Winter Grilling in Canada: 10 Tips to Keep Your BBQ Going All Season
Who says BBQ season ends in October? From clearing a path through the snow to choosing between natural gas and propane, here's how to keep grilling all winter long, safely and deliciously.
5 min read
For many Canadians, the BBQ doesn't go into hibernation when the first snow falls. A juicy steak on a cold, clear night, a holiday roast with a smoky crust, wings during the hockey game: winter grilling is a real pleasure, and it frees up your oven when the kitchen is busy. With a little preparation, you can grill safely even at −20 °C. Here are our 10 best tips to keep your BBQ going all season long.
Why Grill in Winter?
- Flavour you can't get from the oven: that seared crust and light smoky taste are just as good in January as in July.
- More room in the kitchen: during the holidays, the grill becomes a second oven for the roast, the vegetables or the appetizers.
- Less mess and fewer cooking smells in the house.
- A breath of fresh air: a few minutes outside on a sunny winter day does everyone good.
10 Tips for Successful Winter Grilling
1. Set Up in a Safe Spot
Never move your BBQ into the garage, a shed, a carport or under a covered porch to escape the cold: a gas grill produces carbon monoxide and needs open air. Keep it outdoors, on a stable surface, and respect the clearances to walls and railings listed in your owner's manual.
2. Clear a Path and Keep the Grill Free of Snow
Shovel and salt a path from the door to the grill, so you're not walking on ice with a platter of hot food. Before lighting, brush the snow off the lid and the side tables, and make sure nothing blocks the burners or the vents.
3. Plan for Wind
Wind is a winter griller's worst enemy: it steals heat and makes the temperature swing. Choose a spot sheltered from the prevailing wind, while keeping the required clearances. Never wrap the grill in a tarp or build an enclosure around it.
4. Give It More Time to Preheat
A cold grill takes longer to heat up. Light it with the lid open, as your manual recommends, then close the lid and give it a few extra minutes to reach temperature. Let the lid thermometer guide you, not the clock.
5. Keep the Lid Closed
Every time you lift the lid, heat escapes, and in winter it takes much longer to come back. Resist the urge to peek: plan your flips, then let the grill do its work. As grillers like to say, if you're looking, you're not cooking.
6. Choose Recipes That Love the Cold
Thick cuts and indirect cooking are perfect in winter. A prime rib, a pork loin, a whole chicken or a beef tenderloin cooks slowly with the lid closed and needs very little attention. Save delicate fish fillets and dozens of small skewers for summer.
7. Cook to Temperature, Not to Time
Cold and wind change cooking times, so the only reliable guide is the internal temperature of the food. A good instant-read or wireless probe thermometer tells you exactly when your roast is ready, without opening the lid every five minutes.
8. Prepare Everything Inside
Season, slice and organize everything in the kitchen, then make a single trip to the grill with a tray. Warm your plates in the oven so the food stays hot on its way to the table.
9. Light Up the Night and Dress for It
In December, it's dark before 5 p.m. A headlamp or a clip-on grill light makes all the difference. Wear warm gloves that are also heat-resistant, and keep long scarves and loose sleeves away from the flames.
10. Mind Your Fuel
Propane doesn't like extreme cold: the pressure in the tank drops as the temperature falls, which can mean weaker flames and longer cooking. Keep a full spare tank on hand, and always store propane tanks outdoors and upright, never in the house or the garage. If you grill all year, the easiest solution is a natural gas BBQ.
Natural Gas: A Winter Griller's Best Friend
A natural gas BBQ connects directly to your home's gas line. No tank to refill in the middle of a snowstorm, no running out of fuel halfway through the holiday roast, and a steady supply even on the coldest nights. It's the most convenient choice if you grill all year round.
The Weber Genesis E-325 Natural Gas is a great place to start: three PureBlu burners, an extra-large sear zone for a perfect crust and porcelain-enameled cast-iron grates that hold their heat, a real advantage when it's cold outside. Need more room for big family meals? The Weber Genesis S-435 Natural Gas adds a side burner for sauces and sides, an expandable top grate and an extra-large side table, all in stainless steel.
Good to know: a natural gas BBQ must be connected by a licensed gas technician. Book the installation in the fall, before the ground freezes and before the holiday rush.
After Grilling: Protect Your BBQ
Turn off the burners and the gas supply, let the grill cool down completely, then put on a cover to protect it from snow and ice. Empty the grease tray regularly, too: grease hardens in the cold and is much harder to clean in the spring.
Winter grilling is all about preparation: a safe spot, a clear path, a closed lid and a reliable fuel supply. Get those right, and you'll enjoy that grilled flavour all year round. Ready to upgrade your setup? Browse our natural gas BBQs and find the right Weber for your winter cookouts.