Keeping BGE Outside in Winter

bschroed

OK. I have my BGE that I would like to keep outside in the winter. I live in central Illinois, and middle of winter is around 20-30. 

Also, the  plate setter and baking stone I would like to keep in the BGE. Any of you do this???  Will it be ok on the Egg , platesetter and stone ? 

I just don`t  have room in my garage to keep it there. 

The Naked Whiz

I keep all my cookers outside in the winter in central NC, FWIW.  But even at colder temps, it's ok.

ChokeOnSmoke

I leave everything outside all winter. I don't even bother
covering my egg. I don't see that the weather hurts it at all. I keep
my plate setter on a shelf that is exposed to the elements and no
problems there either. I keep my electric starter, lump charcoal, smoke
wood, gloves, pizza stone, etc all outside in one of those big outdoor
storage bins (that you'd find at Menards or Fleet Farm) year round.

The only issue you may have (it happened only once last winter) is that due
to rain and then a freeze right after, my lid froze shut! Like I said,
it only happened once but I suppose a cover would solve that issue.

Gato

I had some of the same concerns. Not so much for the egg as to the thermometer. I was wondering if the extreme cold would have any affect on the calibration. BGE said it can withstand extreme hot or cold temps.

burr_baby33

Great info. I cook 12 months out of the year. Winters get pretty cold here in Louisville,Ky and as a new egger I am amazed that we can bring a very cold egg up to sear temp without cracking, so old burr baby will love the egg in this winter.

Charcoal_Addict

None of you live in Canada so not covering up your Egg might be okay for Kentucky. You guys are not dipping into the below zero temps in the winter.

Although the ceramic would handle the - 15 F/ - 35 C weather, I am not sure the bolts, cast iron parts and hardware would hold up to a bitter cold Canadian winter day without rusting. Maybe the folks in Minnesota an the Dakota's would understand.

A cover would simply be peace of mind for me. Canadian winters can destroy things you would think were indestructible.

Little Steven

I've had mine outside, uncovered for thirteen years. No problems. Caledon,ON

 

burr_baby33

Hey Charcoal, you are right...KY doesn't get those temps.  Jan and Feb we see below freezing on some days but nothing like Canada.

fishlessman

egg covered with snow



egg cooking in snow



just a nice day on the lake



i dont cover my eggs

LDD

mine stays outside all winter too 

Shawn

I cook on mine in Halifax in winter in temp below 31 degree c all the time in winter without any glitches! 

Shawn

The only important thing is never light the egg with the 99% rubbing alcohol method in winter! The sudden rappid rise in tem can cause the fire box to split in half and your egg! This actually happened last winter to a good friend of mine. 

fishlessman

i dont know if it was the rubbing alcohol method that cracked the box, they all seem to crack over time. ive even had an egg base crack during a 300 degree fall turkey cook, it can just happen. high temp cooks do crack fireboxes, i have one of the worst looking jigsaw puzzles out there for a firebox

crghc98

fish....that's what you get for cooking you pies at nuclear temps......

 

Squeezy

I'm keeping mine covered to fend off bird ****, dirt, snow and ice. I like a clean start is all ... ~:>

CajunEggHead

I guess I'm fortunate to live in Louisiana because it doesn't get that cold here like 30ish in the winter plus I have a open cover shop kind like a covered patio so I keep my egg so it is out of the direct weather . My neighbors go bonkers when i fire up my Egg around the holidays to eat some good Q.