Grill Care

Holland Grills will help you cook fantastic meals for many years. Following our cooking and grill care tips will help you get the most out of your Holland Grill. Click on one of the following categories to review the related tips.

Select a category... Black "soot" on my food Companion portable--using the BHA3041A Conversion Hose Flame blows out Grill not getting hot Manually lighting the grill My igniter won't work Prevent flare-ups and grill fires

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Prevent flare-ups and grill fires

The Holland Grill is "guaranteed not to flare up" under normal use. But, let's face it, mistakes and accidents do happen. Read this article for tips on how to keep your Holland-grilling flare-up free.

Additional Information

First things first--there is a difference between a "grill flareup" and a "grill fire." A grill flareup on the Holland Grill is defined as occurring when the drippings of the food strike the drip pan. If your grill is cooking too hot, the high heat can cause a flareup when the grease strikes the drip pan instead of smoking. A grill fire on the other hand, occurs usually when there is a gas leak, most often around the point where the hose is connected to the gas valve. A spark or a flame can cause the fumes of the leaking gas to ignite. Now, let's look at what can cause your Holland Grill to flare up:

• If you fail to scrape and clean your drip pan regularly, excess heat can build up and cause your grill to flare.
• If you place your food too close to the edges of the cooking grid, grease can splash over the side of the drip pan, strike the flame and cause a flare.
• If your drain pipe is clogged, drippings from the meat will eventually build up in the drip pan. If too much grease backs up, it will likely cause a flare up.
• If your drain pipe was not tightened securely when it was assembled, grease can leak down the pipe and can eventually reach the flame
• If your drip pan has a hole or leak in it, drippings will make their way to the flame and cause a flare.
Holland does guarantee our grill against flare-ups from the drip pan, (provided none of the above conditions exist) but does NOT guarantee against grill fires caused by leaking gas or improper use or abuse. Click here to read the entire NO FLARE-UP warranty. One of the major reasons people all over the country love the Holland Grill is because it cooks juicy, tender food without the hassle of flareups. We can all relate to having a grill full of hamburgers when the phone rings. Minutes later we glance out at the grill only to see our dinner on fire. We rush out, open the grill as the smoke billows up in our face and grab the garden hose or a pitcher of water and try to put it out. The Holland's unique indirect style of cooking keeps the grease from the flame and prevents those types of flare ups. Our grilling temperature is high enough to produce great cooking results, but low enough to keep the grease from flaring up. But--we all make mistakes. One of the most common causes of a grill flare up on the Holland is overloading the cooking surface with hamburgers or other foods that produce alot of drippings. If you've placed too many burgers on the grill and then use a spatula to flip them, you run the risk of "shoveling" the grease over the side of the drip pan and into the flame. The grease produces large flames that can "lick" back up to the food on the surface and you've got yourself a nice fire. Another common cause of grill fires is a leaky hose. It is YOUR responsibility to check the gas connections and hoses for leaks and cracks. As a matter of fact, that is the FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO whether you bought your grill assembled or you put it together yourself. With the gas supply open (you DO NOT have to turn the grill's on/off knob to the on position to make this test.) simply brush the place where the hose is connected to the gas valve, as well as the entire length of the black hose, with a soapy water solution and a toothbrush. (You may wish to use a spray bottle of soapy water mixture instead of the toothbrush.) Large bubbles will appear if the hose is leaking. Spray all connections and tighten any that are loose until the bubbles stop. If you can't get the leak to stop, replace the hose.(SEE YOUR OWNER'S MANUAL FOR MORE DETAILS) Here are some tips to avoid flareups and fires:
• Do NOT overload the grill with greasy foods such as burgers. Always leave about two inches between the food and the outer edge of the cooking grid. Just make sure the food is directly over the drip pan so it will catch the drippings and not let them splash over the sides of the drip pan. (see photo #2 above)
• Use tongs instead of a spatula to turn the food to prevent "splashing" grease over the edge of the drip pan.
• Regularly inspect your gas hose and all connections for leaks with a soapy water solution. NOTE: If your grill has a spark igniter, you will have to remove the four screws holding the control panel on to have clear access to the gas connection shown here. (see photo #3 above)
• On extremely hot days, move your grill in the shade out of the direct sun if possible. If you can't, try grilling later in the cooler evening hours.
• Be careful when removing high-fatty foods such as whole chickens or turkeys from the grill that you don't let grease splash over the sides of the drip pan.
• Clean your grill regularly. If you let grease build up in the drip pan, it can cause a grease fire when it heats.
• Make sure your drip pan, especially on older grills, does not have a hole in it.
• Make sure your drain pipe is open (unless you are steaming) and free of obstructions. Use a long rod or coat hanger to clean it out.
• If you bought your grill assembled, unscrew the drain valve (the thing the bucket hangs on) and lift the drip pan out of the grill. With a monkey wrench (see photo #4 above) make sure the drain pipe is tight.
Now that we've told you what can happen and what you can do to prevent it, go grill something!