Grilling in Winter below 30°F can be a real challenge using most of the grills in the market. The exterior temperature can mess the grilling experience by lowering the grill's internal temperature.

If you own a single-sheet steel grill, the temperature outside will penetrate the walls, making it challenging to keep a steady temperature even for short periods of time. Owning a ceramic grill, it might crack and it can take forever to get to the desired temperature, because the cold and heavy ceramic walls will create a hostile environment for a fire.

The Keveri H1 double steel wall and 2,000°F insulation make it the perfect ally for the occasion. But, here you can learn some tips and tricks to have an even better experience:

Lighting Instructions

We have often mentioned that following the Grill Modess is the easiest way to have a flawless experience. We encourage you to follow the instructions on the manual or The Masterclass, and add an extra pound of charcoal.

That little extra charcoal will give you enough to power to have better stability on a very cold day. It’s important to always use good charcoal but during the winter months, it is critical for providing a steady fuel source to combat the colder temperature. We typically use Jealous Devil but there are other great options on the market.

Depending on the colder temperature, you may have to wait 10-15 more minutes to reach the desired temperature compared to warmer weather.

FireStarters are a great way to help with the lighting process on your Keveri H1

If you're looking for high-quality charcoal or briquettes, you can find them in our Accessories page on our website.

Airflow

More air keeps the temperature rising. Following the Manual or Masterclass, you will notice that you need to close the bottom vent and chimney to a specific number to choke the air and keep the temperature steady. 

This means that if you are struggling with getting to the desired temperature, it’s a good idea to choke it by closing the bottom door and chimney to a higher number than suggested. For example, if the manual tells you to choke at 1&2, but you are struggling to get to the temperature, you might try to choke it at 1&3 or even 2&3. 

Adjusting the vent settings to control airflow is key to maintaining a steady temperature. Experiment with different settings to find the right balance for your cooking needs.

Planning Ahead

The Keveri H1 is designed to get into temperature fast and retain the heat for very long periods of time without much temperature variation. The most challenging part of cooking in extremely low-temperature weather is opening and closing the main door, because that’s the only action that allows a large amount of cold air to enter the chamber. When done many times, this action can affect the performance by pushing down the temperature using more charcoal than usual to cook the same.

Considering the previous point, the outside temperature is not a relevant element when using the Keveri H1, but introducing cold air to the chamber could be an issue.
Understanding this concept is the key to success while cooking outdoors in winter because you can plan ahead:

1. Avoid Fast Grill or Pizza Mode: These Grill Modes cook in less than 4 minutes on average, so if you cook many things, you will be opening the main door constantly.
2. Prioritize longer cooks: Smoked meats, stews, roasts, or any cooking preparation that doesn’t require checking every few minutes is a good idea for cold winter days.
   

Grilling in winter is one of the best experiences. That’s why you should enjoy it and share it with those you care about by following these tips.