How to Keep Flies Away When Grilling: Bug-Free BBQ Tips

Dealing with unexpected guests, especially flies, can really spoil the perfect BBQ. It’s frustrating when these pests decide to invade your outdoor meals. Fortunately, you’ve landed in the right place to address this issue.

Our blog post on ‘How to Keep Flies Away When Grilling‘ ensures your next barbecue remains free from these pesky insects. We will share simple and effective methods to help you grill in peace, without the unwanted buzzing.

Whether you’re a seasoned grill master or someone who enjoys cooking outdoors during the weekend, our tips will improve your outdoor dining experiences, making them cleaner and more enjoyable. 

Why Are Flies Attracted to BBQ Smoke? 

The primary allure for flies towards your BBQ is the enticing aroma emanating from the food you’re grilling. 

House flies can detect scents from nearly 4 miles away, a remarkable ability. This means that the moment you start grilling on your smoker, flies will begin making their way towards it gradually. 

Moreover, certain smoke types, like those from hickory or charcoal, are especially appealing to flies, although they are generally attracted to smoke. Therefore, you might consider reducing the use of hickory to keep flies at bay. 

Summer, with its perfect weather, is often considered the ideal time for barbecuing. However, this is also the time when flies are most prevalent, largely due to the dry and humid conditions of the season, which they find highly favorable. 

Despite this, the presence of flies at your outdoor cooking events need not be inevitable. There are effective strategies to deter these unwelcome guests from your BBQ gatherings. 

How to Keep Flies Away While Grilling 

Flies are not just irritating; they can also be harmful to your BBQ food, carrying pathogens like salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, which may lead to food poisoning. Keeping flies at bay is crucial for a safe and enjoyable grilling experience. 

Employ Fly Traps for Effective Fly Control 

Fly traps are a convenient and varied solution, similar to the array of grill brushes available. There are sticky traps, which use adhesive surfaces to catch flies attracted by the glue’s scent, and bait traps, which lure flies with specific attractants.

You can place these traps high up or hang them from trees. Additionally, crafting a DIY fly trap with paper, honey, warm water, and tape is a simple and cost-effective method. Coat strips of paper in a honey-water mixture and hang them up to catch flies. 

Utilize Water Bags to Deter Flies 

This approach yields mixed results, but it’s worth trying. Fill a zip-lock bag three-quarters full with water, add some pennies (and optionally, lime juice to maintain their shine), and hang it in a sunny spot using a paper clip.

The theory is that the reflected and refracted light from the water-filled bag confuses flies’ compound eyes, deterring them from the area. 

Apply Pint Jars with Meat for Trapping 

Set up 1- or 2-pint jars with punctured lids, inserting old raw meat and covering it with water to enhance the scent and prevent drying.

The strong odor of moist meat attracts flies, trapping them inside the jar where they become disoriented and unable to escape due to the jar’s warmth affecting their vision. 

Employ Vinegar as a Natural Repellent 

Repellent Vinegar’s scent, while attractive to flies, can be used to trap them. Mix vinegar with a few drops of dish soap in a glass, cover with plastic wrap secured by a rubber band, and pierce the cover with holes.

Placing this trap on a table or distributing multiple traps around can significantly reduce fly numbers. 

Opt for Sterno Gel for Additional Control 

Sterno gel, commonly used as cooking fuel, can also repel flies effectively. Light a can of Sterno gel near your grilling area to keep flies at bay.

For aesthetic purposes, especially during gatherings, you can place the gel can in a decorative, heat-resistant holder, blending safety with style while keeping flies away from your food. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, knowing how to keep flies away when grilling can transform your outdoor cooking experiences from frustrating to fabulous.

We’ve shared several simple yet effective strategies to ensure your next BBQ is enjoyable, fly-free, and hygienic. Remember, a great grilling session is just a few steps away from being perfect – without the unwanted buzz of flies.

For more tips on pest management and outdoor activity enhancement, explore Pestweek‘s blog. Join us in creating cleaner, more enjoyable living spaces! 

Calina Mabel

Calina Mabel has over 15 years of experience in the field of journalism and communications. Currently, Calina Mabel is the Content Writer for categories such as Cockroach, Ants, Bed Bugs, Mosquito, Rodent, Termite, and Flies on Pestweek.com. She aims to build content for these categories with a focus on providing valuable and accessible information to readers, in order to create the world’s largest knowledge community about Pests.

All content written by Calina Mabel has been reviewed by Emily Carter.