by POPSUGAR Fitness 13

It's barbecue time again, and I couldn't be more thrilled. I love grilling, but it's important to keep food safety in mind when firing up the grill. I always try to marinate the meat before cooking, in hopes of reducing the production of carcinogens, but the high heat can also produce chemicals with cancer-causing properties. This does not mean you should skip the grill this weekend (or all Summer); just follow these simple tips from the Harvard Health Letter for keeping grilling safe:

• Cook smaller pieces: They cook more quickly and at lower temperatures.
• Choose leaner meat: Less fat should reduce flames and therefore smoke.
• Precook in the microwave: Doing so for two minutes may decrease heterocyclic amines by 90 percent, according to some research.
• Flip frequently: That way, neither side has time to absorb or lose too much heat.

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