Grilling in the Winter

My husband and I both tend to laugh when people talk about the "grilling season," which usually means summer and warm weather. My family grills year-round, even with snow on the ground. People often comment on it being cold outside, My husband's standard comeback, however, is that it is not cold next to the grill. If you, therefore, enjoy grilled food and the taste that charcoal and/or wood imparts to it, do not stop grilling just because the temperatures have dropped. Keep on grilling; however, there are some things that you should keep in mind when grilling in cold weather.

Note to the reader: Whenever I discuss grilling, I am always talking about charcoal grills. I have never owned a gas grill and do not ever foresee one coming near my home, unless it is to be used to boil water. Feel free to call me a grilling snob.

Grill placement
You, of course, want to place your grill as close to your house as is safe. (Be aware that flare-ups can happen even in cold weather.) You really do not want to travel, after all, any further than necessary from your house to your grill, especially if the weather is really cold. In addition, if possible, place your grill in such a way that it is protected from cold winter winds.

Temperature
When grilling outdoors in cold weather, the temperature on the grill can be rather difficult to control. The outside temperatures can cause your grill to take longer to achieve the desired temperature and also make it difficult to maintain that temperature. You can use extra charcoal to raise the temps. Maintaining the temperature is still going to be an issue, however. You need to realize, therefore, that whatever you are grilling will require a longer cooking time. Tip: Keep the vents closed in order to hold in more of the heat and plan on cooking "low and slow."

Meat thermometer
You should probably be using a meat thermometer whenever you grill in order to determine the doneness of your meat. If you have not been using one, plan on it during the winter months. Due to the fact that it can take longer to cook meat on the grill when the weather is cold, you cannot always rely upon those fine-tuned instincts that you may have developed during the warmer summer months. Remember, it can take longer to cook meat when the weather is cold. It might, therefore, look done on the outside; but the inside is saying no. Use your meat thermometer! Tips: Don't want to keep running outside into the cold to check the temperature? There are thermometers on the market that will let you know temps while you sit warm and cozy in your home. The thermometer part is placed in the meat, where it remains throughout the cooking process. A second part, the remote, stays with you and will show the temperature of the meat. Some models will even beep to let you know when the meat has reached the desired temperature.

There is no reason to ever stop grilling. (My husband will even grill when it is pouring down rain. It is rather humorous, however, to watch him by the grill holding his golf umbrella flipping steaks.) Cold weather should definitely not be a deterrent either. After all, it is actually pretty warm by the grill.