You can’t just put off a backyard barbecue just because it’s a bit windy outside. Sure, it’ll be more of a challenge, but with the proper preparation and some tweaking, it’s something you can definitely overcome.

Here are some proven tips for successful grilling on windy days:

Place your grill on the right

When preparing to cook on a windy day, you need to anticipate the wind and find out its direction. If you are using a charcoal grill, it is ideal to move the vents away from the wind. If you are cooking with a gas grill, place it at an angle away from the wind, perpendicular to the flow of gas from the burner tubes.

Place your grill at least 10 feet away from any structure (your house, trees, etc.) or any flammable object.

Stock on coal

Depending on the intensity of the breeze, you will use much more charcoal than you would need to cook in good weather. Compared to other types of fuel, charcoal burns faster when exposed to the wind.

So stock up on charcoal and be more attentive to what’s cooking on the grills; You may have to repeatedly add charcoal to keep the fire going and make sure your food is cooked through!

Open the lid at your own risk

A sudden gust of wind can cause the ashes inside the kettle to spin and fall on the food. So don’t open the lid when absolutely necessary and when you do, open it slowly and carefully to take a look.

Monitor your grill closely

This applies to both charcoal and gas grills. If you use the gas variety, check the burners from time to time as they have a high chance of going out due to the breeze. If they do turn off, close the gas valves immediately, open the gas cap and allow air to circulate for 5-8 minutes or until the gas smell has dissipated before relighting the grill.

Prioritize safety

While it is possible to grill in a light to moderate breeze, you can tell yourself if the wind is too strong to light the grill. A grill (especially the charcoal variety) overturned by high winds can be damaging and dangerous.

If you decide to go ahead, you can choose to buy a windshield for your grill (most gas grills already come with this feature) or make one.

Follow these 5 tips for grilling on windy days and enjoying a hassle-free backyard barbecue!