Environmentally Friendly Grilling

Environmentally Friendly Grilling

It’s common sense that whenever we burn anything that releases smoke into the atmosphere, it’s going to have an impact on the environment. Cooking outdoors over smoke and heat has always been and will always be an essential part of human existence. As outdoor cooks, we can control the impact that we have by controlling the quality and amount of smoke that we are releasing into the environment. There’s no better medium for environmentally friendly grilling than pellet grilling!

Green Grills

The first step to grilling green is to use an eco-friendly grill. Although gas and charcoal grills are high in popularity, they’re low on the environmentally friendly scale. A good majority of gas grills are fueled by petroleum or natural gas which are both non-renewable resources. Charcoal grills are the most widely used and the most detrimental to the environment. They release carbon into the air which negatively impacts the ozone layer and they release particulate matter which can cause health issues to humans after prolonged exposure.

Pellet grills are the best option since they use renewable biomass fuel made from recycled hardwood sawdust. The sawdust is formed into clean-burning wood pellets. This reduces landfill waste by turning a waste by-product into a usable fuel source. They also burn fuel more efficiently, creating a much cleaner smoke with almost no particulate matter. The best pellet grills allow you to grill without exposing your food to direct flame, preventing your food from taking on a layer of carcinogenic creosote char.

Eat Local

Local grocers and farmer’s markets are a great way to source food locally and support regional economies.  Many local growers use organic methods that don’t contaminate food or the environment, and local farms often offer CSA (community supported agriculture) programs where subscribers get food on a regular basis in exchange for payment or farm labor.

Or just grow your own food! Gardening is one of the oldest and most valuable hobbies known to man. When you grow your own fruits and vegetables, you can control the seeds you use, the soil you plant in, and how much or how little fertilizer and pesticide you apply. It’s a lot of work, but the end results are worth it!

Compost Your Scraps

When grilling for family or large groups, we tend to make more than we actually need.

Grilled fruits and vegetables usually work well for leftovers, but some just aren’t as good reheated. Instead of tossing them in the garbage, toss them into your composter. Composting is easy and creates the perfect nutrient-rich mixture to help the plants in your garden grow bigger and stronger.

Recycle

Instead of plastic cups and utensils, opt for reusable ones. It may be more work washing everything after the party, but the environmental payoff is worth it. If you decide to use paper plates, make sure to recycle them properly.

The Most Environmentally Friendly Way to BBQ is on a MAK Pellet Grill!

MAK Grills are high-performance pellet smokers known for their durability and consistency. What many people don’t often realize is that they’re also one of the most environmentally friendly grills on the market. Here are a few of the reasons:

• MAK Grills use renewable biomass fuel made from recycled hardwood sawdust (BBQ wood pellets). These wood pellets burn cleaner and help reduce waste.
• You’ll eat healthier when you cook on a MAK Grill. Compared to gas or charcoal-fueled grills, our indirect cooking system reduces exposure of your food to harmful chemical reactions and compounds.
• Cooking on a MAK pellet grill is safer than cooking with gas or charcoal because there are no open flames to cause flare-ups or burnt food. 
• MAK Grills are American made, which cuts back on carbon emissions since they aren’t shipped internationally. They also operate at a 98.8% efficient burning factor. This reduces particulate emissions and the grill’s overall carbon footprint.
• MAK Grills are designed and manufactured to last for decades, utilizing non-rusting stainless steel in the manufacture of our critical components. These grills WON’T end up in a landfill or dump.

People are becoming more and more aware of the issues. They want to help, but they just don’t know how. The best way to minimize your impact is through small acts. One act alone won’t feel like it’s doing much, but the gradual accumulation of thousands of minor tweaks to people’s daily lives can be drastic.