The Etiquette Rule You Shouldn't Break When Cooking In Public

What do public park barbecues, apartment complex grills, and the office microwave all have in common? They are shared, public cooking spaces — and we are here to warn you that you shouldn't act like a barbarian when using them. While some Miss Manners types will yammer on about not nuking food with strong odors or tying up the cooking facilities for more than your fair share of time (and these are very good tips, TBF), the number one etiquette rule you shouldn't break when cooking in public is cleaning up after yourself. Don't leave remainders of your use or visit, whether that means trash, food detritus, dirty utensils, or a filthy cooking surface. It's rude to other people who share the facilities, and, when it comes to cooking in the outdoors, not packing your refuse away can actually harm the environment.

Look, we get it. When you are planning a get-together with your loved ones at a pavilion at the local park, you are more concerned with the weather holding up and showing off awesome grilling hacks than where you will put the wrappers from your hot dogs. Likewise, when you only have a brief lunch break, it can be tempting to storm through the break room like a tornado and get out as quickly as possible. Use some civility, however, and take a few minutes to make sure you haven't left a mess. It's easier than you'd think to cover your tracks.

When cooking outside, it's extremely important to clean up any debris so that wildlife and/or local flora isn't injured by your leavings. Remember to pack a few trash bags in your supplies. If you forget to do that, use whatever containers you have available. Utilizing the hot dog picnic hack that transports weenies in a thermos? When empty, you can repurpose that container for plenty of wrappers, scraps, or soda caps. If you use a public barbecue grill, bring along a brush with your fire starter, charcoal, and tongs to scrape off the grates before you leave. You likely wouldn't be happy to arrive at your chosen picnic site and find it a disaster. Don't be that person who leaves it looking like a pig-sty. The National Park Service's Leave No Trace Seven Principles are a good place to start.

In terms of the office microwave, be part of the solution, and not the problem. Always cover your food before heating it to prevent splatters — although, keep in mind that the question of whether plastic is microwave-safe doesn't have a promising answer. Be willing to run a rag or Lysol wipe over the tray if your food spills or leaks. Basically, if you are cooking where others use the facilities, make sure you leave the space in at least as good condition as you found it, if not better.