10 Tips for Cold Weather Grilling

Some people close down their built-in propane grills for the winter – but for the diehard barbecue lovers out there, four or five months without delicious charbroiled meat and veggies simply won’t do.

Cold weather grilling here in Delmarva does offer up some challenges, though, and some special considerations: if you want to try it out this winter, follow these ten tips:

1. Clear the cooking area – Keep your grill, prep surfaces and some space around them clear of snow and ice, and shovel and sand or ice a path from your home to your grill to avoid slips and falls.
2. Check for leaks – Keep an eye (and nose) out for hose and/or valve leaks.
3. Stay ventilated – NEVER grill in an enclosed space – it can trap deadly carbon monoxide gas.
4. Avoid loose or hanging clothing – Try to avoid wearing baggy clothes and jackets, which could catch fire.
5. Give your grill time to preheat – A propane grill will need a little more time to heat up in cold weather. Preheat your grill to about 400 degrees for about 10 minutes; you can reduce heat as needed from there.
6. Keep wind blocked – Position your grill to avoid as much wind as possible to prevent the flame from blowing out.
7. Keep it simple – Use familiar recipes that require little close monitoring and flipping.
8. Keep the lid closed – If you open and close the lid to your grill often, you let the heat escape; this will affect the cooking time.
9. Be patient – Food takes longer to cook in winter, and grills take longer to reach the temperatures you want. Leave extra time to prepare.
10. Have more propane on hand – Fighting off the elements means more fuel burning, so have more propane on hand than you would in the warmer months. The last thing you want to happen is to run out of propane in the middle of grilling your delicious dinner!

Need extra propane for some cold weather grilling? Poore’s Propane has it! Contact us for Delmarva propane deliveries today.