Is It Safe To Grill Inside The Garage?

It is not safe to grill inside a garage. Harmful gases like Carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde, and other contaminants will accumulate. Even with the door or a window open, grilling in the garage can be dangerous for your health. There’s also a much higher risk of fire if you have an open flame in the garage. You should never take an outside grill and use it inside the home. They don’t have a vent and aren’t rated for indoor use. Propane tanks are another issue. They shouldn’t be used or even stored in a garage. But if you take the proper precautions and obey local building and fire codes, grilling in a garage could be safe.

Grilling inside the garage with an electric grill is perfectly safe. They don’t have an open flame and don’t emit harmful gases into the air so you don’t need a range hood. They’re also rated for indoor and countertop use which includes cooking in a garage.

There are gas grills designed for indoor use that hook up to a natural gas line and vent to the outdoors. But you should not use or store a propane tank indoors. If a propane tank leaks in a garage it could cause an explosion and/or fire.

If you grill in the garage make sure to keep combustible materials several feet away from the grill to prevent cooking fires. Many garage’s contain flammable materials you wouldn’t find anywhere else in the home which makes garage cooking even more unsafe.

In summary, grilling inside the garage is generally unsafe. The exceptions are using an electric grill or a gas grill that’s rated for indoor use which includes the proper ventilation. But don’t bring your outdoor grill inside the garage when it’s raining or cold outside.

Can I Grill In The Garage With The Door Open?

It is not safe to grill in a garage even with the door open. When you grill, the flame creates large amounts of carbon monoxide. CO is a byproduct of burning flammable materials. Whether it’s propane, natural gas, charcoal, wood or lump coal, your grill is creating carbon monoxide whenever the flame is burning. Grills are also very hot and create a major fire hazard when used indoors.

In addition to carbon monoxide there are other harmful gasses and elements put into the air from the coal, charcoal, wood, etc. Grilling outdoors is safe because these elements and gasses are dispersed into the air. But in a confined area they build up and become dangerous.

Grilling in a garage with the door open creates some ventilation but usually not enough. Gases and other elements can build up in the garage and may potentially become dangerous.

A better solution is using cross ventilation. Opening the door and some windows will help pull gases out of the room. But it’s still dangerous and I wouldn’t recommend it.

The only grills you should use in a garage are grills considered safe for indoor use. Most grills are designed for outdoor use and not for inside the home. Smokers, charcoal/wood grills, and propane grills all contain ignitable fuel sources and don’t have ventilation.

Grilling in the garage with an electric grill is generally the safest option. But make sure to keep flammable materials away from the grill.

Most garage’s contain flammable materials that aren’t found in the house. This makes grilling in a garage more dangerous even if you have the right equipment and ventilation. If you want to set up a cooking area in a garage make sure to get it inspected.

How To Safely Grill In A Garage

Using an outdoor grill in a garage isn’t safe. They’re a fire hazard and release harmful carbon monoxide into the air. In addition a propane tank can leak and possibly explode. Your not even supposed to store them indoors let alone grill with them. But there are ways you can grill in a garage safely.

Electric: An electric grill is safe to use in a garage as long as it’s rated for indoor use.
Indoor Grills: Some grills are rated for indoor use. They’re designed and built differently than outdoor grills and typically run off a natural gas line.
Ventilation: Indoor grills should be installed with ventilation equipment like a range hood.

If you install a permanent grill in your garage make sure to follow all your local building and fire codes.

Using an outdoor grill in a garage is not safe. But if you do it anyway here are some safety tips to consider.

Cross Ventilation: While not as good as a range hood, open the garage door and some windows. Cross ventilation is better than opening the door alone.
Fire Prevention: Grill far away from anything flammable and keep a fire extinguisher handy just in case.
CO Detector: Install a carbon monoxide detector inside the garage. It’ll ring if CO levels rise to unsafe levels.
Removal: When you’re done grilling remove the grill from the garage right away. Don’t leave it inside the garage unattended.

Grilling inside a garage with an outdoor grill is definitely unsafe and you shouldn’t do it, but it can be made safer by following a few basic precautions.

Electric Grilling In A Garage

There are two types of electric grills that are built for indoor use: the open grill and the folding contact grill.

Open Electric Grill: Open grills work just like a regular outdoor charcoal grill. But they’re easier to clean and use electricity instead of fire for heat. The grill is flat and has a lid you can open and close.
Folding Contact Grill: Folding grills have two hot surfaces, one on top and one on the bottom. Pressing the top grill on top of the lower grills the food from both sides. These are great for cooking chicken, steak or paninis.

Either style electric grill is rated for indoor use and safe to grill with in a garage.

Electric grills have a heating element that runs off electricity instead of fire. They’re easy to operate, don’t have a flame and don’t release harmful gases, embers or sparks. They also heat up and grill faster than outdoor grills and it’s easier to regulate temperatures.

Not all electric grills are designed for indoor use. If you plan on grilling in the garage with an electric grill make sure it’s rated for indoor use. Don’t assume that a grill is safe for garage use just because it’s electric.

Electric smokers are different from grills. They produce a large amount of smoke and carbon monoxide which can be released into the air. Over exposure to CO can be fatal so they should only be used outdoor or with venting.

Can You Use A Charcoal Grill In A Garage?

Using a charcoal grill in a garage is unsafe.

Charcoal grills are actually more dangerous than gas grills for a few reasons. The heat on a charcoal grill is unregulated and difficult to control. They can easily reach temperatures of over 600ºF without an easy way to turn them down. This kind of heat is a big fire hazard in an enclosed area.

Charcoal grills are also harder to turn off than a gas grill. Charcoal can continue to slowly burn for hours after you’re done grilling.

In addition to carbon monoxide burning charcoal releases harmful elements into the air. This even more dangerous in a garage because of how poorly ventilated they are.

Many garage’s contain flammable materials like oil and gas. This makes grilling with an open flame even more dangerous in a garage. It only takes one hot ember hitting a flammable material to start a house fire.

If you decide to grill in a garage despite all the dangers make sure you’re far away from any combustible materials. Also make sure the garage door is open along with some windows to create a cross ventilation. Grilling close to the open door can also help push gases out of the garage.

Keep a fire extinguisher close by just in case an issue arises and install a carbon monoxide sensor to ensure gases don’t reach dangerous levels.

Make sure all flames are out and all coals are cool prior to leaving the grill and closing the garage.

It is generally unsafe to grill in the garage. But if you do it anyway make sure to take some safety precautions which includes ventilation and fire prevention.

Is It Illegal To Cook In Your Garage?

It’s not illegal to cook in your garage but it’s unsafe and definitely not recommended. Without the right indoor grilling equipment, cooking in your garage is dangerous for you and your family’s health.

It doesn’t take a lot to start a fire or to fill the house with harmful gases. If you want to do some grilling do it outside or use an electric grill or other indoor rated cooking equipment.

Is It Safe To Keep A Gas Grill In The Garage?

It’s perfectly safe to keep a grill in the garage. But it”s not safe to store propane tanks indoors. If you’ve got a propane gas grill to store, detach the tank before you put the grill in the garage. Store the grill in the garage and the tank somewhere safe.

Store filled propane tanks outside in a well-ventilated, cool area away from sunlight. Direct sunlight increases pressure inside the tank which can cause a leak.

Propane tanks are highly flammable and pressurized so there’s a higher risk of fire storing them indoors. It’s also possible for valves and threaded areas to leak. If gas escapes, a spark could cause an explosion or fire.

Can You Use A Pellet Grill In A Garage?

Pellet grills are not safe to use in a garage. They’re for outdoor use only. They’re a fire hazard and create carbon monoxide which is harmful to breathe.

A pellet grill is just as dangerous for indoor garage use as a propane, charcoal, wood or coal grill. Non of them are designed for indoor use and create a fire hazard. They’re also not vented so harmful gasses can build up in an enclosed space.

Tips For Grilling In The Rain

One of the main reasons why people consider grilling in the garage is rain. But using an outdoor grill in a garage is unsafe.

Luckily there are some better alternatives to consider. Here are just a few:

Grill Canopy: A fairly inexpensive way to keep dry while grilling is with a grill canopy. They cover the entire grill including where you stand and cook. They’re also a great way to keep the grill dry when you’re not using it which helps prevent rust.
Patio Umbrella: The least expensive way to grill in the rain is by using a regular patio umbrella. The larger ones are big enough to cover the grill and cook area.
Roof: Building a permanent roof over an outdoor kitchen or grill area is the most expensive option but it’s also the best. And they generally add value to the home so in some cases the higher cost is worth the money. One of the best things about a roof structure is that you can include lights, a ceiling fan or a ventilation system.
Retractable Awning: Installing a retractable awning over your grill area is a mid priced option. They’re great because you can extend them when its raining and retract in nice weather.

Summary: Is Grilling Inside The Garage Safe?

Grilling inside the garage is generally not safe. Harmful gases like Carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde, and other contaminants will accumulate. Even with the door or a window open, grilling in the garage can be dangerous for your health. There’s also a much higher risk of fire if you have an open flame in the garage. You should never take an outside grill and use it inside the home. They don’t have a vent and aren’t rated for indoor use. Propane tanks are another issue. They shouldn’t be used or even stored in a garage. But if you take the proper precautions and obey local building and fire codes, grilling in a garage could be safe.

If you have any questions about grilling, email any time.