On summer days, nothing can beat the smell of grilled food. If you have planned a BBQ with your friends these days, then windy weather can be a challenging thing to deal with. And it is a very common problem in cities like Chicago and its surroundings.
But it will not be justified if you have deterred your plan only for this reason. Following some simple tips and tricks, you can easily bypass this issue and toss some juicy meat on the grill.
Can you Grill When it’s Windy?
If the weather is very severe and there is a storm, thunder, and heavy rain, you can’t grill any food outside. But, on a normal breezy day, you can grill, but you need to follow some technique so that the fire and the drill don’t get affected by this wild nature, and you can grill the food or meat. In this prospect, you need to consider a few essential things to keep in mind.
1. Safety
This is the priority on which you must have a special eye. When you are working with fire, always keep a water source nearby. If any mishap happens, it will save you. And when you grill something, never leave the stove alone.
2. Choosing the area
To grill on a windy day, you need to choose a sheltered area; it may be under a porch, or you can consider any outdoor kitchen. It will save the grill from the wind, and its flames can be easily controllable.
3. Put the fire on
While lighting your grill, you need to be extra cautious. You need to make sure that there is no flammable material around the green. You have to use a lighter which has a long handle. Always keep the flame at a controllable and steady state.
4. Time
Grilling your food on a windy day can take longer than a normal day. So, keep patience.
How do you Grill in Windy Conditions?
Windy weather can easily ruin your grilling plans. If you grill without proper precautions, then any mishap can happen. The new charcoal can be ruined, the taste may not be so good, and the main hardship you can face while extinguishing the fire of the stove.
If possible, try to skip the plan of grilling in windy weather. If not, you need to consider some things to get a smooth and successful grilling experience.
1. Setting a guard
You need to prevent the wind from directly coming to your stove. For this purpose, you can hang a board or place any object or can take support of a wall. While using a gas grill, keep a special eye on the ashes and ensure by any chance, these ashes don’t come into the gas line.
2. Using a windscreen
This is readymade in the stores, or you can make it with aluminum foil. You just need to build a teepee with the foil and place it so the wind gets blocked. If you are using charcoal, keep enough charcoal in stock because, in such conditions, the grilling process takes time, and you need to place more charcoal than normal days.
3. Fire extinguisher
Nature’s mood can be changed anytime and when you are working with fire in an open place and windy weather. The chances of accidents increases. So for safety purposes, you need to arrange a fire extinguisher. If any mishap occurs, it will prevent severe damage. So place the fire extinguisher in an easily accessible place. So that it can be used when needed.
4. Nature of food
In a windy environment, you need to grill such foods that are slightly heavy. It will take more time, but grilling delicate light weighted food in such conditions is risky; the food can be blown around.
5. Placing the grill
If you use a grill with a lid, place it perpendicular to the wind and close it while cooking. If you are using a charcoal grill, make sure that the vents face away from the wind.
Best grill for windy conditions
In windy weather, try to avoid using a charcoal grill. In such conditions, using a charcoal grill is tough and requires much effort. It will be easy to use an electric or gas grill.
1. Using a gas grill in windy weather
If you are using a gas grill, then you need to guard the burner area. So that wind cannot disturb the fire. You need to place the grill in such a place where the wind’s effect is less.
Make sure that the grill and the flow of wind are perpendicular to each other so that the food cannot blow around easily. Try to use a windscreen around the grill. To light the grill, try to use a long-handled lighter. It will also help you to control the flame easily.
Try to cook the food on low to medium flame. In windy weather, the flame can easily be extinguished. If you need to open the lid of the grill, then open it slowly, and please be extra cautious while doing it.
2. Using a charcoal grill in windy weather
Compared to gas grills, charcoal grills are more affected by wild wind. If you have to use a charcoal grill in such weather, you must follow some extra precautions.
First, you must choose a sheltered area to place the charcoal grill. In a covered area, wind can’t affect the flame too much. Now you need to arrange a windscreen. This is a piece of fabric or metal that keeps the flame safe from the wind. The vents of the charcoal grill need to be opened properly.
It will help the generated smoke to easily pass, and please ensure there is no flammable thing near the charcoal grill. The chimney starter is the safest to light the charcoal, and using it is also very easy. After lighting the grill, observe the flame very attentively. Always be ready to adjust the flame.
Try to keep the flame at a steady position. In such weather, charcoal takes more time to burn than the regular days. So comparatively it will take more time to cook.
How do you windproof a gas grill?
To experience a smooth grilling season in windy weather, you must make the gas grill windproof. For it, you need to use some tools.
Wind Screen
This is the essential thing when you are thinking about making a gas grill windproof. It resists the frame from going out. It keeps the flame in a stable condition. So while flipping the food, you don’t need to worry about the wind.
Blocks
You need to fix the grill in place. For it, you can place some blocks around the grill’s wheels. So it cannot move easily under any circumstances. Blocks can be bricks or cement, or you can use any heavy object for this purpose.
Grill Cover
A grill cover is another essential thing that can make you feel safe. It covers the entire grill and protects it from any external objects. If you have fastened the grill cover with any external thing, you can leave it open outside even on a breezy day.
Bungee Cords
It is very useful if you want to anchor the entire grill with some stable external objects. The perfect combination of these tools can make your gas grill windproof, and you can grill your burgers or steaks easily, ignoring the external windy weather.
Is it OK to grill on a windy day?
Grilling in windy weather is a tough task. If it is possible, try to skip it. But, if you have to grill in such weather, please follow the proper way and use a gas or electric grill; instead of a charcoal grill. Try to find a shaded area for grilling. And try to choose some heavy items to cook.
If you can arrange such a grill that has a lid will also be good. In short, yes, you can grill your food in windy weather. But, you need to follow a lot of safety and proper process to grill the food. And it will take more time compared to normal days.
Conclusion
Grilling in a windy situation is a little bit of a difficult task. But it is not impossible. There are a lot of things that you need to follow. With some little arrangements, you can enjoy your juicy meat. But always keep a special eye on safety.
I hope now you have a clear idea about can you grill when it’s windy or not, if you still have any confusion, please let me know in the comment box.
