Is It Okay To Grill In The Rain?

If you’ve got an upcoming backyard bash on the horizon and the weather is set to be more gloomy than sunny, you might now be asking yourself: “Can you grill in the rain?”

Believe it or not, even though a lot of people think that rainy weather means that they are unable to fire up the barbecue, this is actually a common misconception - because you absolutely can grill if the weather is wet.

Is it ok to grill in the rain

Though it can be pretty frustrating to prepare and light your grill, only to discover that a rainstorm is headed your way, that doesn’t mean that you’ll have to pack everything up and wait for a sunnier day.

Grills are made to be used outside, which means that they are specifically created to be able to withstand everything that comes along with being outdoors, including the occasional rain shower.

Generally, though, if you do happen to find yourself stuck in a particularly heavy rainstorm, it might be best to hold off until it passes - unless you don’t mind your food being soggy, that is! 

Even prior to grills being made, people have been cooking outdoors in all types of weather for centuries.

In the modern-day, however, we have two types of convenient cooking options to choose from when it comes to alfresco food, and those are a gas grill and a charcoal grill. 

Both types of BBQ grill can be used during the rain, although there are some steps that you can take to help bolster your outdoor cooking experience.

One of the first things that you can do is create a DIY grill shelter that will allow you to help shield the main part of the grill from the bulk of the rain.

In addition to that,  alongside the shield, you can even create a windshield that will allow you to help protect your food and grill from the wind. 

Is it OK for a grill to get rained on?

Though a little bit of rain won’t be too much of a problem, heavy rain is where you might encounter a few issues.

For that reason, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the chances of your grill getting rain on it, such as the following:

Build a grill shelter

One way that you can help to reduce the amount of rainfall that gets onto your grill is by building a grill shelter.

These are usually pretty easy to make and will ensure that you are able to fire up your grill and make delicious food, even if it rains.

Some people choose to buy pre-made grill shelters for convenience (which you can find at any of your local homeware/DIY stores) although some people do opt to make their own in order to save on money by using pieces of wood as a makeshift shelter. 

Use an umbrella 

If you live in an area where the presence of rain is few and far between, you might not need to invest in a grill shelter.

On the contrary, a simple, quick-fix solution that you can try is through using an umbrella or a canopy to temporarily shield your grill from the bulk of the rain until it passes. 

Position your grill at a 90-degree angle

In the event that things get super rainy and blustery and catch you off-guard, then another way that you can continue cooking on your grill is by positioning your grill at a 90-degree angle towards the direction of the wind and rainfall.

By doing this, it will help to stabilize your grill, while protecting your cooking food from being in the direct line of the rain and wind.

What happens if a grill gets rained on?

If your grill gets rained on - don’t panic! Though grills require a hot fire to be able to cook the food properly, a little bit of rain won’t be enough to extinguish the fire and cancel your barbecue plans.

This is because as grills are designed to be used outside, it means that they are specifically created in order to withstand the brunt of external elements, including the rain! 

However, even though a little bit of rain won’t be enough to prevent you from grilling, you should try your best to avoid exposing your grill to the rain as much as you can.

If you get a lot of rain on your barbecue, it could cause your food to become soggy and unable to cook properly, all while potentially causing your grill to rust.

So, while it may be too difficult to grill in the event of a heavy rainstorm, there’s no reason why you won’t be able to continue grilling through light to medium showers, especially if you take a few basic precautions. 

Regardless of the rain intensity, avoid using an electric grill. If your grill needs to be plugged into a power source, avoid using it outdoors during wet weather, as this could easily get dangerous.

Instead of this, we instead suggest that you opt for a charcoal or gas grill, as both of these are intended for use exclusively in the outdoors, which means that they will be able to withstand a rain shower here and there.

Additionally, if the rain is particularly heavy, then the next precaution you can take is to cover it with a makeshift grill shed, open canopy, or even an umbrella.

It’s important to keep in mind that, though grills are designed to be able to be exposed to rain, you should do your best to minimize the amount as much as possible.

Too much moisture caused by rain will not only cause your food to not cook properly, but it will also cause your grill to rust over time, which is something that we’re sure you don’t want.

Plus, choosing to keep your grill shielded from the rain will also help to encourage higher cooking temperatures, which will ensure that your food is cooked to perfection.