To winterize your grill, burn it clean, get every bit of grease and ash out, protect the metal, deal with the fuel, block pests and cover it. The whole job takes about an hour, using the checklist below.
If you'll keep grilling through winter, do the cleaning steps and skip the shutdown ones. Moisture and grease do the damage, not the cold.
Winterizing checklist
- Run on high for 15 minutes, then scrape the grates
- Empty grease cup, drip tray and ash pan
- Oil cast-iron grates
- Disconnect the propane tank and store it outdoors, upright
- Empty the pellet hopper and auger
- Block burner and vent openings against pests
- Dry the grill fully, then fit a breathable cover
What does your grill need before winter?
Find your grill or plan, then jump to what matters for it.
| Your situation | What matters most | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| Gas grill going into storage | Grease out, tank outdoors, venturi tubes blocked | Steps |
| Charcoal kettle or kamado | Every bit of ash out, vents set | Grill-by-grill notes |
| Pellet grill | Empty hopper and auger, electronics dry | Grill-by-grill notes |
| Deciding garage, porch or patio | Grill can go in; the tank can't | Storage spots |
| Grilling all winter | Clean often, cook outdoors only | Winter grilling |
| Firing it up in spring | Pull blockers, leak-test, burn off | Spring check |
Can you leave a grill outside in winter?
Yes, if it's clean, dry and under a breathable cover.
Cold doesn't hurt a grill. Rain, snow melt and the condensation that forms when metal cools at night do, because rust needs only iron, oxygen and water.
Grease and ash make it worse by holding that moisture against the steel. Wood ash mixed with water is alkaline and corrosive, so a bowl of wet ash eats through a charcoal grill faster than weather alone.
Grease also draws mice, and bare cast iron starts to rust within weeks in damp air. Every step below removes one of those threats.
Stainless steel resists rust, but surface rust and pitting still form under grease and salt. Treat a stainless grill the same as any other.
What do you need to winterize a grill?
Basic cleaning gear and a fitted cover cover the whole job.
- A grill brush or scraper
- Warm water, dish soap and a sponge or rag
- A plastic putty knife for the cookbox walls
- A shop vac (essential for pellet grills)
- High-smoke-point cooking oil and paper towels
- Steel wool or mesh screen to block openings
- A sealed bucket for leftover pellets
- A breathable, fitted grill cover
Step-by-Step: How to Winterize Your Grill
Seven steps, about an hour, from burn-off to cover.
Step 1 of 7Burn it off
Time: 15 minutes with the lid closed
Run the grill on high, or light a full chimney of charcoal, to turn stuck-on grease into ash. Let it cool until it's warm, not hot, then brush the grates.
Our guide to how to clean grill grates covers porcelain, cast iron and stainless.
Step 2 of 7Empty grease, ash and drip trays
Done when: no grease or ash is left anywhere in the cookbox
Scrape the cookbox walls and the flavor bars or heat shields with the putty knife. Empty and wash the grease tray and drip cup.
On charcoal and kamado grills, empty all the ash once it's completely cold. Wipe the outside with warm soapy water and dry it fully.
Step 3 of 7Oil the grates
Target: a thin, even coat with no pooling
Rub cast-iron and porcelain-coated cast-iron grates with a little oil on a paper towel. The film keeps air and moisture off the metal.
Stainless grates only need to be clean and dry. Store grates indoors if you have the room.
Step 4 of 7Disconnect and store the propane tank
Target: tank upright, outdoors, valve closed
Close the valve, unscrew the regulator and cap the tank if you have a cap. On a natural-gas grill, close the shutoff valve on the supply line instead; there's no tank to remove. Store a propane tank upright outside in a ventilated spot, away from doors, windows and dryer vents.
Watch out: never store a propane tank in a garage, shed or basement. Propane is heavier than air, so a leak pools at floor level where a pilot light or spark can ignite it.
Cap the regulator end too, so insects can't crawl into the hose over winter.
Cold won't burst a tank; propane boils at about -44°F, and cold only lowers the pressure. Our guide to how long a propane tank lasts shows how to weigh what's left before you store it.
Step 5 of 7Empty the pellet hopper
Done when: the hopper, auger and firepot are clear
Wood pellets absorb humidity, swell and crumble into a sawdust paste that jams the auger. Use the hopper's clean-out door, run the auger until it's empty, then vacuum the firepot and cook chamber.
Store leftover pellets in a sealed bucket indoors and unplug the grill.
Step 6 of 7Block pests
Target: every opening a mouse could use
Mice nest in warm, greasy cabinets and chew wiring and hoses. Spiders spin webs in gas venturi tubes, which can block gas flow and push flame back toward the control panel.
Stuff steel wool into open gaps and burner openings. On charcoal kettles and kamados: For storage, close the top vent so rain can't fall in and leave the bottom vent slightly cracked so water drains and moisture can escape. Write yourself a note to pull everything out before the first spring fire.
Step 7 of 7Cover the grill for winter with a breathable cover
Done when: the cover fits snugly and reaches near the ground
Use a fitted cover with vents. A plastic tarp traps condensation against the steel and does more harm than no cover at all.
Wait until the grill is fully cool and dry before covering it. Brush heavy snow off through the winter so the weight doesn't tear the cover.
What's different for gas, charcoal, pellet and kamado grills?
Each fuel type has one job that's easy to skip.
| Grill type | What matters most | Easy to miss |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | Grease removal, tank outdoors, venturi tubes | Take out the igniter battery so it doesn't corrode |
| Charcoal kettle | Empty every bit of ash (charcoal basics) | Top vent closed, bottom vent slightly cracked so water drains |
| Pellet (pellet grill reviews) | Empty hopper and auger; keep electronics dry | Store the meat probe and any loose controller parts indoors |
| Kamado | Moisture in the ceramic, gasket condition | Same vent rule as a kettle; check the gasket is still glued down and springy |
| Flat-top griddle | Thin oil coat on the steel | Re-season in spring |
| Electric | Cord, controller and outlet dry | Store the controller indoors |
Gas. A cabinet grill like the Weber Spirit E-325 hides its tank inside the cart, but the tank still comes out for winter.
Pellet. Empty the grease bucket along with the hopper. On the Traeger Woodridge Pro, grease and ash drop into one pull-out keg, so emptying it covers both.
Kamado. Ceramic doesn't rust and kamados are heavy, so most stay outside under a cover. A felt or fiberglass gasket, like the mesh one on the Kamado Joe Classic Joe II, can freeze to the base when wet, so free it gently before you lift the dome on a frosty day. For storage, close the top vent so rain can't fall in and leave the bottom vent slightly cracked so water drains and moisture can escape. Water trapped in the ceramic can expand as steam if you heat it fast, so keep the first spring fire small and slow.
Griddle. Bare griddle tops, like the ones on the Blackstone 36" Griddle and the Traeger Flatrock, rust if left wet. Oil the top lightly before you cover it, then follow how to season a griddle in spring.
Where should you store your grill for winter?
A garage is fine for the grill once it's cool; the tank stays outside.
Good grill winter storage, especially for a gas grill, comes down to two things: a dry spot for the grill and an outdoor, upright spot for the propane tank.
Outdoors under a cover suits most grills. Keep it off snowdrifts and out from under roof runoff.
Rake leaves away from the base; wet piles hold moisture against the legs and wheels.
A garage or shed is the driest spot for gas, charcoal and pellet grills. Let the grill cool fully before rolling it in, and disconnect the tank first.
A covered porch works well for kamados and pellet grills. Keep pellet electronics out of blowing rain.
Coastal and humid climates need more care. Salt air speeds corrosion even on stainless, so clean and dry the outside before covering and check under the cover once a month.
Are you grilling through winter instead?
You can, with a few cold-weather habits.
Plenty of people grill all year. Do Steps 1–3 now, then keep up with grease and ash after cooks.
- Cook outdoors only. Never grill in a garage, carport or under a roof overhang; charcoal and propane both produce carbon monoxide.
- Expect longer preheats. Our guide to how long to preheat a grill gives times by fuel.
- Keep the propane tank well above a quarter full. Pressure drops as the temperature falls, and a low tank can weaken the flame.
- Keep the lid closed. Every peek costs heat that's slow to recover in the cold.
- Shield pellet grills from wind. They burn more pellets in the cold; an insulated blanket made for your model helps.
- Empty grease after every cold cook. Congealed fat is what mice come for.
Kamados are the best cold-weather cookers thanks to their thick walls. Our comparison of a kamado grill vs a regular grill covers the trade-offs.
What should you check before the first spring cook?
Pull the blockers, leak-test and burn off before food goes on.
Clear the steel wool from every vent and opening. Inspect hoses for cracks and chew marks, check cabinets for nests, then preheat on high for 15 minutes to burn off the protective oil and dust.
The burners won't light
Sign
clicking but no flame, or no spark at all.
Fix
- Replace the igniter battery you removed in the fall.
- Clear spider webs from the burner and venturi tubes with a venturi brush.
Expect
each burner catching on the first or second press. If not, work through gas grill ignition troubleshooting.
Bubbles at a connection
Sign
soapy water brushed on the hose and fittings bubbles with the tank valve open.
Fix
- Close the tank valve and tighten the fitting.
- Replace any hose that's cracked or chewed.
Expect
no bubbles on a second test.
Rust on the grates
Sign
orange patches on cast iron or flaking spots on the cookbox.
Fix
- Scrub light surface rust off with a wire brush or steel wool.
- Wash, dry and re-season with oil and a hot burn.
Expect
a smooth, dark surface again. Flaking rust that leaves holes means the part needs replacing.
If the burners light but run weak, start with grill not heating up properly.
If rust got through the firebox over winter, our grill cleaning and maintenance guide helps keep the next one going, and our best grills list, gas grill reviews and kamado grill reviews compare replacements.
Supplies for this job: breathable grill covers · grill degreaser · propane tank covers. Pick a cover sized to your grill's width. These are affiliate search links; we may earn a commission, which never changes our advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
01When should I winterize my grill?
Winterize it after your last cook of the season and before the first hard freeze or long stretch of rain. Mild weather makes the 15-minute burn-off and the drying steps easier, and the grill dries faster before it goes under a cover. If you plan to grill through winter, do the cleaning steps now and skip the shutdown ones. Set aside about an hour.
02Can a propane tank freeze in winter?
No, cold won't freeze or burst a propane tank. Propane boils at about -44°F, so cold only lowers the pressure inside. That lower pressure can weaken the flame if you grill in winter, so keep the tank well above a quarter full, and store it upright outdoors with the valve closed when the grill is shut down. Cap the regulator end too.
03How do you store a Blackstone griddle for winter?
Scrape and wipe the top, heat it dry, add a thin coat of oil and let it cool before covering. Bare steel rusts fast if it's put away wet. Disconnect the tank, fit the hard lid or a fitted cover and store the griddle somewhere dry, then check it every few weeks and re-season in spring if any spots look dull or rusty.
04Is a grill cover enough on its own?
Only on a grill that's already clean and dry. A cover over grease and wet ash traps moisture and speeds rust, and a plastic tarp traps condensation and does more harm than no cover. Use a fitted cover with vents that reaches near the ground, and put it on only once the grill is fully cool. Clean, dry, then cover is the order that works.
05How do you keep mice out of a grill in winter?
Remove the grease that draws them, then block every opening they could use. Mice nest in warm, greasy cabinets and chew wiring and hoses, so empty and wash the grease tray and drip cup first. Stuff steel wool into open vents and gaps, and leave yourself a note to pull it all out before the first spring fire. Check cabinets for nests in spring.
06How do you clean a grill after winter?
Pull out the pest blockers, check for nests and leak-test the gas connections before you light it. Brush soapy water on the hose and fittings with the tank valve open; growing bubbles mean a leak to fix first. Then preheat on high for 15 minutes, brush the grates and wipe on a little oil before the first cook. Inspect hoses for cracks and chew marks too.
The Takeaway
An hour of cleaning and covering in the fall is the difference between a grill that lights first try in spring and one that needs new parts.
Burn it off, get the grease and ash out, protect the metal and keep the tank outdoors.
Written by
Tom Bricker
Consumer Research Analyst & Editor
Tom Bricker has 10+ years of grilling on every fuel type and a consumer-research background. He researches and writes SmokyHQ’s gas, portable, electric and flat-top coverage, so if you’re weighing price against how long a grill will last, his reviews compare specs, materials and warranties to show which ones look worth the money.
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