Can You Grill Under Gazebo?

Planning a barbecue in your backyard during the summer is a great way to bond with your closed ones. You can invite your family or friends over so everyone can have a good time. Grilling out in the open is safe as long as the grill is in safe hands. But what if it’s raining? Then you would have to find a sheltered place. Your grill would need some covering when the weather is bad.

A gazebo can provide the perfect cover for you to work the grill even when it’s raining. But some safety concerns still remain. Let’s explore more on that.

Can you grill under a gazebo?

A gazebo might seem like an acceptable place to grill under. Gazebos look like they have enough room to set up a grill. But grill manufacturers suggest maintaining as much distance as possible from your grill to its nearest object. If you are grilling indoors or in a sheltered area, there should be at least five feet between your grill and another object. When you are grilling under a gazebo, the nearest railing should be around five feet away. You also need enough room to move around the grill.

Gas Grill

Gas grills might be a good choice when you are under a gazebo. If a flame is burning just beneath the gazebo, there should be proper airflow to allow the flames to cool off. A spacious gazebo is crucial for using a gas grill. When the weather is terrible, you can still use a gas grill if you have a gazebo in your backyard.

Electric Grill

Electric grills are probably the safest to use, no matter the location. The only flames generated in an electric grill are artificial. So there is a very low risk of fire hazards. But that does not mean you can grill under a gazebo carelessly just because you are using an electric grill. Safety measures should still be followed no matter what type of grill you use.

Charcoal Grill

Charcoal grills come with the most fire hazard risk. Using a charcoal grill under a gazebo is not recommended at all. Charcoal grills produce a lot of smoke. The heat cannot be properly regulated. When you use a charcoal grill, the temperature can go up to 700-degree Celsius. Such temperature is very hard to maintain under a covered space.

Charcoal grills are best suited under the open sky, so the smoke can evaporate as quickly as possible. If you use a charcoal grill under a gazebo, the smoke alone can suffocate you and the people around you. Also, unregulated heat poses a major threat.

What are the risks of grilling under a gazebo?

Gazebos often have a semi-open design all around. If you have a gazebo in the backyard, it can be a good place to host a party. But things become riskier if you have to put a grill under the gazebo. Most gazebo designs are not suitable for grilling with people around. Proper ventilation is a must for grilling under a gazebo.

The semi-open space of a gazebo may not be enough to provide the airflow needed to regulate the grill’s heat. You need space to move around the grill. If there are other people you need to host while grilling, then it would be nearly impossible to stay under a gazebo. Your guests would be uncomfortable, and insufficient ventilation would add to the fire hazard risk. Hosting the guests under the gazebo and moving the grilling station to a distance is better.

How can you make grilling under a gazebo safer?

Grilling under the open sky is impossible if it starts to rain. If that happens, you have to move under a gazebo. But consider the risks before moving the grill under the gazebo. The gazebo should have a ceiling of at least 10 feet high to allow the smoke to dissipate.

If your gazebo has a vent, or if it is a grill gazebo, then it is safer to put a grill there. The heat and smoke produced from your grilling need enough space to ventilate without causing discomfort to anyone present. If your gazebo is not spacious enough, then it is best to cancel the grilling and order some takeout instead.

Conclusion

Grill gazebos are good for outdoor grilling. They provide enough shelter that would not interfere with the grilling. If you plan on grilling under a gazebo, remember to follow the safety measures and choose the right grill. Also, never leave the grill unattended.

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