If you are like us, you can’t wait for spring and summer to break out the grill. Plenty of home cooks choose to use their grill all year long, even when there is snow on the ground. It may sound crazy, but with a little bit of planning and some preparation you can prepare delicious and perfectly grilled food during any season.
Tips For Grilling In Winter
Grilling in winter is possible, but it is important to remember that the process will be a lot different. The biggest mistake many home cooks make is that they do not preheat their grill in colder weather. If your grill is outdoors, the grates are going to be cold. Food can stick to cold grates and if you put your meat on a cold grill you can affect the cooking times, overcook your meat and have a dry, unappetizing end result. Preheat your grill for at least 20 minutes before you put any food on it. This may take some extra planning when thinking about meals or cooking for guests, but it is worth it.
It is also important to heat up your grill, because it is likely that it has not been used as regularly as in the warmer months. Take into account you will needs more fuel or charcoal to allow the grill to reach optimum temperature before you even start to cook.
Additional Tips For Grilling In Winter
Just like you would in the summer, make sure your grill is located somewhere that is protected from weather. You want a clean, dry area for your grill to sit. Not only will this protect your grill from damage, but you will also keep yourself safe from having to navigate slippery, icy surfaces while tending to a hot grill.
Always check your grill before you light it. Spiders and other critters have a tendency to find dry, warm spots to hide during the winter and you want to remove them before you light your grill. You will also want to make sure your fuel lines are free from blockage before you light your grill to avoid any dangerous problems.
Other Tips For Winter Grilling:
- Plan to prepare smaller cuts of meat because these will take less time to grill
- Use the lid as often as possible to build heat around the grill and your food
- Let the grill do most of the work – don’t mess with your food
- Clean the grill grids while the grill is still hot to remove build-up
- Dress warmly to protect from the cold, but only wear clothes that fit snugly to avoid potential clothing fires
Of course you can grill in any season and not be affected by the outside temperature fluctuating and interfering with cooking your food with a Big Green Egg. A Big Green Egg has a high-tech ceramic composition that acts as a large insulator that keeps the heat inside the egg no matter what the temperature is. Enjoy grilling food all year round with a Big Green Egg.
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