Nobody enjoys a rainy cookout. If rain is in the forecast, don’t worry—whether your food is prepped and ready to grill or you have a dozen guests on their way over, a little rain doesn’t have to wreck your grilling plans.
Grilling while it’s raining may not be ideal, but a little rain shouldn’t stop you if you’ve been preparing a brisket to smoke for the last two days or want to make some incredible grilled burgers. Heavy rainfall may cause you to hesitate, but if it’s more of a shower than a storm, you may examine in the rain with only a few changes to your typical approach.
Grilling while it’s raining can have some benefits—the increased humidity can help keep meat wet and prevent it from drying out. You’ll be less inclined to open your grill lid, resulting in a more even cook and a tastier product.
However, when grilling in the rain, it is critical to take a few precautions. We’ll go over everything you need to know about grilling while it’s raining in this piece, including:
Important safety information, such as whether you can barbecue in the garage. (Spoiler alert: you won’t be able to.)
Tips for Grilling in the Rain
Is it possible to grill in the garage? Grilling Safety Tips While It’s Raining
Although rain does not have to cancel your barbeque, it might pose some safety issues when grilling. Follow these safety precautions to ensure that your rainy grilling adventure goes off without a hitch:
To begin with, never grill in your garage or any other enclosed space, even if the door is open. Smoke and carbon monoxide can build up quickly and are both lethal. Smoke is evident, but carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless, and it will enter your home faster than you think through your ventilation system. Furthermore, stray flames or sparks can readily burn hazardous chemicals in your garage, such as gas in your lawnmower, motor oil, newspapers, and other flammables. Under any conditions, opening the garage door will not provide enough ventilation to make cooking in your garage safe. The only time it might be safe is if you can cover outside under the open garage door but are not within the space—as long as you have enough overhead clearance and good ventilation. When in doubt, reschedule or relocate your cooking indoors if possible.
Stay indoors if there is lightning. Rain coverings such as umbrellas and awnings can be very dangerous in lightning storms. It’s not ideal, but if there’s a storm in the forecast, it’s best to reschedule your barbecue or move your cooking indoors.
In the rain, never use an electric grill. With a few tweaks to your setup, charcoal and gas grills can be used in the rain, but electric grills should never be exposed to water for obvious reasons. You can, however, use an electric grill indoors because they do not emit an open flame. You may lose part of the original BBQ flavor, but it’s a safe solution that can salvage your picnic if you don’t have access to an outdoor grill.
Grilling in the Rain
Grilling while it’s raining necessitates a few changes to your setup and expectations. Read on for professional guidance on how to barbecue in the rain:
Rain might cause your grill’s internal temperature to drop.
Cool showers can lower the interior temperature of your grill, requiring you to use more fuel to reach and maintain the proper temperature. Prepare for longer cooking times and keep extra energy on hand, whether it’s a backup bag of charcoal or a spare propane tank.
GRILL TIP: Keep your extra charcoal in a dry place. Propane, on the other hand, should never be kept indoors in confined areas.
A reliable thermometer is essential while grilling while it is raining. These devices allow you to monitor the temperature of your grill without opening the cover and losing valuable heat while keeping your food dry. Dual-probe thermometers are handy for grilling while it is raining—use one probe to monitor the inside temperature of your grill and the other to monitor the temperature of whatever you’re cooking. You can even stay home where it’s warm and monitor your grilling progress on your smartphone with a smart thermometer. Be careful not to burn anything if you’re grilling over high heat.
BUY PROBE THERMOMETERS:
Try to avoid getting wet.
A raincoat or umbrella may suffice to keep the fire going if it’s only lightly raining. Suppose it’s raining heavily or you live in a rainy climate. Investing in a more permanent shelter like a BBQ tent, retractable awning, or even a permanently covered grilling station or outdoor kitchen might be worth it. A large enough roof overhang can also suffice.
GRILL TIP: Keep an eye on the weather forecast in the days and hours preceding your grilling session. If you cannot reschedule or relocate, try to build up a temporary shelter before the rain arrives.
Whether you build a temporary or permanent rain shelter, the gap between your grill and the ceiling of whatever cover you use should be at least nine feet tall in case of flare-ups or flying sparks.
Never barbecue in your garage, even if the door is open. Proper ventilation is essential when grilling, as smoke and carbon monoxide build up quickly in poorly ventilated areas.
Wind Should be Kept to a Minimum
When grilling while it rains, raindrops aren’t your only adversary. You must shield your grill from gusts if there is wind in addition to the rain. A burst of wind can blow out your gas burners or put out a blazing charcoal fire.
Making a temporary windbreak out of plywood or other readily moved items keeps wind gusts from blowing out your barbecue. If building a windbreak isn’t an option, and the winds are powerful, turning your grill perpendicular to the prevailing wind can also assist in lessening the likelihood of windy blowouts.
Consider Modifying Your Recipe
If heavy rain is expected, it may be easier to start cooking indoors and finish your supper with a short sear on a hot grill. You can avoid the weather and the obstacles it brings while still getting that unique grilled flavor.
Another approach is to cook foods that require indirect heat, such as brisket or ribs. Lower grill temperatures are easier to maintain in the cool rain, and you’ll need to check your food less frequently, especially if you’re using an intelligent grilling hub. Higher-heat foods, such as steak or burgers, burn faster and necessitate more supervision. If standing outside in the rain watching your steak or burger cook does not appeal to you, you should reschedule or, if feasible, move indoors.
Before Storing Your Grill
Rust is quickly promoted by storing a damp grill. Instead, please wait for your grill to cool before wiping it down with a cloth to preserve it from rust and corrosion. It’s OK to leave your grill uncovered until it stops raining, as long as you thoroughly dry it before storing it, including the inside of the grill body and any moisture you detect. Heating your grill can also help dry out the inside components, allowing you to eliminate water without disassembling it.
GRILL TIP:
If your cast iron grill grates became wet when grilling while it was raining, give them a thorough cleaning and reseasoning before storing your barbecue.
Cast iron is particularly prone to moisture and corrosion.
Watch this video to learn how to
Season cast iron barbecue grates.
Grilling in the Rain: Gas vs. Charcoal
In the rain, both gas and charcoal barbecues can be used. Here’s everything you need to know about grilling with charcoal while it’s raining:
Place your charcoal barbecue so that rain does not get into the charcoal. Charcoal absorbs water and will not light up or reach the proper temperature if it is damp.
Prepare to use more coal to bring your grill up to temperature and maintain it there. The cooler temperatures will make keeping the proper cooking temperature more challenging.
Keep the following tips in mind when gas grilling while it is raining:
Wind can cause your burners to fail. Keep an eye out to ensure all necessary burners are lit. If the wind blows out a burner or two, switch off the gas and open the lid for a few minutes to allow the gas to disperse. You may need to temporarily remove your food from the grill or place an umbrella over your meal to shield it from the rain and re-light your grill.
As with charcoal, it will require more fuel to attain and maintain the desired temperature. Before you begin, ensure you have enough propane on hand, especially if you intend a protracted, low-and-slow cook.
Finishing Up
If you’re thinking, “Can you grill in the garage?” The answer is no; you can’t.
But that doesn’t mean your cookout plans are ruined. A little rain shouldn’t spoil your cookout plans, whether you move indoors, build a temporary cover, or brazen it out with a raincoat—but you must adapt your expectations and grilling setup. A dual-probe grilling thermometer or smart grilling hub can also be helpful when grilling while it is raining.