Winter time is table grill time. After all, nobody likes to grill and freeze outside, which is why the gas grill can hibernate. But only if it has been winterized.
While garden furniture, pond accessories and bicycles find their way into the garden shed or basement in winter, the grill usually stays in its place outdoors. But in spring, when the craving for grilled meat increases again, the disillusionment usually sets in: the cold outside has really gotten to him and the wet on top of that has done the rest. The once beautiful gas grill with the smooth surface now looks anything but beautiful.
If you own a good grill, it is not advisable to overwinter it outdoors. Otherwise, the wet and cold weather will affect him too much. Keyword rust. And who wants that expensive gas grill to look like it's ten years old after just one winter?
You don't even have to do much to overwinter your gas grill. Just take half an hour and you'll be through with the topic.
How to get your gas grill through the winter
Tip 1 - Thoroughly clean the gas grill:
Before you can store your grill, you must first clean it thoroughly. To do this, first take a stainless steel brush and lightly brush the grill grate with it. In this way, coarse residue and most of the fat can be easily removed.
You then have two options: either clean the grill grate in mild soapy water afterwards or burn it clean. You can do this by inserting the grill grate into your gas grill, closing the lid and then turning the grill up to full heat. The excess fat on the grill grate then burns and eventually falls off by itself. Then brush off the rust with a stainless steel brush.
Once the cooking grate is clean, all that is left is to wash all removable parts in a mild soapy solution and wipe down all other parts of the gas grill with a rag soaked in soapy water. If you do this regularly after grilling, you will effectively prevent burnt-in and stubborn dirt.
Important:
SharpnessCleaners, scouring agents or similar are taboo when cleaning a gas grill. This also applies to home remedies. Under certain circumstances, they could be too aggressive and damage the paintwork.
Tip 2 - Remove and store the gas bottle from the grill:
Now it's a matter of removing the gas bottle from the grill. To be on the safe side, always read the safety instructions on the gas cylinder beforehand. After removing the gas bottle, you should then carefully check that the bottle tap is tightly closed and turned off properly. You should then put a protective cap over the valve so that it is not accidentally opened or damaged.
Once the gas bottle has been made winterproof, you should put it in a sheltered place outdoors. Yes, you read correctly. You should store the gas bottle outdoors even if the temperature is below zero. Firstly, it doesn't mind sub-zero temperatures and secondly, this is for your protection. If you store the gas bottle indoors and gas escapes from the supposedly airtight container, even a small spark (e.g. from activating a light switch) is enough for the gas to ignite explosively.
Tip 3 - Store the grill in a dry and protected place:
If you have the opportunity, it is best to always store your gas grill (without the gas bottle) in a dry place. The garden shed, the basement and the garage are the best places to store them. Then simply put a large bag or cardboard box over the grill to protect it from any moisture that may appear.
Tip 4 - Store the grill outside:
You don't have a suitable storage space for the gas grill because you don't have a basement, a garage or a garden shed? This is a small problem, because the grill should actually be stored indoors, but there is a solution for this too. Just get a sufficiently large tarpaulin and your gas grill can spend the winter outside. These tarpaulins are made of a robust, water-repellent material and therefore protect your grill from wind and weather. You can buy a suitable cover hood or tarpaulin e.g. online or directly from the manufacturer of your gas grill.
Little tip:
If the grill is already outside in winter, you can of course also heat it up in the cold season and organize a winter BBQ, for example. Practical tips on this in our article Garden party in winter - How to make your garden party-ready!