Pit Masters of Mistakes? Grilling Injuries More Common Among Gen Zers, Millennials and Men

Summer is almost here, and many Americans are eagerly preparing their grills for backyard barbecues. However, this popular pastime comes with its share of risks. In fact, according to the latest ValuePenguin survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers, nearly 15% of this summer's backyard chefs say they've been injured grilling.

Here's what else we found.

Key findings

Nearly 15% of those who own or plan to use a vacation rental grill this summer have been injured grilling

Warmer weather may mean it's time to dust off the grill. While barbecues may be fun (and popular, as 53% of consumers plan to host or attend a barbecue this summer), they sometimes come with injury. Of the 70% of consumers who own or plan to use a vacation rental grill this summer, 14% say they've been injured grilling.

Notably, men are nearly three times more likely than women to injure themselves while grilling, at 19% versus 7%. Meanwhile, a quarter (25%) of Gen Zers (ages 18 to 26) have injured themselves grilling, making them the most likely age group to do so. That's followed by:

According to ValuePenguin home insurance expert Divya Sangameshwar, grilling injuries may come from improper use.

"It's heartening to see that almost 85% of Americans are careful when handling the grill, but for those who injure themselves barbecuing, inexperience with cooking over the grill could be a factor," she says. "Rookie mistakes, like dousing charcoal in lighter fluid, serving and eating undercooked meat, cooking on a grill that hasn't been cleaned and not using the vents properly all contribute to injuries. It's important that grillers exercise as much or more caution cooking over a grill as they would in a kitchen."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, burns are the most common type of injuries reported at 63%. Following that, further common injuries include food poisoning (37%), cuts (34%) and choking (14%). Also worrying, 8% report feeling dizzy or nauseous — which may result from a smoke allergy or, even worse, carbon monoxide poisoning.

Consumers prefer gas grills, newer grills

Convenience comes before safety when it comes to grill types. Among this summer's backyard chefs, 47% typically use gas-powered grills, though that's particularly true of baby boomers (59%), Gen Xers (56%) and women (52%). However, it's also worth noting that gas grills account for 84% of home fires caused by outdoor cooking, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Following that, 42% generally use charcoal-powered grills — though they're particularly popular with millennials (49%), Gen Zers (46%) and men (44%). Meanwhile, only 11% of Americans commonly use pellet or electric grills.

Generally, most grill owners (51%) have one that’s between 2 and 4 years old, though 20% own one that's 1 year old or less and another 20% have one dating five to seven years. And who has the newest grills? Gen Zers (34%), Americans making less than $35,000 (29%), renters (29%), millennials (27%) and Americans with children younger than 18 (23%) are most likely to have a grill they’ve purchased in the past year.

30% admit to buzzed barbecuing

Barbecue and beer go hand-in-hand for a lot of outdoor chefs. In fact, 30% of consumers who own or plan to use a vacation rental grill this summer admit to grilling while intoxicated — and that's particularly true among millennials (44%) and men (43%). Meanwhile, older consumers and women tend to be more responsible — just 12% of baby boomers and 18% of women admit to drunk grilling.

Parents with children younger than 18 also tend to get boozy in the backyard, with 39% of this group admitting to grilling drunk. In comparison, 32% of consumers with no children and 18% of consumers with adult children say similarly.

Drinking and grilling can be a recipe for disaster, says Sangameshwar.

"Alcohol can make you drowsy and less vigilant, which is a bad idea around a grill with an open fire," she says. "It's also important to remember that the combination of alcohol and heat from the grill and the summer could make you vulnerable to dehydration and heat injuries."

21% of parents with children younger than 18 have let their kids grill unsupervised

Despite the hazards and percentage of injuries reported, 21% of parents with children younger than 18 have let their kids grill unsupervised. However, kids are particularly vulnerable to grilling injuries: In fact, a 2022 ValuePenguin report on grilling injuries found that children younger than 10 accounted for 21% of grilling-related emergency room visits between 2012 and 2021, highest of any age group.

While Sangameshwar is surprised so many parents leave their kids alone with the grill, she says that they don't have to forgo the summer barbecues to practice child safety.

"Spending time with your kids barbecuing over the summer creates great memories, as long as the adults keep an eye on the children and not allow them anywhere near a hot grill unsupervised," she says. "A good rule of thumb is the 3-foot rule: Keep children away from the grill area by declaring a 3-foot 'kid-free zone' around the grill. This rule should continue even after the barbecue is over — especially if the grill is still hot."

Consumers are typically lax when it comes to grill maintenance

For vacation rental grillers and owners, proper grill maintenance isn't a top priority. And while it may be convenient to skip a cleaning session or two, failing to do so may lead to complications. Among this summer's backyard chefs, 62% say they don't always inspect the grill to make sure it's working properly.

Women (64%) are more likely to cook without inspecting their grills after every use than men (58%). In addition, older consumers are more likely to skip the inspection than younger consumers. While 67% of baby boomers say they don't always inspect their grills, just 54% of Gen Zers say similarly.

Meanwhile, 42% say they don't clean their grill after every use. However, improperly cleaned or poorly maintained grills are involved in 29% of home grill structure fires, according to the NFPA.

44% of consumers don't know if their homeowners insurance covers grilling-related damages

Property damage is the last thing consumers want to think about when planning a barbecue in their backyards — and the numbers prove many don't. In fact, 44% of those planning to grill this summer don't know if their homeowners or renters insurance policies cover grilling-related damages. However, not knowing or reviewing policies may mean you won't receive the house and structure, personal property or liability coverage you might be owed if damage occurs.

By demographic, baby boomers (62%), parents with adult children (58%) and women (53%) are the most likely to not know if their homeowners or renters insurance policies cover grilling-related damages.

Meanwhile, 29% incorrectly think they aren't covered. That's particularly true of Gen Zers (50%) and consumers earning less than $35,000 (40%).

Home insurance and barbecuing: What to know

While nothing says summer like a barbecue, it's crucial to come prepared — and that doesn't just mean bringing enough plates to share. The dangers of not knowing what your insurance covers could expose you to financial risk, especially if you're underinsured. For those hosting a barbecue this year, Sangameshwar says to keep in mind the following: