Is barbecuing on the balcony a hot topic?

Did you suspect that barbecuing on the balcony might fire up more than just your sausages? According to our research, that's not the case! But before you think there’s no need to read further—stick with us. We’ll share what SATO residents really think about balcony barbecuing, and give you the best grilling tips, from recipes to clean-up.

As one of Finland’s largest rental housing providers, we at SATO have access to an excellent source of insight: our residents. This spring, we asked them how they feel about balcony barbecuing, whether their own or their neighbours'. We received well over two thousand responses!

SATOhomes are most often located in apartment buildings, so it’s no surprise that nearly 90% of respondents have at least one balcony at home. A smaller share have rooftop terraces or private yards, and only 7% of respondents said they have no outdoor space at all.

The number of residents who actually own a barbecue is much smaller: 23% have one on their balcony. Another 32% are thinking about getting one.

Three per cent of respondents admit they never use their grill! That makes them proud owners of what could be called a rare species: the Decorative Barbecue.

Charcoal barbecues on balconies? A firm no.

Let’s start with the essentials: safety. Using a charcoal barbecue on the balcony or terrace of a SATOhome is strictly prohibited. The same applies to gas barbecues. Open flames, lighter fluid, unexpected gusts of wind in an apartment block, a gas cylinder heating up on a balcony, leaving the barbecue unattended “just for a sec while I grab my better tongs”… all of these are genuine hazards.

However, electric barbecues are allowed on the balconies of buildings fully owned by SATO. But does that take the flavour out of grilling?

Respondents who identified as women were the most supportive of electric grilling, but the majority of men also held at least a neutral view.

One resident was clear: “I don’t grill on the balcony because electric grills are useless!” Another was more open-minded: “You can make a great grilled pizza with an electric grill, as long as you get enough heat under the lid.” A third said simply: “I think electric grills work just fine!”

You can use an electric grill on your balcony if the balcony has an electric outlet. “If there’s no socket, we strongly recommend not using your own extension cables,” says Service Manager Jussi Siponen. “Even weather-protected extension cords must not be run from one space to another, such as from your living room out onto the balcony,” he adds. “If you’re unsure, just get in touch via OmaSATO and we’ll talk it through.”

Unfortunately, a few respondents expressed concern that their neighbours were using charcoal grills. If you're dreaming of a “proper” grill, it’s best to head to your building’s shared barbecue area instead.

“We used to have a grill on the balcony, but now we barbecue in the larger shared grill area in the yard. Barbecuing is part of summer, and maybe it taps into something primal: it just tastes better cooked over a flame,” one respondent explained.

Neighbours’ balcony barbecuing causes no drama

Out of over two thousand respondents, fewer than forty had raised the issue of a neighbour’s balcony grilling. And only two said their neighbours had confronted them about grilling. These numbers may reflect just how deeply barbecuing is embedded in Finnish identity. It doesn’t seem to rattle those who don’t grill themselves, even in close living quarters.

“I have never filed a complaint about barbecuing on balconies,” one respondent shared. “In fact, I appreciate how responsibly my neighbours use their barbecues. The pleasant aroma and the friendly atmosphere they create are excellent additions to our community. It’s wonderful to see everyone enjoying their outdoor spaces while being considerate of one another.”

Those who did raise the issue with a neighbour mostly mentioned the smell of smoke drifting into their own homes.

“When the smell of smoke got really strong and there was actual smoke inside, I thought the building was on fire. But it turned out the neighbour downstairs had barbecued on a glazed balcony with the glazings closed, and somehow the smoke from burning fat got into our enclosed balcony and inside through the window,” one respondent reported. “It was really unpleasant. The smell was very hard to get out of the fabrics.”

A few residents worried about their own barbecuing: Am I bothering my neighbours? What if they’re annoyed but don’t say anything? One said they had avoided getting a barbecue altogether because of such concerns, even though they would have liked to.

Among those who were bothered by balcony grilling, the issue often wasn’t the grilling itself, but the late-night parties that sometimes came with it.

“The neighbour just let it too loose,” one resident commented dryly. In that case, it’s best to speak directly with the person involved. If that doesn’t help, it’s a good idea to let your housing provider know. At SATO, the easiest way to do this is via OmaSATO.

You can grill almost anything…

…but button mushrooms are a clear favourite among our residents. The plump king of the barbecue can be marinated in a blend of olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, lemon juice, and pepper, then browned to perfection on the grill. You can wrap it in bacon, stuff it with bacon, put it on a skewer with more bacon. The world is your oyster when you have champignons in the basket. And some bacon.

“The secret to my button mushroom recipe,” one resident reveals, “is to add a drop of dark syrup inside the cap before stuffing it with delicious cheese.” The most popular cheese? Blue cheese, of course—followed by melted and cream cheeses, respectively.

And what about sausages? YLE recently reported that traditional Finnish sausages are sizzling on fewer grills these days, but does that hold true for SATO residents?

“One makkara and a slice of grillijuusto is perfect,” said one. “Sausage on the grill and off you go,” said another. The simplicity of these comments match the simplicity of the dish itself.

Many noted that vegetarian and vegan sausages have greatly improved, and lots of responses highlighted the importance of salads and vegetables as side dishes for sausages. Some balcony chats might even spark debate over whether that one classic sausage brand is meat or plant-based...

Alongside Finnish and Mediterranean influences, many residents mentioned Asian flavours. Filipino grilled chicken - Chicken Inasal - was a popular pick.

Filipino grilled chicken

Ingredients (serves approx. 4):

• 600–800 g chicken legs or thigh pieces

• 4 garlic cloves, crushed

• A small piece of ginger, grated

• 1–2 tbsp calamansi juice*

• 2 tbsp rice or spirit vinegar

• 3 tbsp soy sauce

• 2 tbsp cooking oil

• 1 tsp sugar

• A pinch of salt and pepper

• Optional: ½ tsp turmeric for colour

*Calamansi can be hard to find in Finland. You can make a decent substitute by mixing 1 tsp orange juice with 1 tbsp lime juice.

Method:

1. In a bowl, mix together the soy sauce, vinegar, calamansi juice, garlic, ginger, oil, sugar, and spices.

2. Add the chicken and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight.

3. Grill over medium heat for 20–25 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and slightly charred. Turn occasionally and baste with the marinade.

4. Serve with garlic rice, lime or lemon wedges, and pickled vegetables.

How to clean an electric grill

So, the corn is gone, the foil-roasted garlic scooped up with care, and only fish bones remain… What now? According to residents, the number one rule is clear: clean your grill straight away. Not immediately, surely you don’t want to burn your fingers, but soon enough that the fat and food residues come off easily.

“Unplug the grill first,” one respondent reminds. “Cleaning it right after use makes it much nicer to start cooking again next time,” says another.

The most common tools for cleaning were steel and dish brushes, water, mild detergents, and, of course, the classic Finnish cleaning pad, Patapata.

If the dirt has become stubborn, try a salt and lemon treatment:

1. Heat the grill and let it cool to lukewarm

2. Cut a lemon in half and dip the cut side in coarse (sea) salt

3. Scrub the grill with the salty lemon, and for extra effect, sprinkle a little baking soda on top

4. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes

5. Wipe clean with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly

You can find a full electric grill cleaning guide on the charming blog The Grilling Dad ›

Some respondents emphasised the importance of sharing the workload: someone brings the ingredients, someone cooks, someone sets the table, and someone scrubs the grill. As for taking out the rubbish, maybe settle it with a round of rock-paper-champignon-bacon. For many residents, grilling is all about being together and doing things as a team, and much more besides.

A summer cottage moment for those without one

What makes someone get a barbecue for their balcony? And what keeps city-dwellers coming back to the grill again and again? The open-ended responses often revealed a wistful tone: an awareness of the short summer, the lack of a summer cottage. And on the other hand, the joy of being together, the ease of balcony grilling, and the chance to break away from everyday routines.

“What I enjoy most is the vibe – fresh air, sizzling food, and the thrill of pretending my tiny balcony is a backyard paradise.”

“You can prep other food in the kitchen at the same time, for example, boil potatoes or use the oven. If I went to the shared grill in the yard, I’d have to do all the prep in advance,” noted one resident. Another adds enthusiastically: “Grilled food just makes summer complete. I don’t have a cottage, so my balcony is my summer room, back garden, and cottage all in one. I spend loads of time there and even have my morning coffee outside in winter (though not at -30°C, of course).”

“It reminds me of my childhood, when we grilled a lot, and there was a great sense of togetherness. Even though I don’t have a grill now, my neighbours’ barbecuing doesn’t bother me at all.”

“Summer and grilling are part of city living too,” one resident stated firmly. “It shouldn’t just be a privilege of those in detached houses! But of course, safety comes first—and always with consideration for your neighbours.”

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About the survey, n = 2,433

• 40% of respondents lived in Helsinki, with almost as many combined from Espoo and Vantaa. 13% were from Tampere and 8% from Turku. The rest came from smaller towns and municipalities near these major cities.

• The most active respondents were women (58%), followed by men (around 40%), with the rest identifying as non-binary or choosing not to disclose.

• 56% had a glazed balcony, 30% had an unglazed one, 7% had no balcony or yard at all, and the rest had a rooftop terrace or private yard.

• Of those with a balcony, 64% had a medium-sized one (5–10 m²).

• The survey was conducted among residents of SATO rental homes in spring 2025. Warm thanks to everyone who responded! The open-ended answers were especially full of wonderful stories and grilling vibes.

This article was compiled with the help of generative AI, mainly for analysing survey responses. The clumsy headline, however, is entirely the writer’s own doing. :) This English translation was also done with AI: