pit grilling in the winter

mdk2176 · 11-14-2012, 07:48 AM

Hi guys. I have a in ground pit that I built a couple years ago. I have only used it in the summer and it works great. I would like to cook thanksgiving turkey in the pit this year. The ground is not frozen, but the temps for next week are supposed to be below freezing. Has anyone here ever pit grilled in freezing temps? Any advice would be great. Thanks

GreenDrake · 11-14-2012, 07:56 AM

Shouldn't be an issue at all as long as you maintain consistent grill temps. Are you going indirect or direct?

Mark · 11-14-2012, 11:03 AM

It sounds risky to me.

chad · 11-14-2012, 11:09 AM

For a traditional ground pit the main issue would be to get it hot early and keep it that way though out the cook period. I'd start early and with a big fire to heat things up. Good luck.

luke duke · 11-14-2012, 11:21 AM

You might also want something to cover your bird with. A big kettle lid would work.

MisterChrister · 11-14-2012, 11:26 AM

I've never done much cooking on in-ground pits, but wish you luck with your turkey! It sounds like quite an adventure! Please post pics, I'd love to see it

Garyclaw · 11-14-2012, 11:31 AM

Ooooo! Do it! The big fire started early sounds like good advice to me.

Got any pics of the pit? Love to see it.

gtr · 11-14-2012, 11:50 AM

+1 - would love to see that!

cowgirl · 11-14-2012, 11:57 AM

If you're talking about an underground pit, I've used them in the winter. Just make sure you burn enough wood to have a good deep hot coal bed to last through the cook.
If you mean an inground pit with the racks above the fire, just leave the ends of the pit open to be able to add more wood if needed.

mdk2176 · 11-14-2012, 12:53 PM

Thanks guys I will use an extra deep coal bed. I will also post some pics of the finished bird.

JerBQ · 11-14-2012, 01:16 PM

That's a great looking pit! Just added another thing on my "To Build" list. Just what I needed

Good luck with the bird, looking forward to some pics.

K-Train · 11-14-2012, 01:29 PM

That's awesome

Wampus · 11-14-2012, 03:19 PM

That's KICK ARSE!

I just saw an episode of "Man, Fire, Food" recently where they used a pit like that. Sort of a "barbacoa" eh?

Good luck with the turkey. POST PRON!

Cayman1 · 11-14-2012, 03:31 PM

Crap! Another bbq project. Fine looking pit.

Ijustwantedtolookatpics · 11-14-2012, 04:41 PM

Wow great pit!
Can't wait to see how it turns out!

11-14-2012, 07:48 AM	#1
mdk2176 Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 11-13-12 Location: willmar minnesota Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	pit grilling in the winter Hi guys. I have a in ground pit that I built a couple years ago. I have only used it in the summer and it works great. I would like to cook thanksgiving turkey in the pit this year. The ground is not frozen, but the temps for next week are supposed to be below freezing. Has anyone here ever pit grilled in freezing temps? Any advice would be great. Thanks

11-14-2012, 07:56 AM	#2
GreenDrake is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 06-21-10 Location: Hayden, Idaho Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Shouldn't be an issue at all as long as you maintain consistent grill temps. Are you going indirect or direct? __________________ PNWBA - Hayden, Idaho http://www.facebook.com/BC2BBQ

11-14-2012, 11:03 AM	#3
Mark somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-13-03 Location: St. Peters MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It sounds risky to me. __________________ Dr. Mark (STL) Ph.D. (honorary) Bovine $hitology A thin line separates paranoia from an acute understanding of reality.

11-14-2012, 11:09 AM	#4
chad somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-13-03 Location: Clearwater, FL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	For a traditional ground pit the main issue would be to get it hot early and keep it that way though out the cook period. I'd start early and with a big fire to heat things up. Good luck. __________________ Dave Southern Brethren BBQ Competition Team "It's all about getting paid!" - Myron Mixon "I love being hated in my hometown!" - David Hair KingFisher Gator Rotisserie cooker, WSM, Stainless 5 burner with IR gas grill, Turkey Fryer, Weber JD Commemorative grill, slightly used Bandera chamber for future use as a cold smoker, Masterbuilt 40" insulated ELECTRIC smoker

11-14-2012, 11:26 AM	#6
MisterChrister is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 04-28-12 Location: Richland Center, WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've never done much cooking on in-ground pits, but wish you luck with your turkey! It sounds like quite an adventure! Please post pics, I'd love to see it __________________ '69 Redhead 2X Stainless Performers TS Performer Mystery Blue OTG Simpsons SJ SJG WGA A "few" others

11-14-2012, 11:21 AM	#5
luke duke is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-16-10 Location: Dallas, TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You might also want something to cover your bird with. A big kettle lid would work.

11-14-2012, 11:31 AM	#7
Garyclaw Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-05-09 Location: NE OH-IO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Ooooo! Do it! The big fire started early sounds like good advice to me. Got any pics of the pit? Love to see it. __________________ Gary ____________________________________ Big BarBChef built in to the Outdoor Kitchen, Weber kettle, 1 UDS, Little Chief Electric, 2 Propane Fish Cookers/Turkey Fryers, a swinging grate over my Fire pit, Big Pig Cooker "Nice talkin' to ya"

11-14-2012, 11:50 AM	#8
gtr Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-16-10 Location: Culver City, CA Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	+1 - would love to see that! __________________ 50" Klose BYC, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Jumbo Old Smokey, Pig Hibachi, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. Golden Goose Egg - Got 2 in the nest baby! SPFP Mayzie's keeping an eye out for you! WTFWGALD?

11-14-2012, 11:57 AM	#9
cowgirl somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-18-07 Location: Oklahoma Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you're talking about an underground pit, I've used them in the winter. Just make sure you burn enough wood to have a good deep hot coal bed to last through the cook. If you mean an inground pit with the racks above the fire, just leave the ends of the pit open to be able to add more wood if needed. __________________ jeanie sittin' by the campfire with my Brethren friends. Lifetime member of the Society for the Preservation of Authentic Royal Magical Rare Kaskaskian Peppers (Thanks Ash :)) http://cowgirlscountry.blogspot.com/

11-14-2012, 01:16 PM	#11
JerBQ On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-09-11 Location: Wellsville, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That's a great looking pit! Just added another thing on my "To Build" list. Just what I needed Good luck with the bird, looking forward to some pics. __________________ JerBQ Pitts and Spitts US2448, Belson charcoal/gas trailer rig, JennAir & Weber gassers, Weber 18" kettle, 2 turkey fryers, Insanely fast PURPLE Thermapen, custom 55" kettle grill

11-14-2012, 01:29 PM	#12
K-Train Take a breath! Join Date: 09-22-11 Location: Edgewater, MD Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That's awesome __________________ Keith Fat Maxine's BBQ Thanks to DArtagnan Foods (Awesome ribs)

11-14-2012, 03:19 PM	#13
Wampus somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-05-09 Location: Mooresville, IN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That's KICK ARSE! I just saw an episode of "Man, Fire, Food" recently where they used a pit like that. Sort of a "barbacoa" eh? Good luck with the turkey. POST PRON! __________________ Big JT's Smokin' BBQ Competition Team “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. We need not wait to see what others do.” - Mahatma Gandhi

11-14-2012, 03:31 PM	#14
Cayman1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-20-12 Location: Springfield, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Crap! Another bbq project. Fine looking pit. __________________ Smooth Smoke BBQ Team, KCBS CBJ, 2-WSM, wsm 2880, Smokey Joe Mini wsm, Old Country Offset, Red Weber OTG, Blue Weber OTG.

11-14-2012, 04:41 PM	#15
Ijustwantedtolookatpics On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-26-11 Location: Lowell, MA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Wow great pit! Can't wait to see how it turns out! __________________ _____________________________________________ CG Akorn Weber 22.5 OTG Weber gasser Kinda-fast Grey Thermapen