There’s no need to put your grill away when the weather turns cold. With the right knowledge and savvy, winter grilling can be just as satisfying as summertime grilling. You can keep the smells and tastes of summer all year long with these tips.
Before you begin, read these helpful tips to discover everything you need to know about mastering the art of winter grilling. These tried-and-true approaches will put you on the right track to quality performance. With these helpful ideas, you can turn up the heat and tune out the cold.
1. Winter upkeep and maintenance
Your grill, like any other machine, necessitates maintenance. After a summer of intense use, give it a thorough cleaning before winter begins, and maintain it on a regular basis. This will assure peak performance, saving you time and money while avoiding undercooked or overdone dishes.
Disassemble the burners and use toothpicks or drill bits to clean up the jets. Use a brass wire brush or aluminum foil to scrub away the residue. Excess grease should be burned off. Make sure the inside and outside are clean of food particles that could attract hungry rodents and insects looking for a warm place to spend winter.
2. Location, location, location
When grilling at any time of year, safety is a top priority. Because of the unpredictable nature of winter, it’s even more crucial to keep an eye on how your grill is set up. Place it at least 10 feet away from anything that could catch fire, such as a home or a fence. Find a nice balance where you’re not walking too far to cook but are also safe from potential disaster.
Another factor is wind. If the grill is in a flammable location, erratic breezes can immediately move a flame from one direction to the next. Drafts also add to the cooking time. A 30-degree day with gentle 10 mph gusts will take longer to cook your meals than a 20-degree day with no wind.
3. Keep it lit
Winter grilling necessitates the use of high-quality lighting. Daylight is brief, so make sure you have adequate lighting to prepare a delicious supper. When the sun goes down, your location must be well-lit to ensure food safety and personal safety. Overhead illumination is beneficial, but keep a few flashlights on hand as well. A hands-free headlamp is also a good idea.
4. As Always Plan and Prepare
Don’t wait until your steak is grilled to realize you left something out. Make sure everything is ready to go before you start grilling. If necessary, shovel a clear and safe path through the snow, and keep plenty of rock salt on hand. Always keep additional fuel on hand, whether it’s propane, charcoal, wood, or pellets; you’ll need more in the winter.
Arrange all of your accessories for convenience, such as tools, seasonings, and plate covers. It’s much more dangerous in the cold to have to go into the home three times for items you forgot, and your heating bill won’t appreciate the frequently opened door!
5. Prepare everything indoors and go out just to cook
Preparation is not just for the outdoors. Inside, you should have a grilling station set up for all of your needs. Keep a clean and maintained location near your outdoor access to reduce cross-contamination.
To battle the cold, you’ll be able to keep everything indoors and at room temperature. Prepare to leave. Because time is of the essence, prepare ahead of time for a stress-free encounter every time.
6. Dress for the occasion correctly
Layer up before venturing outside, but keep in mind that loose clothing isn’t ideal. If at all possible, avoid scarves and flaring sleeves. Tuck any loose clothing away so it does not come into contact with the flame.
Winter gloves are a fire hazard since the polyfill will catch fire instantly, however grilled gloves are perfect. They will shield your hands from the cold as well as the strong heat of the grill.
7. Time is everything
Grilling takes longer in the cold. Think before you act if you want to be efficient. Cooking times that are efficient require a number of processes.
Snow is kept off your grill by secure covers, saving you the time and fuel costs of melting off ice chunks. In the winter, preheating can take twice as long, so allow for double the warming time before cooking. Unlike in the summer, when you can just turn your food over once and be sure it is cooked on both sides, keep the cover closed to make sure it cooks evenly.
If you expect to barbecue a lot this winter, a wireless meat thermometer is a wonderful investment. It will notify you of the status of your food without the need for repeated visual inspections.
8. Go easy and low-maintenance
If you’re not a seasoned veteran at winter grilling, don’t try a complex or innovative idea. This season, if you’re new to the position, only make what you know. Choose foods that cook rapidly and save you fuel.
Additionally, avoid recipes that require a lot of basting, flipping, or monitoring for the reasons stated previously.
9. Try infrared heat cooking
Infrared heat may be useful for a more efficient grilling experience. Infrared grills are becoming increasingly popular for a variety of reasons, and they may be excellent for your winter cooking.
They consume less fuel and require less time to heat up. They evenly disperse temperatures, heating the food rather than the air, resulting in a soft and luscious meal free of dryness and flaming flare-ups. Furthermore, turning up the heat after cooking reduces leftover food to ash, making cleanup a breeze.
10. Smoke your food
The race is won by going slowly and steadily. Smoking could be a good substitute for grilling. Thicker steel and more efficient fireboxes keep heat far more contained than a gas or charcoal barbecue.
Sure, a slow smoke takes time, but wood-burning lasts longer and requires less upkeep. Start early in the day, check in on the status every now and again, and you’ll have a delicious meal that will leave everyone impressed.
