Should You Cover Your Grill When It Rains? Yes and No

Grilling is a fun and engaging way to cook your meals throughout the year. However, many people put their grills away for autumn and summer when it rains and snows. There have been mixed explanations for whether or not someone should cover a grill when it rains, so let’s answer the question once and for all.

You should cover your grill when it rains to prevent rust, mildew, and debris from ruining it. Gas, electric, and charcoal grills need to be covered to keep moisture from damaging the metal. It’s best to cover a grill before it rains, but you should dry it off before you add the cover if it’s wet.

In this post, I’ll talk about when you should cover your grill, occasions when it should be left uncovered, and whether or not most grills can get rained on. I’ll also show you what you can do if your grill is soaked from a rainstorm.

Quick tip: You can find grill covers almost anywhere, but it’s important to choose the right size, materials, and brands. Check out Amazon’s listings to find the best grill covers offered by the top brands in the industry.

Should You Cover a Grill On a Rainy Day?

Most people have a grill cover, but it’s not always the first thing that comes to mind when the rain starts pouring down. However, a grill cover can protect your cookware from all sorts of issues.

Below, we’ll cover four reasons you should cover your grill when it rains.

1. Rain can lead to rust, which is hazardous. According to Go for the Grill, most grills will rust rapidly without any protection from the rain. Unfortunately, it’ll corrode all of the metal components, including the grate, lid, legs, wheels, and exterior shell. Some grills are water-resistant, but none of them are waterproof.
2. If your grill stays soaked for too long, it can get moldy. Mold, mildew, and foul odors can leak into the food you cook with your grill. Not only will it taste and smell disgusting, but it can also cause an upset stomach, headaches, and more. Using a cover on your grill when it rains is often irreplaceable for this reason.
3. Electrical components can become permanently damaged by too much water on the grill. Electric grills might not be the most popular alternative, but they have plenty of gadgets that make them fun to use. If you have an electric grill, a cover is essential to prevent internal damage.
4. A wet grill will eventually become discolored and dull. Rainwater often has calcium, which will dry onto the grill’s paint and chip it away. You’ll be left with a bland-looking grill with missing paint. You can use a weatherproof spray to limit this issue, but nothing beats a grill cover.

As you can see, you should cover your grill when it rains to make it last longer and keep the food tasting as good as possible. That being said, there are a couple of scenarios in which you shouldn’t cover your grill. Let’s discuss these situations in the following subheading.

Why Shouldn’t You Cover a Wet Grill?

While it’s almost always a good idea to cover a grill during rainy days, you shouldn’t cover a soaked grill. Some grills are porous and can invite corrosion and bacterial growth, worsening its condition quickly when they’re covered. Warmth, darkness, and moisture lead to mold all over the place.

So, when shouldn’t you cover a wet grill?

• If your grill is already wet, you should dry it off before covering it or store it under an umbrella. Wet grills should never be covered. Cutting Edge Firewood details how quickly your electric grill will get ruined if it’s covered while wet. Rather than protecting it, you’ll be trapping moisture with your grill!
• Some grill covers get porous if they’re worn down by the rain and UV rays. Low-quality mesh grill covers can break or tear after a couple of seasons, so it’s best to get a top-notch cover. Rain and shine is a perfect combination to shred cheap materials.

Other than these two instances, you should cover a grill before it rains. Remember to remove the cover when the clouds go away to let it aerate and remove any drops that might’ve made their way through or around the cover.

Note: If you have coasters outside, learn how to treat wet wooden coasters here.

Is It Okay for a Grill to Get Rained On?

Most grills are considered to be heavy-duty, making wind, rain, and sunshine nearly harmless for the first couple of seasons. However, failing to cover your grill will age it rapidly. It’s okay for a grill to get rained on, but we highly suggest using a cover.

Nevertheless, there are two things you should know about grills and rain:

Grills Are Designed for the Outdoors

It’s no secret that people use their grills while camping, hanging out in the backyard, or during a neighborhood cookout. Regardless of why you’re cooking on a grill, you’re almost always going to be using it outside. Companies know this and intentionally make their grill prepared for weather changes, including light rain, sunny days, and more.

Rust Takes a While to Show Up On a Grill

One rainy day won’t ruin your grill. In fact, one rainy week or month probably won’t cause any problems. Many people leave their grills uncovered throughout the year without any issues. It all depends on how often and heavy it rains. If there’s heavy rain followed by bright sunshine and more rain later in the day, a cover is ideal. Florida, we’re talking to you.

Grills can often get rained on several times before showing signs of damage. Your goal should be to prevent or slow this process by using a cover or storing it out of the rain’s path (in a shed, garage, or under an umbrella).

What to Do If a Grill Gets Rained On

Let’s assume your grill is soaked because of an unexpected rainstorm. The good news is you can save it without having rust, mildew, or any other issues. If you have an electric grill, you should dry it off before seeing if it turns on.

Follow this simple three-step process if your grill gets rained on:

1. Place the grill under an umbrella, tarp, or in a garage or shed. Before you start drying your grill, you should get it out of the rain so you’re not wasting your time. We recommend setting an umbrella or tarp outside for random rainstorms to keep your outdoor cookware in top condition.
2. Dry it off with a microfiber cloth or chamois. I recently discovered how effective chamois can be when cleaning glass, painted surfaces, counters, grills, and more. They’re some of the most useful towels to have for your grill because they don’t need to be washed or dried in the laundry machine. They also don’t need lint or fuzzies behind.
3. Once the grill is completely dry, add a heavy-duty cover to protect it from the rain. Now that your grill isn’t soaked to the core, cover it to prevent moisture from getting inside. Even if it’s under a tarp, there might be a few drops that get through. A grill cover also protects the grill from falling debris from trees and other plants.

In Conclusion

Most grills are designed to handle the elements since they’re used outdoors. However, it doesn’t hurt to protect them with a durable cover if you want to preserve it and prevent rust from showing up. Remember to dry your grill before covering it if it’s already drenched from the rain.