The cold weather can make us reluctant to go outside, depending on where we live of course. For some, even the fifties and sixties in fahrenheit are quite uncomfortable and require a winter coat. This can certainly put a damper on any planned activities if that is how you feel about the seasonal changes.
In these instances, it can be a battle to convince even ourselves to enjoy a little bit of fresh air. That is why for my family and I, we have a rotating schedule of potential activities to enjoy even when it is quite chilly out. It might be surprising, but grilling is in fact included in that list. Why is that?
Well, I have found that even the coldest of days facilitates some of the tasty food that we can enjoy in these instances. Inspiration can be garnered from blogs like this one, https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/cheap-grilling-ideas/, but keep reading if you would like some more ideas on how to make it a fun time for the whole family.
Why it Still Works, Even in the Cold
This is probably the question that I get asked the most when I share these tips with my friends and relatives. If the problem is the chill outside, how does going out there and spending an extended period of time cooking really work? At face value, it certainly does not seem to solve the problem.
That being said, though, think about how these sorts of grills and outdoor ovens work. You have to light a fire, right? Well, that makes for an excellent opportunity to huddle around and get warm together
Of course, the chef of the afternoon or evening might get a bit cold depending on how long that they are out there, so it might not hurt to bundle up. However, the warmth from the fire tends to be strong enough to prevent that. It will be up to your own personal preferences and ability to tolerate certain temperatures.
Something else to bear in mind is that I am hardly suggesting that you cook with an oven grill when there is a foot of snow on the ground. If you live in a part of the United States where it starts snowing early and often into the autumn and winter seasons, it might not be overly viable for you to try this during those months. That just means that you should live it up during the warmer months!
For the milder regions in the country, though, give it a try. Sure, you might decide that it is not for you. However, you could also find a new passion or beloved activity!
What about in terms of Economics, though?
This is the other query that I tend to get. Many of us are looking at the current state of both our own national economy and it on a global scale. Large purchases can be quite intimidating during moments like these. What is the verdict on items like this, then?
It should probably come as no surprise that the answer is subjective. One family might use a grill all of the time and find it to be an excellent investment. Another might end up barely using it, or perhaps even not enjoying the flavor of grilled food. Obviously, in the latter situation, it is not overly worthwhile.
How can we approach this issue, then? Well, speaking with your partner about it first (when applicable) is probably a wise idea. There are a few different angles to consider, of course.
The first is whether you think you will get a lot of use out of it. Perhaps you or your partner are looking to hone their cooking skills on alternative mediums to a traditional stove – this could be an answer to that. You can see a bit more about how to cook on one on this page, though getting started is rarely an overly pernicious steppingstone.
There could also be some concerns about what affordable options are available for this method of cooking. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources available to help with this (including one that I have already linked)! Really, inspiration can be found around every corner.
While ultimately it will be up to you to decide, I can soundly say that it has been something of value for myself and my family. We have really enjoyed our evenings on the back porch, sitting huddled together around our brick oven or grill and chatting about anything and everything.
These days, it can be hard to secure quality time, whether that be indoors or outdoors. Coming up with ways to encourage that time to be spent without forcing anyone into it is another challenge. At least we have some creative ways to do so, right?
