There is nothing quite as fun as grilling up some good grub for you and your family. While most folks only think about grilling when the weather is beautiful, that doesn’t always jive with reality. There are going to be some days where the weather is downright brutal, so if you want to have cook outside, you will need to have a good understanding of grilling in the rain.
While a downpour can certainly make it a bit trickier to cook outside, it can be done. There are certain strategies that you can follow so that you can get the grilling job done, even if it is raining. In this article, we will take you through everything that you need to know to maintain your status as a grill master, regardless of if you are doing it rain or shine.
The first thing that you should always consider when you are going to grill, no matter the weather, is if you can do it safely. While rain certainly brings its own challenges to a grilling session, it isn’t generally dangerous on its own. If, however, you are using an electric grill, rain would be a huge problem due to the threat of electrocution. Gas, pellet, and charcoal grills are all safe to use in this weather, as long as there isn’t too much wind.
As we said above, you want to make sure that you avoid electric grills at all costs if you are working in the rain. After all, nothing is going to ruin your fun faster than an electric shock Trusted Source Electrical injury - Wikipedia Electrical injury is a physiological reaction caused by electric current passing through the body. en.wikipedia.org . Gas, pellet, and charcoal grills are all good options for rainy weather. Of course, a gas grill with a cover is probably the best choice since the cover helps to retain heat and block the wind from putting out your flames prematurely. The Weber Genesis II E-335 is a great option in this regard, thanks to its durable lid and easy-to-read temperature gauge.
Depending on where you live, you are going to experience different types of rain. If you are someone that lives in an area where you only get small splashes of rain, the odds are that you can probably get by with a patio umbrella to keep you dry while you are grilling. On the other hand, if you are in an area where larger downpours are the norm, you might want to invest in something like the Amazon Basics Outdoor Patio Grill Gazebo, which is a much more permanent solution that will keep you dry for years to come. You should also try to wear some non-slip shoes and a rain jacket so that you can be as comfortable as possible as you grill in the rain.
In order to grill in the rain, you need to have a plan in place. That way, you will have the best possible outcome, even if the rain is pouring down.
Before your starting grilling in the rain, you need to prepare everything. The food should be seasoned and ready to go onto the grill right away. That way, you won’t have to fuss with it in the rain. The grill should also be given plenty of time to preheat since rain can make the air temperature drop precipitously. You can also precook your food a little bit on your stove so that you don’t need to spend as much time out on your grill.
As we mentioned above, the air temperature can greatly fluctuate during a rainstorm. This can make grilling with an open lid a bit more difficult since the temperature isn’t going to stay right where you want it. This can be pretty easily fixed by simply covering up the grill with its lid. This will keep the wind and rain from altering your temperature, which will lead to much better tasting meat.
One of the hardest things to control when you are grilling in the rain is the temperature on your grill. The air temperature can fluctuate multiple times during a storm, which might make keeping a steady temperature a challenge. You need to keep a close eye on the temperature inside your grill, either with an external thermometer or an integrated one, so that your food doesn’t burn or take too long to cook. By watching and adjusting the temperature constantly, however, you should be able to get good results out of your grill, even in a downpour.
After your meal is cooked, you need to make sure that you take the time to properly clean off your grill. Any water that might have found its way onto the grates should be wiped off so that it doesn’t have a chance to rust. You should also take the time and scrape the grill before it cools down, as this will help to keep any residue from harming the grates.
Once your grill has cooled down all of the ways, you need to take the time to dry it off. The last thing that you want is for your grill to rust. Not only will this look unsightly, but it will also, eventually, cause your grill to fail. It could become unsafe to use if the rust spreads enough, so you need to make sure that you wipe it off completely before you cover it. If you cover it wet, then the water will get trapped against the metal of the grill, which will cause it to deteriorate even faster.
As you can see, you don’t need to let a little bit of rain ruin your fun. In fact, quite the opposite. If you are determined to grill rain or shine, you can definitely get your way, as long as you take the time to properly prepare for such a scenario. Grilling under cover is your best bet.
Of course, even if you aren’t getting soaked, you need to worry about the temperature of your grill, so make sure you watch your thermometer and keep it covered. You also need to be certain to dry the grill off when you are done as well. As long as you make these simple precautions, you should find plenty of success when you are grilling in the rain.
