgers
  • Forming burgers out of ground meat
  • Carrying food from the kitchen to the grill
  • Brushing on BBQ sauce
  • Setting a timer for various cook times
  • Brushing chicken with oil
  • Assembling kabobs on a stick

When it comes time to start cooking, have them begin by watching how you cook things. Kids are really fast learners and will be able to catch on pretty quickly.  Once they are ready, have them help by holding the utensils and flipping burgers or turning hot dogs. You can also task them with putting a meat thermometer into burgers to check the temperature.

If you’re grilling steak, tips to teach kids may include the touch test to see how well done the meat is. This involves touching the meaty part of the palm of your hand to see how much it bounces back when pressed. Then, you move your thumb and index finger into various positions which reflects what medium-rare, medium, and medium-well meats feel like.

Over time they will learn how to accurately test meats and know when to get them off the grill before they overcook as well as how to avoid eating it undercooked.  If they are helping you set the timer or use the thermometer, quiz them while grilling by asking them, “How long do you cook chicken on the grill so it stays moist inside?” or “At what temperature do you grill a steak so it’s medium inside?”  In this way, you can make grilling both fun and educational so kids learn to cook for themselves and become more self-sufficient when they’re older. Enjoy!

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