5 Simple Steps to Store Your BBQ for the Winter

While Keeping it Ready to Use!

By Alyssa Jerome

| September 10, 2025

Winter is setting in, but that’s no reason to say goodbye to your favorite grilled foods. In Quebec, many enthusiasts use their BBQ even in the snow. Are you one of them? Here’s how to properly store your BBQ, grill, or smoker for the winter, while making occasional use easy, without complications or unpleasant surprises.

1. Clean Thoroughly Before Storing

Start with a good cleaning. It’s essential to prolong your appliance’s lifespan:

Grates and burners: brush them after one last firing, then clean with a gentle degreaser, such as Le Marquier degreaser.
Inner tub: remove residue, grease, and ashes to prevent rust or odors.
Exterior: wipe with a damp cloth and apply a light film of vegetable oil, even on stainless steel. Iron dust or certain products like chlorine can damage it, and the oil protects it effectively.

Optional: Heat the BBQ at high temperature for a few minutes to eliminate any remaining cleaning product.

2. Storage Based on Equipment Type

Adapt the storage location according to the size and use you’re planning.

Image par Timo Newton-Syms depuis flickr

The patio for large gas or charcoal BBQs

This is the best option if you plan to keep cooking occasionally during the winter.

Place it on a stable surface, away from direct snow and wind (balcony, patio corner near the house).
Use a waterproof and breathable cover, well-fitted, to protect it from bad weather without trapping moisture.
Regularly clear snow around it for quick access.
Keep a clear path (with a non-slip mat or a small shovelled path) from the house, or even better, consider installing patio heaters to extend summer and make the winter experience much more pleasant.

Garage, shed, or closed shelter for pizza ovens and portable grills

These smaller formats are easy to move and can be stored indoors, provided the area is well-ventilated and unheated.

Clean them thoroughly, then cover them with a light cover.
Leave the wheels accessible if you plan to take them out occasionally.

3. Secure Your Propane Tank

Always close the valve.
Store the tank outside, upright, in a shaded, well-ventilated area, away from openings or heat sources.

Important note: Never store it indoors (even in a shed or garage).

4. Keep accessories within reach

Store your BBQ tools in a waterproof bin outside or in a small chest near the door. Include:

Grill brush
BBQ lighter or long lighter
Cooking utensils
Headlamp or small light for winter evenings

Tip: Keep thermal gloves and a compact shovel in the same bin.c.

5. Be ready for winter grilling

Want to grill a steak or pizza on a whim?

Preheat your appliance a bit longer than 15 to 20 minutes to reach the ideal searing temperature. For pellet appliances, use an insulating blanket to get higher temperatures.
Cook with the lid closed as much as possible.
Days around 0 °C are perfect for cold smoking.

Not just a summer thing

Here, we don’t let a little snowfall end the BBQ season. For many Quebecers, grilling isn’t seasonal, it’s a lifestyle. With a bit of preparation and easy access, you can keep enjoying all winter, whether it’s ribs during a Sunday snowstorm or pizza between two rounds of shoveling. Because in Quebec, we grill all year round.