Winter Grilling Tips

Temperatures are dropping and it’s time to bundle up and fire up! For those of us in colder climates, the winter season can be downright depressing with dark, damp days and bitterly cold nights.

But there is one thing that can make it all better, a sizzling hot plate of Meat House steak tips, fresh off the grill! How can we make this happen with 3 feet of snow on the ground?

It takes just a little preparation, some eager determination and a good quality down jacket…

1. Dress code. It may be tempting to pile on the scarves, tasseled hats, and Snuggies, but try to avoid anything that could come in contact with the flames. Instead, wear your warmest coat, a hat and some thin gloves that allow proper movement of your hands.
2. Clear a path. Before ignition, shovel and de-ice a path and clear off all ice and snow from your grill. The weather alone will lower the temperature of your grill, so you don’t want to add to that.
3. Pre-heat longer. Frigid temps will double the time it takes for your grill to heat up so leave ample time before piling on the steaks.
4. Even if there’s snow in your boots, ice down your back and sleet soaking you to the bone- NEVER grill in an enclosed space (overhangs and canopies included!). Keep your grill in a well-ventilated area (to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning! and at least 5 feet away from any combustible material.
5. Shine a light on it. Make sure you can see exactly what you are doing. Wear a headlamp or have a helper shine a flashlight on your food so you can see when it is done.
6. Cook smaller portions. In the winter food takes longer to cook on the grill so choose fast cooking vegetables and smaller cuts of meat to decrease the amount of time you spend outside. Make sure you have plenty of extra charcoal and gas for longer cooking times.
7. Position your grill at a 90-degree angle to the wind. This will help control temperate drops due to wind gusts.

But if you’re not really a fan of being cold and wet or the weatherman has advised you not to take even ONE step outside, here are some options for preparing your Meat House favorites inside!

Indoor Cooking Guide:

For those of you who are lucky enough to be blessed with clear blue skies and perfect temperatures all year round (Florida *COUGH* Texas *COUGH* California), just sit back, relax and revel in the fact that you don’t have to go to these great lengths to satisfy your meat cravings.