How To Clean Your Grill Grates Like A Grill Master
4 easy methods to get your grill lines back.
Everything tastes better with grill marks. Whether youâre cooking up burgers and dogs, steak and seafood, or fresh veggies, food from the grill is king. But when the plates are empty and the bellies full, the last thing you want to worry about is cleaningâespecially those super hot grill grates.
Obviously, the surface you cook your food on is pretty important. Neglecting to remove the grease, marindates, and drippings from your grill grates is not only a fire hazard, itâs kind of gross. But thereâs good news: cleaning your grill grates is a simple project any grill master can perform. A small investment of intentionality and time can yield big results the next time youâre firing up the backyard grill.
How To Clean A Bbq
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‘First things first, you should never attempt to clean a BBQ when it is cool instead strike whilst the irons are hot – literally,’ says Andrew Lovell, product manager, LANDMANN .
‘Ensure it is safe for you to do so and wipe away the mess with a damp cloth straight after you grill whilst it is still warm – but not hot enough to burn you.’
Deeper Grill Grate Cleaning
Take a close look at your grill grate,checking for both dirt and damage. If you dont clean your grill regularly, itmay have black carbon deposits caked on, which can trap bacteria, cause unevenheating and increase the risk of grease fires. Take notice if the enamel iscracked anywhere or if the nonstick coating has comeoff. Even small cracks in the enamel can let water and grease in, making itvulnerable to rusting. If your grill grate has cracked enamel or significantrust, you may want to replace it.
Now, spray your apple cider vinegar mixture ordegreaser on the grate, and wipe clean. Repeat as needed, until the paper towelcomes back without any residue.
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How To Clean Your Bbq With Lemon
When life gives you lemons learn how to clean a bbq with them. Yes, they can be squeezed over fish and meats to cut through the rich umami taste of your protein, but they can also be used to clean the surface they were cooked on too.
The bigger your lemons, the better . Slice the lemons in half and dip them into salt crystals. Heat up your BBQ, and then rub and squeeze your lemon halves all over the hot charcoal grill. You’ve got abrasive action from the salt, and cleaning and antibacterial action from the citric acid.
Lemons are useful all around the home while this is just one way to use lemon to clean your home, these sharp yellow fruits can also be used to get a stain out of a white shirt. Definitely something you need to know if you’ve spilled ketchup or mustard on your fave light-colored blouse.
They can also be used to clean a wooden cutting board and sanitize it an essential bit of know-how if you’re using it to chop chicken and other meats.
How Do You Clean A Grill
“Whether it’s a charcoal grill, a gas grill, or a grill pan, I use the same process for cleaning,” Sitrin says. “I leave the grill heating after I complete my grilling and allow the heat to do the hard work.” Once your grill has burnt all the debris lining its grates, use a grill cleaning brush to scrub the ash away. For any remaining grime, use a store-bought cleanerlike a degreasing sprayto finish the job.
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How To Clean Your Bbq Grill
No activity provides us with a greater opportunity to bond with friends and family during those summer afternoon get-togethers than backyard barbeques. You not only get to feel the warmth and joy of your loved ones around you but also a chance to enjoy some nice, delicious, grilled meat.
And while using those grills to cook ourselves some sumptuous meat is important, it is equally important to remember to clean them. This is because the whole cooking process results in the accumulation of food debris and grease in the grills. When left unattended, this buildup can support bacteria and affect the functionality of the grills.
As such, it is absolutely essential to know how to clean the inside of the gas grill and any other type of grill you may have be it a charcoal or pellet grill. The following are some useful tips on how to clean your barbeque grill.
When Is The Time To Buy New Grates
No matter how it can happen, grates will eventually wear out if you dont take care of them. The issues of rust, wear-n-tear, and rough cleaning can end them sooner for all the wrong reasons. When you see that the grates are getting too pitted from scraping too hard will be a sign. Rusted to the point they are nearly falling off is another! Perhaps you forgot that the weather damaged them through water and rusting.
When you see these signs, its time to get a new grill surface that fits onto your grill. Since this is your cooking table, you better buy a quality metal. If you take good care of that grill, it will last longer without needing a replacement for many decades.
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You Dont Need A Brush To Keep The Grill Spic N Span Heres A List Of Ways You Can Clean Up Without One
Using a grill brush isnt the only option when it comes to getting your grill clean between barbecue sessions. These unexpected ideas for how to clean a grill will all get the job done effectively, no brush required. You wont feel guilty about firing up the grill to cook extra-saucy BBQ recipes this summer, because any leftover marinade will come off in minutes.
Be sure to clean your grill grates or racks after each use for the best-tasting meals. Heres what to do:
Clean Your Grill After Every Use
Before you ask, Is this really necessary? Would you ever cook on your stovetop and not wipe up the spills afterward? Cooking on your grill is exactly the same thing.
- Clean the grates. Use a wooden scraper or cleaning brick to scrape any leftover food off the grates when youre done cooking. You want your grill still to be warm but not hot. If your grates are made of cast iron, rub on a little cooking oil to keep them seasoned.
- Dump the coals. Clear out any leftover coals and go over the inside of the grill with your wire brush. This will help eliminate excess smoke and funky flavors from muddying up your next meal.
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What Household Items Can You Use To Clean A Grill
You can clean your grill with many different household cleaning products. They are just as reliable as a kitchen degreaser or grill cleaner that you can buy in a store or online.
Here are some grease-cutting combinations that will clean your grill with ease.
- Baking soda and water
- Dish soap and baking soda
How To Clean A Charcoal Grill
Brett Holmes Photography/getty Images
If you prefer the classic, smoky taste of a charcoal grill, youre in luck. With fewer parts and a simpler design, charcoal grills are substantially easier to clean than gas grills. You can perform general maintenance after every cook, and a deep clean should be done once or twice a year.
Step 1: Prep for cleaning
Once your grill is cool to the touch, remove the grates and empty any leftover charcoal or ash into a metal container.
Step 2: Wipe the interior
Check the inside of the lid for grease and smoke deposits, which might look like flakes of paint. Brush these away with a stainless steel brush. Then, wash the lid and the cook bowl with mild dish soap, water and a steel wool pad. To prevent future buildup on the lid, wipe it down after every grilling session with soap and water while the grill is warm .
Step 3: Clean the grates
The easiest time to clean your charcoal grill grates is actually before you start cooking. Preheat the grill by opening all the vents and keeping the grill at a high temperature for about 10 to 15 minutes. Then, use a stainless steel bristle brush to remove any debris left on the grates.
If your grates are in particularly bad shape, try this deep cleaning vinegar trick: Soak the grates overnight in a mixture of two cups vinegar and one cup of baking soda. Then scrub any leftover food and debris with a sponge, rinse with water and pat dry.
Step 4: Reassemble
Step 5: Clean the exterior
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Tips For Having The Perfect Bbq Backyard Party
First of all, clean your BBQ grills. Make sure you follow the steps explained in this article. Then plan and organize your party.
These tips will guarantee you host the best family reunion ever! Keep your menu simple. For example, you can include hamburgers, hot dogs, salads, appetizers, desserts, veggies, and cool drinks on your menu. Think of some games that your guest can enjoy while you grill the food.
Play some good music and let your guests enjoy the lovely food!
Provide:
- pretty backyard lighting
- outdoor party games
Prepare some of the food before the guests arrive. This way, it will be less stressful for your to host the party. Make homemade lemonades of other fizzy drinks. Use table cloths, pillows, decorations, string lights to make the atmosphere cozier, relaxed, and friendly.
Think of some party games for even more family fun and quality time spent outdoors. It will keep the grandkids busy for a while and will add to the excitement.
The Best Way To Clean Your Grill Grates
If you dont want to use a grill brush or if youre going to do your annual deep cleanse, soak the grates in a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. It is possible to break apart burnt-on foods by combining vinegar and baking soda. If your grill is extremely dirty and contains stubborn grease or grime that does not loosen right away, soak the grates overnight in baking soda and white vinegar to make scrubbing easier. Furthermore, the vinegar will go away by the time you wake up.
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Grill Brushes Can Be Hazardous
Grill brushes are like a balding man. When one hair falls out, more are sure to follow. The difference with metal bristles is they can be fatal if swallowed. .
If you do use a grill brush, choose a brush with a solid head. Check to see tightly packed bristles before and after each use.
If you notice missing bristles, discard that brush immediately. Friction is what holds bristles in place. When one bristle falls out, there is less pressure holding the remaining bristles in, and they start to shed en masse.Use the brush only after you are finished cooking where you can rinse or inspect the grate before cooking again.
How To Clean A Gas Bbq
We spoke to Sarah Fisburne, director of trend and design at Home Depot who ran us through the steps of cleaning a BBQ that runs on propane gas, before and after each grilling season.
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How To Clean Stainless Steel Grill Grates So They Look Like New
Despite what some people say, that horrible baked-on grease and old food on your grates is NOT extra flavor. Its dirty, acrid-tasting junk. Get it cleaned off! Heres how to get your stainless steel grates looking like new and how to keep them that way.
Youve invited friends for a nice barbecue cookout, and they just arrive as youre about to lay your food on the grill. You watch your friends faces as their smiles turn to frowns. They stare in disgust at your pride and joy grill because it looks like a plane wreck scattered with chunks of unidentified burnt remains.
To everyones horror, you are about to lay their food right on those dirty black crusty grill rods. Shame on you! In your defense, youve tried everything you could, but the crusty black traces of bygone barbecues seem welded to the grill.
Dont despair. Youre on this page for a reason, to find a solution and simple ways to keep your stainless grill grates clean.
Through some research and testing, Ive found the best-proven ways for how to clean stainless steel grill grates, to return them back to looking like new. Its really not hard once you know how, and with just a little investment of time each time after you grill, its not even very demanding.
But before we get going, you first need to know what NOT to do.
Note:This is not the guide for you if you have cast iron grill grates. Please head over to our guide for how to clean cast iron grill grates instead.
Contents
Good News: Grilling Season Is Almost Upon Us Before Firing Up Your Gas Grill Take Some Time To Learn How To Clean It
If your gas grill is a workhorse during the warm weather months, its worth learning how to clean it. Follow any of these options to get your gas grill clean, which will help your food taste great and keep your grill in good shape for years to come. Be sure to tune up your grill at the start of the season, too.
For grilling safety, always make sure your grill is cool and both the grill and its gas supply are turned off before you start cleaning.
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How To Clean Your Grill
A clean grill is always bestânot only does it make it easier to cook on, but it will last longer, too. Before cleaning your grill with Dawn® Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray, spray a small, inconspicuous area to ensure there is no damage to the surface. Then, follow these simple steps to clean your indoor, gas, or charcoal grill, so you get those perfect grill marks, every time:
1. Bring on the Heat
If you have a gas grill, turn it on and fire up those burners with the hood closed. Let it heat for at least 15 minutes to help burn off any residual grease or food. If you have a charcoal grill, make sure to throw out any leftover briquettes and just scrape away the grime. Then, takeoff any removable parts like grease trays, knobs, and racks.
2. Soak Away
Turn off your gas grill, make sure itâs completely cooled down, and remove the propane tank. Remove your grill grates and spray them from front to back with Dawn® Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray making sure to keep the nozzle about 3-6 inches away from the surface. Coat the entire surface and allow the suds to work for about 5-10 minutes. Dawn® helps to break down the stuck-on food, grease, and grime so you donât have towaste your time scrubbing and can focus on family fun time instead.
3. Scrub and Rinse
4. Clean the Outside
5. Burn It
And thatâs how easy it is to clean your grill with Dawn®! Now, letâs switch gears and make sure your grilling tools are ready for the heat.
How To Clean Your Grill Racks
Miley
If youre like most people, you love the taste of a good grilled meal. But, over time, your grill racks can become coated with a layer of cooked-on grease and grime. This can not only affect the taste of your food, but it can also be a fire hazard. Fortunately, there are a few simple steps you can take to clean your grill racks and keep them looking and working like new.
Even if you wiped down your grill before putting it away for the winter, it is critical to begin each new season with a thorough cleaning of your grill. After each cooking session, a wire brush can be used to clean the grill grate. If your grills exterior is stainless-steel, it makes perfect sense to invest in a stainless steel cleaner. The best time to clean stainless steel surfaces is when there is an overcast day the hot sun can make it difficult to remove streaks. If you have a charcoal grill, simply dispose of old charcoal briquettes in a metal container. Simplyripping down the grills perimeter will make cleaning it much easier. You can get rid of the gunk in your grill by vacuuming it with a wet or dry vacuum.
If you need to clean the grill, use a metal or stainless steel brush to remove any residue. When using a cast iron grill, do not use soap. You can make a paste with baking soda, salt, and a tablespoon of water by combining them. After applying the mixture with a sponge, you should leave it for 15 minutes.
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