It's time to start thinking about winter storage. Plummeting temperatures and increased precipitation can wreak havoc on your grill surface over time, and the lack of use over prolonged periods of time can invite critters of various shapes and sizes into its interior. If you don’t plan on using your grill through the winter, you need to consider storage solutions. Our guide has all the info you need to keep your grill running smoothly, rust-free, pest-free, and clean through the colder months.
Can I Use My Grill in the Winter?
There is no reason you cannot enjoy outdoor cooking any type of grill in cold weather. It is absolutely 100% okay to leave a gas grill outside in winter, under one condition: The temperature can't be lower than -44 degrees F. Anything less is too cold for a propane grill to produce the vapor needed.
Obviously, if you are wondering if it is okay to grill in winter, or dangerous to grill in cold weather, all you really need to worry about is making sure you are protected against the cold to avoid getting chilled, frostbite, or any other adverse effects of the cold on your body.
Where Should I Store My Grill in the Winter?
A charcoal grill can be stored anywhere it fits. First clean and oil the grates and firebowl, then cover and either stash it in the shed or garage, or place it in a safe location outside or on the balcony or patio.
The Safe/Clean Grill Brush with Scraper By GRILLART provides a cleaner, healthier grill surface than other brushes and eliminates the risk of bristles ending up in your food.
- Durable with nothing that can accidentally fall off when scraping
- Really gets into the grates to clean well with the multiple tools
- Is especally effective on hot grates
- Over time, heavy use may end up wearing through mesh
|
|
If you are concerned about your grill getting buried in snow or otherwise being beat up by a particularly nasty winter, you may want to get it into a more protected area. Sheds, garages, or even protected sides of the house are all options for you to place your grill under or near to avoid the worst of the winter weather.
If you aren’t planning on using your grill through the colder months, and you want to store your grill outside for the winter (or don’t have a building to store your grill in), you should definitely prep and winterize as the weather gets colder. This isn’t a difficult task, but is one you need to take care of if you want to ensure your grill lasts for years and works as expected.
Preparing a Gas Grill for Outdoor Winter Storage
When you plan on leaving your grill outside, you need to be sure to winterize it properly if you aren’t going to use it for any length of time. This means you need to clean it thoroughly, and not only brush off all leftover food scraps, but also scrub off all grease, remove and soak burners, and make sure all grease traps are cleaned out. You also should rub oil over all metal parts to help protect against moisture and rust.
Your propane tank can stay connected. Just be sure to have it turned off at the tank, and included under the cover you should definitely invest in.
Once cleaned and secured, if you don’t have a durable grill cover, be sure to invest in one. A good grill cover can be used year round to help protect against weather and the drying sun, but is especially important to use for any long term storage. An open grill is suspect to moisture, which can get into small openings where it can freeze and damage parts, and increase the changes of rust. A cover also protects against rodents in the winter that may be looking for a place to nest.
If you're looking for a dependable and heavy-duty cover, the GrillMan Premium Cover is just what you need.
- Durable fabric
- Compatible with most grills
- Lifetime replacement
- Fades quickly
|
|
Preparing a Gas Grill for Indoor Winter Storage
As mentioned above, prior to storage, be sure to clean your grill thoroughly and oil your grates and other metals. The main difference between indoor and outdoor storage is the propane tank.
Never store your propane tank indoors. Always ensure it is off, and then unscrew the hose and regulator from the grill. Cover the ends of the hose and regulator or plug with some plastic, and also cover the end of your propane tank nozzle to keep spiders out.
Store the propane tank out of doors only, such as next to the house, garage, or shed. The cold weather won’t hurt it one bit.
Also, it is best if you provide a cover for your grill even when stored indoors. This helps keep dust, water, animals and bugs from getting into it.
Conclusion
As you can see, both prepping and storing your grill is not a difficult task. A good cleaning, protective oil, and a good cover is all you really need to ensure everything is well protected through the worst of any worrisome weather. If storing indoors, be sure to remove the propane tank and keep it out of doors. Otherwise, it is perfectly safe to leave outside if you don’t have an indoor space for it.
If you have any questions, please let us know below, and, as always, please share.