Winter Grilling: (Not Quite) Everybody's Doing It!

A while ago I started looking for examples of other folks who share my interest in - or willingness to - grill outside in the winter. Here in central Minnesota, that takes determination, stubbornness, and maybe a touch of insanity. I'm not sure what the mix is.

Or maybe it's the way burgers taste when they're grilled that has me standing in the snow.

Anyway, here's another article about outdoor grilling in winter. An excerpt, actually:

"Enthusiasts embrace winter grilling"
Daily Herald (Chicago) (February 24, 2010)

"Mother Nature recently dumped more than a foot of snow on us, blanketing backyards and covering outdoor decks with cold white powder. Then the winds blew, creating drifts that blockaded sliding glass doors and made the path to the grill treacherous.

"But that didn't stop Scott McCadam from strapping on his boots, pulling on his coat and grilling prime rib for dinner.

" 'I really don't know why I do it,' says McCadam, of St. Charles. 'I know it's crazy... everything just tastes better on the grill.'

"According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, 56 percent of grill owners use their grills year-round... but you have to figure a good many of those live in places where the mercury rarely drops into single digits. So here in the Midwest with our unpredictable blizzards and teeth chattering wind chills, winter grilling takes a certain kind of mind set, or lack thereof...."

The rest of the article is a pretty good writeup of outdoor grilling, upper Midwest style.

There are practical observations - and common-sense safety advice. Like keeping the grill at least five feet away from the wall. You can stand the cold easier than you can deal with having your home burn down.