Is It Okay To Use A Charcoal Grill When It's Windy?

There's nothing quite like grilling out on a warm summer's day, a crisp fall afternoon, or a spring evening. But when you can really feel the wind beneath your tongs, you might be tempted to scrap those plans for charred sausages and burgers. Though opting for a charcoal grill over gas is one of Martha Stewart's top tips for outdoor entertaining, it can admittedly be trickier to use in windier weather. Larger gusts can blow ash around or cause the flame to flare up. And the constant swirls of air will affect the temperature of the grill, meaning you have to keep a close eye on things. When the wind gets especially high, you'll even have to worry about fire hazards or your lightweight grill tipping over.

To avoid truly dangerous scenarios, it's best to ditch plans for dinner al fresco if the winds are gusting enough to spread around flaming ash. A weather report that calls for steady breezes above 26 miles per hour with gusts of 44 miles per hour is a no-go. But as long as safety isn't a concern, you can find the right recipe for grilling even on breezier days. Pay attention to how you're positioning the grill, make use of a wind blocker, and keep a careful watch on things to ensure the temperature remains consistent.

If you're ready to go searing in the wind, it will take more than just firing up the grill. For starters, you'll want to do what you can to block out those breezes from literally fanning your grill's flames. If the wind blows directly into the vents of your grill, it can deliver too much oxygen to the charcoal and cause spikes in heat. If possible, make use of a fence, a wall, or particularly tall bushes as a natural wind barrier. You'll also want to shift your grill so that the back of it is facing the wind. 

For extra protection, consider a wind shield. No matter the grill you choose (check out some of the best brands for outdoor entertaining), you can purchase a lightweight screen that helps block the worst of the gusts from getting to your flame. And to avoid having ash blown all over your burgers and brats, open the grill cover carefully and a bit to the side when you check how things are cooking.

Those gusts can also have affect the temperature inside your grill. As wind can cause the charcoal to burn out more quickly, you'll want to be sure to have extra briquettes on hand. You'll also want to keep a thermometer close by to track whether your grill is staying hot. And always keep the vents on your grill open to allow all that smoke to escape. Once you're finished, use a grill brush to get rid of any leftover bits of food and wipe everything down — a crucial step in keeping your grill safe and clean.