What's a safe way to grill foods so they don't cause cancer?

Grilling has been shown to create carcinogens, but there are lots of ways to sidestep the risk. Learn about ways to grill food without having to worry about cancer by watching this video featuring registered dietitian Samantha Heller.

Transcript

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And don't burn. I mean, we like the grill lines on food, but don't char and burn things because a lot

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of the carcinogens are in the charred and burnt part of those foods. Cook your meats thoroughly, but don't burn them.

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[MUSIC PLAYING]

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Americans love to grill, and not just in the summertime. I know people who feel all year long,

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even outside on their deck in the snow. And it's fun, and it makes food taste good. And in the summer, certainly it's a basis of social interaction, all your fun

00:34

barbecues and parties. However, there is a downside to grilling too. Certain substances form when you're grilling that

00:41

increase the risk of cancer. These are called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or heterocyclic amines.

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These can form when food is charred or burned or also when the juice or the fat

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drips onto those coals and combusts. Carcinogens form, they come up with the smoke, and sort of are deposited on whatever is on the grill.

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So there's some easy fixes for this. First of all, if you're turning some kind of meat, use tongs or spatula because then you're

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not piercing it and releasing the juice or the fat. Line your grill with tin foil and poke holes in it.

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That will help protect those carcinogens from rising back up again. And don't burn. I mean, we like the grill lines on food,

01:25

but don't chart and burn things because a lot of the carcinogens are in the charred and burnt part of those foods.

01:31

Cook your meats thoroughly, but don't burn them. And also, if you're going to use meat, use very lean, very little fat.

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Cut off any visible fat, and marinate it in some sort of a vinegar or lemon marinade. Those seem to reduce some of the formations

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of those carcinogens. And finally, you might want to grill something other than meats on the grill. You can grill veggie burgers.

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You can grill tofu. You can grill vegetables. You can even grill fruit for some delicious alternative fun

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things to have at your summer or outdoor barbecues. [AUDIO LOGO]