Imagine inviting all your friends and family over for a barbecue. Just as you’re about to bring out the marinade and fire up the grill, mother nature drops by uninvited and starts to rain on your parade. You have a decision to make: to grill or not to grill? Take the party inside and crank up the oven, or get an umbrella and get grilling? The main question, however, is: Can you grill in the rain?
Let’s find out!
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Can You Grill in the Rain?
The short answer to this question is – yes, you can! Your barbecue plans don’t wash out with a few sprinkles of rain. Believe it or not, most people prefer grilling in the rain, especially in hot and dry summers. Undoubtedly, it’s more challenging to grill during severe rainstorms, but if you take a few basic precautions and are well-equipped, the barbecue must go on.
Benefits of Grilling in the Rain
While most people wait for a warm sunny day to bring out the grill, those living in warmer areas aren’t too fond. An overcast or rainy day is what they consider barbecue weather inside. Here are some benefits of grilling in the rain:
- While grilling in the rain, you’ll be keeping the lid of your gas or charcoal smoker closed, increasing the meat flavor.
- In cooler weather, you can easily lower your grill or smoker at low-and-slow temperaturesby naturally limiting the heat.
- Rain increases humidity, keepingthe meat moist as it cooks, preventing it from drying out.
Safety Considerations for Grilling in the Rain
Just because you can grill in the rain doesn’t mean you should compromise on safety. Here are some safety considerations for grilling in the rain:
1. Don’t Use an Electric Grill
First and foremost, never use an electric grill outside when it’s raining. You can use it indoors if you have no other option. Why? Because electricity and rain don’t mix.
2. Place Grill Under a Covered Area
Secondly, never place your charcoal grill in an open area, directly exposing it to rain. Moisture leads to rust, so you should keep it in a dry, covered area.
3. Never Take a Gas or Charcoal Grill Indoors
Using a charcoal grill indoors can lead to life-threatening poisoning. Due to lack of ventilation, charcoal doesn’t fully react with air (incomplete combustion) and leads to carbon monoxide formation.
4. Lightning and Thunder
While you can grill in the rain, it’s never a good idea to do so during a thunderstorm or torrential downpour. If you must, you’ll need a proper, fixed, and covered grill system, preferably 10 ft away from the rain.
How to Grill in the Rain
While most people know that they can grill in the rain, they don’t know the best ways to go about it. Sure, you can put on a raincoat and use the grill lid. But there are more innovative ways to shelter yourself and your grill in the rain. Here’s what you need to grill in the rain, the right way:
1. Patio or Barbecue Umbrella
- 100% POLYESTER FABRIC -- Blissun patio umbrella is made of 100% polyester, waterproof and UV resistant, long lasting, easy to clean.
- STURDY ALUMINUM POLE -- Aluminum poles and 8 aluminum ribs for easy and compact storage, in prevention of rust and lighter than the steel pole, easy for operation. With air vented at the top, cool and can withstand sudden gust.
- CRANK MECHANISM -- This market umbrella is designed with crank open system for easy and quick use. Push button tilt for more angles of shading, keep the sun at your back.
- SUN PROTECTION -- This outdoor umbrella with 9 ft. diameter shade your 42- 54 round, square or rectangle table with 4 to 6 chairs, Ideal for both residential and commercial locations.
- MODERN & WIDELY APPLICABLE -- Blissun 9 feet patio umbrella with elegant design, is a perfect and essential for summer or sunny days to shade sunshine, apply to the yard, beach, square, garden and patio shops like cafe, restaurant, swimming pool.
A patio umbrella is the least expensive solution to grilling in the rain. Look for the biggest one you can find, and remember to tie or weigh it down, so it doesn’t fly away during heavy winds. Some sand and anchors should do the trick. If you don’t mind holding an umbrella while you grill, you can buy a barbecue umbrella. These are made out of heat resistant materials.
2. BBQ Canopy
- EASY SETUP & PORTABLE: Setup is efficient and hassle-free with COOL Spot Pop-up Gazebo. Reference Technical Specification for Instruction Manual. This spacious COOL Spot Gazebo is lightweight and comes with a carrying bag, so you can easily bring the convenient COOL Spot Pop-up gazebo anywhere as a quick, sun-coverage solution.
- VENTED TOP & EXTRA SHADE AREA: Stay cool with our new COOL Spot Vent, designed to provide excellent airflow while you work or relax. This gazebo features straight steel legs and an extended Cornice structure around the eaves of the tent, providing additional shade coverage. The 11’ x 11’ top dimensions provide 121 square feet of coverage with plenty of room for 6 people.
- SUPERIOR QUALITY: The gazebo top is made of 150D Oxford fabric, with UPF 50+ UV sun protection to help block up to 99% of harmful UV rays. It is CPAI-84 certified, flame resistant, and the frame is superior, made of sturdy, high-grade engineered steel and powder-coated for rust-resistance. It is assembled and reinforced with hardened M5 through bolts and strong nylon plastic connection hardware.
- MULTIPLE SIDE WALLS: COOL Spot Gazebo features zippered mesh sidewalls. You will be protected from the sun and rain as well as flying insects thanks to the high-quality mesh walls. Enjoy the great outdoors with ease from your private gazebo, while still having full airflow and visibility provided by these mesh sidewalls.
- COOL Spot COMMITMENT: COOL Spot offers a 1-year limited after sale protection from the original date of purchase. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our professional service team is always available to provide superior service to y
A BBQ canopy is a small shelter made from a canopy draped over a metal frame. Usually, it’s only large enough to cover a grill, but you can find one that can cover a small seating or dining area.
3. A Retractable Awning
- ✅DURABLE DESIGN: Aluminum and steel frame make this awning superior in strength. The 280g polyester fabric with PU water-resistant coating makes the awning durable and resistant UV.
- ✅ADJUSTABLE PROTECTION: This manually retractable awning features a long 58.5 hand crank that opens the awning smoothly and quietly. Easily adjustable to meet your sun or shade needs.
- ✅REDUCE HEAT: Protect your home from the suns damaging UV rays with the Outsunny 13L x 8W Manual Retractable Sun Shade Patio Awning and actually reduce the heat inside your home.
- ✅VERSATILE PLACEMENT: The Outsunny 13L x 8W Manual Retractable Sun Shade is perfect for placement above windows, doors or both. Colors coordinate awnings for a clean and consistent look.
- ✅VARIETY OF SURFACES: Our sunshade can be attached to a variety of surfaces such as a plain cement wall or stable unrendered brickwork. All hardware included for attachment to concrete surfac
A retractable awning makes a great addition to any deck, yard, or patio. They’re not just for providing shade during hot summer days. You can also use them to keep snow and rain off you during a barbecue.
4. Tarp Tent
- Multi-purpose outdoor tarp is great for covering items or placement under a camping tent
- Waterproof design made of durable rip-stop fabric with polyethylene lamination on both sides
- Rugged rust-resistant grommets along the outer edge for securely tying down the tarp
- Reinforced corners and edges for long-lasting strength
- Dimensions: 10 x 12 f
If you have an inner Boy Scout, all you need is a tarp tent to cover most of your yard or patio during the rain; it might even add a camping-like feel to your barbecue. However, you’ll need a flame-resistant tarp. You cannot use plastic or a sheet because it’ll easily melt or catch fire. To avoid any safety risk, suspend the tarp at least 6-8 feet above the grill.
5. A Permanent Rain-Proof Grilling Station
If you cook outside regularly, you can avoid all temporary measures and invest in a covered grilling station. This solution is the most expensive one, but it can add value to your home when done right. However, you’ll need to consult with a professional designer to plan and install your needs and work on your ideas.
Additional Tips for Grilling in the Rain
If you love cooking and grilling outside, you can use some of these additional tips to grill successfully:
- If you’re working with charcoal, start your fire earlier, and use more charcoal.
- Pre-cook meat on your kitchen stove, and finalize it on your grill to save time.
- Use foil to wrap veggies and grill them together with the meat. You can even throw them directly on the coal, and the foil will protect them from burning.
- Cover all the cooked food and take it indoors if you can.
Our Final Thoughts
No matter where you live, you’re bound to encounter bad weather now and then. The good news is that you still fire up the grill and cook some delicious barbecue even if it’s raining outside. All you need is some planning and equipment to grill all-year-round.
So, can you grill in the rain? Yes, as long as you’re truly dedicated to it.
