Category: Daily Living
Sighted people, including people that work for the CNIB, have told me that barbecues are too dangerous for blind people, but being a person who really wants to be as independent as possible, I wonder how it is impossible. As long as you're very careful, and always use some sort of heat resistant material, why not? What do people think of this? Has anyone who is totally blind ever used a barbecue before?
This is not impossible, but can be a bit dangerous. What you need is some of those keflar like oven gloves to wear just to be safe, not the mits, but the gloves like with fingers in them. Personally, I prefer gas grills as then you don't need to worry about lighting charcoal, though charcoal gives the food a better, I think. Use a grill safe pan to put the food in so you don't, when trying to turn it over, accidentally flip it off the grill which generally doesn't have any sort of sides. In a pan of some sort there are sides to let you know where the boundaries are, but make sure the pan can be used on the grill and there are a lot of them. If you have a double burner one or one with lots of knobs, you can label in braille what the knobs do or put a mark on the knob and little dots around it for the temp and then just match up the dot on side of nob with wanted dot on grill and off you go. Remember a grill needs to heat up for a few minutes before you start cooking on it. It isn't immediate. Use grill utensils like tongs for picking up chicken legs or thighs and brauts or hot dogs. Use spatulas for flipping burgers or chops or steak, the same as on the regular stove. Potatoes are easy, poke holes in skin and wrap in tinfoil whole for a sort of baked one, or slice thinn and drizzle bit of oil like olive oil over top and cook and when almost done add cheese to them to melt also cooked in tinfoil.
I don't like trying to light something on fire, but if you do have a charcoal grill, use a long match for lighting it and then you won't have to get right close to the flame. They actually do make long matches but you might have to ask. Also for gas use one of the long automatic lighters. You click the button and sparks come out the end and light the gas. This also works good for lighting campfires or a fire pit in the yard.
Remember a grill gets really hot and therefore the protective gear for the hands. However, the first couple of times you try it I recommend having a sighted person around just to make sure you feel comfortable and that everything goes how you want.
Good luck.
Chastity
I personally have never learned to use a barbecue gril, but I know it is not impossible at all, since I have been there when totally blind friends did, and the food turned out very yummy. I'll have to ask some of them for tips on it too, in addition to what Chastity has written here.
my husband and I have grilled for years. we use a webber kettle. if you cover the stuff with a lid sometimes you don't even have to flip it. if you want to flip, you can buy something at a campling store that is a grilling basket. it has two racks like hooked together. you just stick whatever it is you want to cook inside it and shut the top. then all you have to do is flip the basket. besure to keep the grill away from the house and small kids and animals. if you are cooking on the grass wet it down in case any sparks fly out. if you have any questions, please let me know and I'll try to or ask my husband if he can answer them.
Thanks all for the advice. I think gas grills are more common now, and I'll definitely go for that one if the time comes to pick out a barbecue.
the thing which concerns me about gas grills is that they have those propane cylinders. how do you get them refilled and if I can't con a friend in to taking me, will a cab driver do it?
Hmm. Good question...
You typically don't refill the propane, you take them to a gas station and trade them in on an already filled unit. I try to get two at a time when possible just to always have an extra at hand.
and, of course a cab driver would take you, if you paid them for it. Smile. They don't care where they're taking you, just that they get the money for it.
i figured there might be a rule aggainst carrying things that might potentiall explode. just goofy i am.
Probably no rule against it but you'd probably want to carry it in some sort of box or bag as they can tend to be messy after getting dripped on during the course of being used.
Good idea. If it comes down to that, I'll do it that way.
I have a friend who isn't totally blind, but she is very good at using the grill and making yummy food. *Smiles*
I've grilled for years. Basically I find using the bare hands to be most effective, because you're gonna know where the heat is before you touch it. Call it mother nature kicking in or whatever, but that's how I've found it. And sighted people burn themselves too.
All that being said, I used to be a strictly charcola man but now am doing more with different kinds. I currently use an outdoor electric with a smoke box rigged for it.
Besides what Turricane has said, tongs are becoming extremely popular and you would do well to invest in a good set. That and get you a couple good turning forks. You can use the forks to anchor and feel around with as well as flipping smaller objects. Depending on how spacial oriented, or whatever the word is, you can look at the surface as an array of x / y dimensions where you put what you want where so you remember where it is located.
Frequently the accompanying libations do more to impair the griller - or make things more interesting - than any sight or lack of it.
Just don't be afraid to try. Grills, while they can be dangerous, are very controlled environments. It's not like you're making a fire on the beach, though that's *awesome* too.
Something I have never done is roast a hot dog over the fire, can't see doing that blind. I used to just carve the sticks for people and they roasted the dogs and marshmallows, this before you could buy the ready-made skewers.
in reguards to propain tanks, some oil componies might fill them for you, where i live they do.
and, our grill has electric burners, so, one night, we all stood around it rosting marshmellos. i can see, a bit, and it was fun. only thing that makes me want to run is when they catch on fire, but, burnt marshmellos are the best. gooy and slightly crunchy.
I've actually rosted hotdogs and marshmellows on the fire. As long as you hold them up, and learn to time it right, it works. I find marsh mellows a lot easier to rost.
manufactured hot dog sticks!!!!! bosh!!!!! what is the world coming too? give me a downd tree branch or in a pinch a straightened out coat hanger. i never heard of such a thing.
I agree what happened to tree branches? Lol. Okay to the question, and I say all I say with caussion, or a disclaimer. As a child I was able to see lots, but now only have light. I use charcoal, due to liking the taste better, but gas is okay, and I'm use these too. All the tips are good here. I like using my bare hands as well, because I can feel the heat, and control the tools better, and also feel the food better, but gloves might work okay. Okay let's talk charcoal. For ease and safety as a blind person I'd by match light charcoal. When lighting it it doesn't go boom, and lights smoothly and the fire starts out slow. The advantage is you can be pretty sure all the charcoal lights, and that it will be easy. With regular Charcoals it takes some work with the fluid, and coals to get it going just how you want. Also it tends to flare up when lit. I'm not saying match light never will, but most times it does not. Twist up a piece of paper, know where your grill is at. Light it, you can tell if paper is lit easy. Simply drop it in, and you got it happening. Now good cooking requires the fire to burn down tell the coals are white, so no blaze, so then a grill is much like a stove. If you have fire you're not ready to cook unless you want a quick hot dog, but let it get so the flames are gone. Now how do you know that right? You can hear it, feel the heate is high, and smell a fire scent instead of a charcoal scent, so practice is required. Gas is no safer then charcoal, but the tanks don't go boom, so a cab will take you, just put the old one in a box as suggested, because they get nasty, or wash it before you travel. Get either type of grill with side places, and get one that is small enough that you know it's area. I'd also get one with a flip top that way you won't be flipping stuff off, but only to the back. I'd use light stainless steel tools because you can feel the food better, and they clean up nicely. Set your grill gas, or charcoal in a safe place and use that place everytime. No trees, patio tops, grass, or whatever. A wood deck, or concrete are the best. Dirt works, but can get unlevel.
I could go on, but my last say is test it with someone that does it, and is comfortable with your blindness a few times, then you'll be a pro.
My family has a gas barbecue at home on our back deck so I'll have to try some time. Thank you.
also if you want, you can get an electric starter for charcole. it plugs in to an out door outlet. you stick it in the charcoal somehow but I don't know how. my husband does that part. it works really well and is safe. when you are done, you unplug it and leave in there until you are done cooking.
Electric is okay, but I'd use one of these that you click and the fire sparks from the end. You don't want chords to possibly trip on. Also tie your hair back. I forgot this. Maybe wear a hair net so you know where your hair is if its long, or you have bangs. If using charcoals the fire sometimes flairs up a bit, nothing to worry about, but if you leaning over doing something you'll not want to worry about your hair. Add a cup of water on the side and if the fire gets to hot just cool it a bit with a little water. Have fun the food is yummy.