Like many Canadians, we don’t let winter stop us from doing very much. One of those things is BBQing! We wanted to share some of the best ways so you can ensure you get the most out of the winter BBQ season!
There are many tips, tricks and bbq essentials to make sure you make the most out of the winter season. The most important thing to a successful winter BBQ season is investing in a high-quality, properly fitting BBQ Cover.
You might think, “why should I cover my BBQ?” and here is why.
Even during the summer, it is important to keep your BBQ as dry as possible and try to keep out any moisture from getting in there causing mould and other build-up if the BBQ isn’t used for a little while. Keeping the inside of your BBQ dry also allows the igniters to stay dry and not pose any issues for when you go to ignite the bbq next.
Covering your BBQ also helps keep the BBQ from rusting over time because the cover helped keep moisture out and off the BBQ itself.
Covering your BBQ after every use is also a huge player in keeping your BBQ clean and keeping rodents and other critters from getting into it. It is very important to also remember that after every use, allow your BBQ some time to cool down before putting the cover back on.
When BBQing in the winter you want to ensure you have all the right tools to have a successful experience. As the days get shorter and shorter BBQing at 6 pm means it is completely dark outside and it makes it very difficult to see. If you don’t have one already, or you don’t have a light near your BBQ that lights up your grilling space, a great gift for someone or even for yourself is a BBQ light that attaches to your BBQ directly.
Another crucial way to ensure rodents, bugs and other little critters stay away from your BBQ in the winter are to regularly clean out your drip pan/grease trap. Animals will smell the grease and love to snack on it during the winter. The problem with having rodents and bugs find their way into your BBQ and they try to make your BBQ their home as it is usually a safe dry place to stay but when they do that, they tend to leave their droppings behind and they will find anything and everything to chew on. Often times they will chew on the wires they can find in your BBQ which will then lead to ignition issues, internal lights not working properly anymore and more.
When it comes to food prep, and firing up the grill to cook, you want to allow your BBQ extra time to get hot before using it. It is also useful to do all the prep work for the food inside your home before BBQing. Season your meat, get your timer ready and of course be ready to eat!
After using your BBQ, while the grill is still hot, it is also important to give your BBQ a quick scrape and try to get all the sauces, juice and meat left over off of your grates so they are prepped and ready to go for the next time. It is a great idea to scrub your grates while the BBQ is still hot as it doesn’t allow time for whatever is left behind to harden and become a pain to remove in the future.
A quick life hack that we find can be an absolute lifesaver is getting your BBQ Professionally Cleaned by Canadian BBQ Boys. Having them come out, and do a full cleaning in the spring, from top to bottom, inside and out is a great way to give your grill a fresh start after a long winter of BBQing, making sure the BBQ is still in great, safe working condition and ensuring that you get the most out of the warm summer grilling season. We even suggest you have your BBQ cleaned twice a year, once in the fall as well to ensure your BBQ is set to go for the winter so you aren’t stuck cleaning it, or repairing it yourself in the middle of the snow.
Finally, one of the very best parts about BBQing in the winter is it allows you to hone your skills and become a BBQ master and be more ready than ever to show off your skills and BBQ for all your friends and family!
