Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
WITH ALL THE lovely sunshine this weekend, many of you are probably planning on dusting off the barbecue and grilling yourselves up a delicious summer feast.
We definitely don’t want to spoil that for you but before before taking that first juicy bite there are a few things to know about barbecuing safely.
All that sizzling and flipping on the gas or charcoal grill may also be cooking up cancer-causing chemicals, experts at a cancer institute in the US have warned this week.
These chemicals have been linked to breast, stomach, prostate, and colon cancer, but the Dana-Farber Institute said that there’s no need to abandon the barbecue completely, it’s just a matter of “planning ahead and making wise choices”.
There are two risk factors to keep in mind. First, research has shown that high-heat grilling can convert proteins in red meat, pork, poultry, and fish into heterocyclic amines (HCAs). These chemicals have been linked to a number of cancers.
“What happens is that the high temperature can change the shape of the protein structure in the meat so it becomes irritating in the body and is considered a carcinogenic chemical,” explained nutritionist Stacey Kennedy.
Another cancer-causing agent, called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), is found in the smoke. PAHs form when fat and juices from meat products drip on the heat source. As the smoke rises it can stick to the surface of the meat.
“That’s where the main cancer causing compound occurs in grilling,” said Kennedy. “So you want to reduce the exposure to that smoke.”
To help avoid these dangerous chemicals, here are some tips for a safe barbecue:
Prep the Meat
Limit time – limit exposure
Grilling techniques
Plan ahead and choose wisely
Some good news for veggies – charred vegretables are safe to eat as they are not affected the same way as the meat protein.
Kennedy told people not to panic explaining that if you’re following the proper safety tips, “the risk of getting cancer from grilling food is very low”.
Hopefully we didn’t give you too much of a scare. Bon appetit!
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The amount of them we get to have in this country, I wouldn’t be too worried now.
Nothing nicer than a slightly burned BBQ sausage. I’ll manage
Exactly Martin, fire it up!
Nothing like a burnt burger and a bottle if Heineken in the sun.
For crying out loud, can we not even enjoy the good weather and BBQ’s now ?!!!!
Of course you can!
It is simply a precautionary article.
Well shove it where the sun don’t shine.
Cos where the sun is shining I’m having a BBQ.
If you want to avoid getting cancer then don’t get out of bed! Oops! The material in your bed linen might give it to you as well. Ah shucks, just enjoy the day!
Reading journal.ie on one’s iPhone may cause cancer !
How is it you can throw a burnt match out of a car window and start a forest fire, but you can use two boxes of matches, a box of fire lighters, 500ml of lighter fuel and a Sunday paper but still can’t light the freakin’ BBQ?
Classic :-)
Living in Ireland is a cancer.
Really is. Miserable people. And cowards….. What you mean new tax.no way im paying. …. Oh wait I’ll pay …. Baaaaa baaaaa. Country is finished. Almost 3rd world. As you said Ireland is cancerous
My father says: the Irish go to the most expensive pubs to complain about the price of the drink: “the pint here is 10c dearer than down the road”
Why not go to the cheaper pubs and shut up?
Similarly, you moan and whine about this country, why not move to another country?
I think you’ve got some issues young Collins.
Well said Michelle,if you don’t like it you know where the airport is. See how easy it is in another country.
Hi John,
We’re having a BBQ later. Some nice food, clever & cheery conversation. A few drinks. There’ll be people smiling & laughing.
Don’t come next nor near it.
Michelle & Eileen.. you’re most welcome.
And moaners like you are the tumours infecting it.
Ignore the red thumbs, John.
Us cowards appreciate the benefits you reap for us.
And my family especially appreciate everything you have done for us. Nothing to do with what my wife or I have done. All credit to you!
Moaners…….. Grow a pair clown
When’s your victory parade, John? I ask because from where I’m standing it looks a whole lot like your having your asses kicked.
Hey Colin…. Dont put on any lamb.. Its cannibalism to eat your own you sheep…. Sad thing here is that if Edna brought in a barbeque tax u dopes would pay it :-). Now off to my own barbeque….oh and needless to say , your not invited ..only chickens I want at my barbaque are the ones in cooking. Your have a nice day though
Seriously John, seriously, you need to lighten up chap, you’re gonna bust a blood vessel if you keep up your shenanigans
If you could have protest for me to increase the dole that would be great thanks.
love the fact that your having a moan and whine about people that moan and whine michelle…
Haha, I see what you did there, John. Witty.
I don’t believe you have time to have a BBQ if you always protest on your days off. Or is it just a token protest on The Journal?
Anyway, enjoy the cooking. And don’t burn those chips that fall off your shoulder on to the grill.
And if you could protest for me to fix the potholes outside my estate, would be much obliged.
Funny how you have the balls to pick a fight with me online . Waster
This is a fight? Sweet Jesus. I was laughing my ass off.
Now I’m worried.
Right lads in the park at 12 and ye can sort it out,no kicking or biting.
Shane,
Will you stand on the corner to keep an eye out for any teachers coming?
I will lads ill keep sketch for ye no worries.
Mad? Bro?
When done properly, research can prove beyond doubt that everything causes cancer even things as yet to be discovered by science.
Can I have me grant money now please its nearly opening time.
Go away John Troll. Your probably praying for rain. Misery bags!
LOL.
Burn the bondholders!
If you don’t like it you can leave,we’re having great weather,get your friends around a few beers and a BBQ.enjoy life,and please stop your winging about every little thing.lifes for living.get out and enjoy it.
Troll another stupid term used by fools with mo argument
Buzz killington.moanbag
Cancer of the journal comes to mind Mr.
C’mon eileen..
Bloody hell, everything causes cancer these days doesn’t it!?
You’d have to live in a bubble to avoid it all, and even then you might still get it (my grandmother never drank or smoked, very healthy her whole life and got breast cancer at the age of 50).
Just enjoy your life, ignore the scaremongering for the most part, and if it all catches up with you later in life at least you can look back and say you had a f*cking good time getting to that point!
What’s a kabob?
A skewered piece of smaller meat.
Either Robert’s kebab, or a kebab that costs 10p in old money.
I think that’s how the Americans say it?
Having followed all those tips my stake will taste like I grilled it in the kitchen.
If you put split ends into a google search it will tell you that your hair has cancer – Anne Wheaton.
After reading so much about the cancer risks of barbecuing I have no choice but to reluctantly give up reading.
No way, given the weather we had this whole week, Im having my BBQ this week-end!!!
Ah, how cheering…
Bloody hell, is there no respite from this fvcking negativity?
Looking forward to grilling today! The process started yesterday with rubbing the meat down with my dry rub and preparing my vinegar based cooking basting sauce. If I can’t get cooked American style spare ribs in Ireland… Then I will use my grandfather’s recipe and make my own.. I don’t care what tbe warning is….
Jaysus Marlon, I’m getting the vinegar strokes just reading that.
Sounds nice……What time will a call around.
Would love to invite you all. There is nothing better than ribs, beer, cole slaw, potato salad and sun. Always the more the merrier.
Even burnt toast apparently, anything that’s burnt is bad! Sorry guys!
burnt toast is class I love it…………..
Thats why I use good old fasion wood! The charcoal has a fowl smell anyway!
Jasus lads.
Is nothing sacred.
Now this is news,Last week it was toast,whats next,chips.
^ Always thaw meat first.
That’s probably the main thing to worry about…
Everything we eat and drink has cancer chemicals in..so yr eather very unlucky to get cancer or very lucky not tooo..best live every day like its yr last you might actually live longer that way
The funny thing for me is that I’d never go into Burger King and order two burgers yet when I BBQ , one just doesn’t seem enough after all that effort , don’t think it’s the cancer I need to worry about but the fact I stuff my face…..
Could we have a definitive list of what wont give us all cancer please or is there anything safe left!
Check the Daily Mail. they should be able to help – they’re obsessed by it
Won’t affect me I’m workin all week :( proxy nights
Can anyone tell me what a kabob is?
Lottle bots of moat ond vog on skowors.
Keyboard warriors! HAHA
Life is not worth living without BBQ anyway. More veggie agenda bs from the Journal. Where’s the beef, that’s what I want to know.
Ah Jaysus lads don’t spoil the bit of summer we’re getting, it mightn’t last and we’ll be moaning about our Irish Summer for the rest of the year! We’re all getting great mileage outa the Farmers’ Tans and bad tan lines for the last week, some great photos on The Journal:)
Some suggestions given in this article are absolutely terrible, and should really never be followed. They might address the issues intended, but the resulting steak would be worthless and the suggestions should never be followed.
1. NEVER microwave steak. EVER. Not for 90 seconds, not for 5 seconds. You might as well bake the damn thing. It defeats the whole point of grilling. Same goes for cooking meat at least six inches from the source of heat is the surest way to ensure the meat will get dry and take a long time to cook. Steak SHOULD be cooked at the highest possible attainable temperature in short bursts each side, full stop, otherwise it’s just not a proper steak.
2. NEVER EVER EVER EVER barbecue over an aluminium foil! This is the dumbest suggestion here! It prevents the steak from cooking the correct way, which is by intense radiation, which the aluminium foil will reflect back to the grill. Again, you might as well bake it while you’re at it. In fact, if you want less smoke on the meat, a better way is to ensure that the steak is cooked by intense radiation (very hot charcoal) rather than by flames (propane, burning fat, burning starter fluid). You achieve this by having as much hot glowing charcoal as possible, and having the meat relatively close to the source of heat.
3. Even fat cuts of meat (such as pork chops) can be made with very little fat dripping. Quite frankly if your meat is dripping you’re doing something wrong and your meat will come out dry (unless it’s hamburger meat, in which case dripping is mostly unavoidable). If the meat is dripping it is being overcooked, or being cooked at too low a temperature.
4. If exposure to contaminated smoke is the main problem, then clearly having it spend as little time as possible on the barbecue is crucial. So in addition to cooking it intensely and quickly, it’s good to encourage the usually squeamish Irish public to have their steak rare, medium-rare, or medium, and to avoid well-done (which for taste reasons alone should never be allowed in the first place)
5. Furthermore, if the main problem is the smoke, if the vegetables are cooked on the same grill as the meat, and there is contaminated smoke coming from the grill, that smoke is not going to tell the difference between aubergine or ribeye.
I am not be a nutritionist, so perhaps the proposed alternatives don’t really work to alleviate the medical concerns surrounding barbecuing steak. But I am a thermodynamicist by trade and a steak fanatic, and if you follow the instructions being given by the nutritionist, your barbecue will simply be awful and the advice should most definitely not be followed.
What doesnt give ya cancer at this stage yaaay ill eat grilled carrots forever. Whats the point in living if your going to be scared to do anything because everything ya do gives ya cancer. Id rather die happy living my life than living in fear doing nothing
Think the sun is more dangerous than the amines you talk off. Great timing on this article, can we not just live and let die??? Who did not know this anyway???
Seems like you can’t do anything anymore without it been linked to cancer
Bit of a nasty headline.
Fashionable bullshit
have your say