Top 5 Tips for Hassle-Free Winter Grilling

Most people would pack up their grill when it starts to get cold. Contrary to popular belief, grilling isn’t just for summer, it can be enjoyed all year long. Some would even say that winter is a great time for a barbecue because nothing will warm you up better than a nice piece of steak on the grill!

Here are 5 helpful winter grilling tips for trying out a good cold-weather barbecue:

Find a good place to grill

When you grill in the winter, you not only need to battle the cold, but the winds as well. On the day you are grilling, identify the direction from which the wind blows most often and find a good spot that will protect you while you cook, ideally near your home or structure. Another good place would be near where your supplies are (like your kitchen) to decrease the number of steps you have to take from there to your grill.

have extra fuel

It’s important to remember that you’ll be using more gas or propane when it’s cold, so make sure you have some extra—you don’t want to run out of gas in the middle of the grill!

Adjust heating and cooking times

It’s always good to heat up your grill before cooking, but during the winter, give your grill a little more time to heat up. Some of the parts may be frozen, so warm them up ahead of time. When it comes to cooking, adjusting the time is also ideal. What would normally cook quickly in hot weather will take longer in cold weather. Experts say a good rule of thumb would be to have an extra 20 minutes of cooking time for every pound below 45F.

Choose what to grill wisely

Unless you want to be outdoors grilling for a significant amount of time, choose foods that generally have a faster cook time. Smaller or thinner cuts of meat, such as chicken breasts, pork loins, thin steaks, and kebabs. To keep cooked foods warm while you finish grilling the rest, store them in a cast-iron skillet; just remove them from the grill a few minutes early, as they would continue to cook a little longer inside the pan.

protect yourself

While your grill is ready to go, you should be too! Protect yourself from the weather by wearing the right clothing: a comfortable coat, scarf, hat, and boots would suffice. Consider investing in fingerless gloves or mitts to maintain dexterity while grilling.

You’ll be ready to grill like a pro in cold weather by following these 5 Winter Grilling Tips!