Every year, people ask me questions about covers. The most common one, and you probably guessed it, is "JP, should I put a cover on my BBQ or not?"
Well, never ask yourself that question again, I'll answer it here.
First, let's start with the basics: what is a cover for?
A cover, in fact, contrary to what you might think, is not useful for the long-term durability of your BBQ, but rather for its look and cleanliness (at least, for the models sold at BBQ Québec, which last a long time). It protects your grill from bad weather, bird droppings, tree leaves, dust, critters... You absolutely do not need to put one on if you do not want your appliance to keep its beautiful "clean" appearance.
I could stop right there (because, let's not kid ourselves, that pretty much sums up my answer), but there are still things to know about covers, so I'll continue.
If there is no need for a cover, why have one at all?
As we were talking about, a cover allows you to keep your BBQ nice and clean. Then, as for the additional benefits, it all depends on the cover you have. Most of them allow water not to accumulate in your BBQ if it is not covered by a small roof, for example. Others are ventilated, have fasteners… The benefits change depending on the characteristics of your cover.
Be careful though! It's all well and good to have a cover, but we don't want to put just any cover on our barbecue either. A low-quality cover will retain moisture if it doesn't have good ventilation. And, if the ventilation isn't adequate, and your BBQ is also quite low-end, well, it risks rusting pretty quickly (and, I'm just saying, but critters like humidity, so don't be surprised if they greet you when you open the lid of your machine 😬). The result is a little less serious with a good-quality BBQ, but your cover risks getting damaged quickly.
In short, it is still to be avoided, so… do not take the first piece of fabric that passes. (If I may give you a piece of advice: it is better not to put a cover at all if you have a good BBQ than to put a “cheap” one . The ideal, however, is to put a good cover on a good BBQ .)
This brings me to talk to you about the types of covers that exist . In fact, there are 2: the "cheap" ones, not durable; and the durable ones, which are well thought out and well designed. Presented like that, you already know that you don't want to touch the first ones (especially since there are some that even stain BBQs! 🫣).
Afterwards, if you want to compare them, you can look at their thickness, their cut, their color and their "features" (what I was talking about above: if they are ventilated, if they have hooks to stay in place, if they have a zip or velcro "door" so you can easily access the propane tank, if they have a rope that allows them to be tied tightly, if they are waterproof, if their logo is beautiful...) and choose the one that suits you best. (But hey, I'm just saying, but if you're looking for one that's really beautiful, the ones with the BBQ Québec flame are the sexiest in my opinion. 😉)
The important thing when shopping for a cover is to consider its fit, durability, thickness, seams and specific features.
So, if I come back to close the loop, is it necessary to put a cover? No; it is not necessary, but it is not bad. A cover is not essential, but if it brings you happiness and you want your BBQ to stay clean outside, you have the right to use one. Attention! A good cover. 😉
And… the killer question: when should you cover your BBQ?
If you want to put a cover on your BBQ, put it on at all times. Summer, fall, winter, spring. Same as… we often think of fall and winter because of snow, etc., but it is just as important to put one on in the summer; the sun's UV rays are strong and can fade plastics. Rain, snow, ice too. No matter the temperature, you put your cover on.
Otherwise, if you want to store your BBQ in your shed, please don't cover it! A shed is generally not heated, so moisture may build up between your cover and your BBQ and, ultimately, attack it and reduce its lifespan.
And if, on the contrary, you were asking yourself this question more in the sense of "I have just cooked, after how much time can I put my cover back on my BBQ?", the answer is: once the BBQ has cooled down again. I would tell you to wait at least 15 minutes after turning it off to cover it.
Finally, for your cover to keep your BBQ clean, it has to be clean too. How should you go about cleaning it? It's simple, you can wash it directly with a pressure hose and an all-purpose cleaning soap, or, in most cases, send it directly to the washing machine (check if this is feasible with the materials of your cover beforehand!).
Here you go! 😉
Happy BBQ!