There is nothing better than a delicious cut of smoked meat.
But during the winter, your cooker is exposed to cold temperatures. This makes it difficult to get your meat smoked properly.
Enter the smoker insulation cover.
In this post we'll cover:
- 1 What Should I Consider When Buying an Insulation Cover for My Grill?
-
2 Best BBQ Smoker Insulation Products
- 2.1 Best insulation blanket: Green Mountain Grills Thermal Blanket
- 2.2 Best smoker insulation cover: i COVER
- 2.3 Best Fire Retardant Insulation Blanket: ABN Fiberglass
- 2.4 Best Camp Chef model insulation blanket: Stanbroil Thermal Insulation Blanket
- 2.5 Best Masterbuilt Insulation blanket: Masterbuilt 32 inch MB20100513
- 2.6 Best Panoxidized Insulation Blanket: Tillman
- 2.7 Best insulation blanket for Traeger Grills: Grisun Grill Blanket
- 2.8 Best insulation blanket for Pit Boss: PIT Boss 67342
- 3 Other Tips for Smoking in the Winter
What Should I Consider When Buying an Insulation Cover for My Grill?
Some grills come with a jacket and some do not.
If your grill does not come with a jacket and you think you need one, be sure to order one that’s made for your grill.
If you find a jacket that fits your grill but was not actually made for it, it may not be holding in the heat or protecting it properly.
That’s why it’s important to find one that is compatible.
In addition to compatibility, you must also think about the type of blanket you would like.
Read up more on BBQ smoker accessories: BBQ Smoker Door Handles, Latches, Hinges and Gasket Sealer.
Best BBQ Smoker Insulation Products
If you are planning on getting a grill insulation product, there are many on the market to choose from.
Here are some options that can be purchased on Amazon.
Note: While insulation covers and blankets and welding blankets are available on Amazon, I could not find any cement boards. You may be better off purchasing them at the hardware store.
Best insulation blanket: Green Mountain Grills Thermal Blanket
Although this is called a thermal blanket in the product description, it fits tightly like a cover.
It is designed to fit Jim Bowie grills although it can be used on any grill or smoker with 658 inches or less of cooking surface.
It cuts pellet usage in half, and is form fitting to hold up to any weather conditions.
It completely wraps around the hood to provide the ultimate in insulation and protection. Its high-quality materials are extremely durable.
It is easy to apply and it will protect your grill from scratches and other types of external damage.
Best smoker insulation cover: i COVER
This i COVER grill cover is constructed from 600 Denier polyester oxford fabric. It has a PVC water-resistant coating that will keep your grill safe from precipitation.
It also makes for easy cleaning. The cover is made for Dyna-Glo charcoal grills. It has Velcro closure straps at the sides to provide a snug fit.
Check prices and availability here
Best Fire Retardant Insulation Blanket: ABN Fiberglass
If you prefer to use a welding blanket, there are plenty you can choose from.
This ABN heavy duty fiberglass fire retardant blanket is recommended.
It comes in 4×6’ and 6×8’ sizes.
It is 100% fire retardant so as to protect yourself and your surroundings from fire hazards. It is made of a fiberglass material that is built to last.
Tight weaving is used around the edges to ensure it doesn’t fray. It folds up like any other blanket so it is easy to store.
Check prices and availability here
Best Camp Chef model insulation blanket: Stanbroil Thermal Insulation Blanket
This heat resistant thermal insulated blanket protects the grill from the elements and reduces the excess fuel that needs to burn due to plummeting temperatures.
It also minimizes the need for extra pellets. It traps heat so you can grill at higher temperatures.
It protects the grill from damage. The magnetic design makes it cling to the grill to hold it in place
Best Masterbuilt Insulation blanket: Masterbuilt 32 inch MB20100513
This Insulated Smoker Blanket is more of a traditional blanket style insulator.
It fits most Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smokers.
It keeps heat in so you can maintain a consistent temperature in cold weather and enjoy smoked food year-round. It is recommended for use in temperatures below 50 degrees.
Check prices and availability here
Best Panoxidized Insulation Blanket: Tillman
This 16 oz. Panoxidized Felt Back Welding Blanket is made of a non-flammable thermofelt that is non-melting, non-shrinking and scratch-free.
It works at temperatures up to 1800 degrees. It is meant for light welding and its lightweight and smaller size makes it perfect for grill insulation.
Best insulation blanket for Traeger Grills: Grisun Grill Blanket
This blanket is custom-designed to fit various Traegar grills.
It measures 23.5” in width, 41” in length, and 1” in thickness.
It works in temperatures as low as -20 degrees. It maintains temperature limiting coal and pellet use.
It keeps the grill safe from water and precipitation. It is easy to clean and can be wiped down with a hose or cloth.
Best insulation blanket for Pit Boss: PIT Boss 67342
This blanket is made for a variety of Pit Boss Pro Series grills.
It provides year-round protection from precipitation. It maintains the temperature to eliminate excess use of pellets or fuel.
It helps your grill run at maximum efficiency.
Other Tips for Smoking in the Winter
When the temperature drops, the right insulation will keep your smoker nice and toasty.
Here are some other tips that will get you a good smoke no matter how cold it is outside.
- Open Your Smoker Vents: This will allow more oxygen to get into the smoker making it easy for the temperature to rise.
- Avoid Opening the Lid: Although it may be tempting to open the lid to see how the meat is doing, remember that every time you open it a little bit of heat will escape. Keeping it closed will help maintain the temperature better.
- Invest in a Digital Thermometer A good digital thermometer will help you gauge temperature from anywhere limiting the need to open the lid.
- Don’t Open the Lid When It’s Raining: Rain can get into the smoker to cause the temperature to drop. If you really need to open the lid, ask someone to hold an umbrella over you while you do so.
- Stock Up on Fuel: You will need more fuel to smoke meats during the winter. Make sure you stock up so you don’t run out mid-smoke.
- Think of the Location of Your Grill: Your smoker should be positioned so that the wind blows in the same direction as the natural flow of smoke. This will be a fuel-saving step and it will minimize temperature spikes. It’s also a good idea to put your grill in a space where it is somewhat sheltered from wind and rain. However, enclosing it entirely will be unsafe.
Smoking meat in the winter is not easy, but it’s doable if you have the proper insulation products.
What do you recommend using to ensure your food is cooked perfectly?
Using a BBQ Smoker on your Balcony? Watch out for these 10 things!
