How Do I Clean My Grill

How To Clean A Gas Grill

Grills take a lot of wear and tear over time.Extreme temperatures, buildups of grease, carbon and food debris, rust andenvironmental factors can all wreak havoc on your grill over time.

Frequently cleaning your grill will improvethe safety of your grill, taste of your food, cut down on extra smoke, and ensure your burners areburning clean and heat is being distributed evenly. It will also give you achance to inspect your grill from top to bottom, and make sure its in goodshape.

An important part to inspect is the grill manifold. The manifold is the pipe that holds the valves. On some grills you may need to remove the control panel to see the manifold. Spray some soapy water around the valves and along the manifold. If you see bubbles you may have a leak. If the steal pipe feels soft or has any holes, you do NOT want to proceed further. This must be replaced. Contact the manufacturer for availability.

Heres how to clean a gas grill in a few easysteps.

Quick Ways To Clean Your Grill Without A Grill Brush

A few minutes of work after the last patty leaves the grill saves you hours of work later.

Now that it’s summer, it’s time to break out the grill. Not only to enjoy cooking outdoors, but also to keep from heating up the house and dirtying up the entire kitchen for a single meal.

While you should deep-clean your grill before you start using it for the season and when you put it away come fall, you don’t need to do it every time you use your grill. Get the grates ready for your next cookout with these quick cleaning methods instead.

Does Vinegar Clean Grill Grates

Vinegar by itself can get the job done surprisingly well.

However, by adding baking soda, the mixture becomes much more effective.

Baking Soda adds an abrasive to the liquid and that makes scrubbing off charred bits and pieces a lot easier to accomplish.

Together, Vinegar and Baking Soda make an environmentally safe combination.

Vinegar plus Baking Soda is one of the best formulas for cleaning grill grates.

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How To Season A Blackstone Griddle

One of the best things you can do to your grill before you even use it is season it. Dont be thrown by the terminology here: this isnt a process of adding salt to its surface. Instead, its where we apply a thin layer of oil to the surface of the griddle. We then heat the oil and allow it to set.

What this does is create a thin layer shield over its surface, helping to prevent food sticking to it, and protect it against the threat of rust or wear.

Simply fill a bucket with warm soapy water, and use a dishcloth or rag to wash down the surface of the grill. This will help to remove any residue or dirt from it being in storage.

Leave the griddle out to dry for about an hour.

Now its time to start seasoning it. Apply a thin layer of oil across the surface of the grill, and use a cloth to spread it as evenly as possible. Cover every inch of the griddle, working into every area you can.

Turn the heat up on the griddle, onto medium-high heat. Allow it to heat and for the oil to smoke.

Once it starts to smoke, turn the heat off and allow it to cool. Wash down once again with warm soapy water. Allow to dry completely.

Your griddle is now ready to use.

A Clean Cooker Helps Set You Up For Success

Now, you should have a good idea as to how to clean a grill properly and how to keep it that way. Preparation is key to successful outdoor cooking and maintaining a clean grill is part of that.

When you are working with a clean cooker for each and every cook, you give the other elements you are using, from the seasonings to the wood, an opportunity to live up to their full potential. You are also protecting your investment in your grill or smoker and helping to ensure it holds up for many more cooking sessions to come.

If you really want to elevate your cooking game on your freshly cleaned grill, get the inside scoop straight from the pros in the online outdoor cooking classes here at BBQ Champs Academy. Champion Grillmasters and Pitmasters will walk you through step-by-step how to cook like a pro like never before. To get the full inside look, check out the All-Access pass now!

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How To Clean Pellet Grills

Pellet grills need a little more attention and TLC than charcoal or gas models, because pellet grills have more electronics and mechanical parts. You cant just hose down a pellet grill; you have to remove the grates and grease pan to give them a proper scrub. Another reason to keep the garden hose away is that wood pellets expand when they get wet, which causes auger jams.

Hacks To Clean Your Grill

• Steam: Fill a regular, metal tin from your kitchen with water and boil it on the grill. Push the tin to the side and begin scrapping with a bristle brush. The steam helps the grime come right off!

• Beer: Pour half a bottle of beer over the top of greasy grates on a warm grill. The beer will break down the oil and grease, and it will come right off when clean with a bristle brush.
• Vinegar: Put regular, household vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray vinegar all over the grill, then take a balled up piece of aluminum foil and use that as a bristle brush to scrape the grime right off.
• Onion: Cut an onion in half, put it on the end of your grilling fork and rub it all over the grill grates, then scrub with a bristle brush. The enzymes from the onion will help break down the oil and the grease.

And remember to be extra careful about loose brush bristles left behind on the grill a huge safety hazard. Barbecue brushes have caused an estimated 1,698 emergency room visits from 2002 to 2014, according to a study published in 2016 in the journal Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Experts suggest replacing your brush regularly, and inspecting both the grill grates and your food for lose bristles.

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Choose Your Best Way To Clean Grill Grates

You dont need to use a specialized grill cleaner or harsh chemicals to clean your grill, even if its covered in charred grease and grime. When you clean the inside of your grill with baking soda, you can use a nylon-bristled brush, scourer sponge, a ball of aluminum foil, or even a paper towel or rag, depending on what you have available.

To clean grimy stainless steel grill grates, heat your grill to high to burn off and loosen any excess food, then let the grates cool before scrubbing. You can also skip this step and go straight to the scrubbing.

Here are four ways to clean your stainless steel, cast iron, or enamel grill grates with minimal effort, thanks to the power of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda.

Be Careful With Metal Bristle Brushes

Metal bristle brushes are a very effective tool to use when it comes to cleaning a grill or smoker, but you have to be very careful. Especially with cheaper brass bristle brushes. Sometimes, the bristles can become loose, fall out, and stick to the grill grates. This is the last thing you or anyone you are cooking for want to end up ingesting. That can quickly turn into a bad situation.

If you are using a metal bristle brush, make sure to wipe the grates with a damp paper towel or cloth to pick up any loose bristles. Some people even rub half a lemon or onion over the grates after brushing to eliminate any bristles. Look the grates over one last time before cooking just to be extra careful.

You will have less chance of stray bristles with a good quality stainless steel grill brush versus cheaper copper. But, if you do notice any bristles coming loose from your brush, dont chance more getting stuck on your grill and throw the brush away.

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How To Clean A Barbecue Grill

• Total Time: 1 hr

Luckily, the time spent maintaining a grill is minimal, and the payback for the effort is enormous.;It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with a top-of-line model or a cheap knockoff: A major;seasonal cleaning combined with an every day scrub-down will improve your grill’s cooking performance. A clean grill will cook food better, and it will be free of residue that could possibly contaminate it.

Why We Dont Like Brushes For Cleaning Grates

Everybody thinks that wire brushes work best, but in reality, they can be dangerous if not used properly. You need to use a scraper to knock down the dried-up stuff that a wire brush cant do easily. Like brushing your teeth huh? Not really, since little wire hairs can snap off and stick to the greasy spots you cant get to. You wont see it there until it gets in your food. Sending your BBQ guests to the hospital is never part of the plan.

Only use a wire brush after youve scraped off all the grease and given the grill a good inspection. Dip your wire brush into water before doing any scrubbing after the grill is free from oil and junk. If the grill is still hot, the water will vaporize and causes steam to remove anything left-over. This will also prevent little wires from sticking to the grill surface too as theyll drop down into the grill bed.

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Choose The Right Tools To Clean Grill Grates

While some grillers opt for a traditional grill brush, many do not know wire grill brushes can be slightly dangerous. Wire bristles are notorious for breaking off and falling into your food. Without even realizing it, many people have accidentally ingested these bristles, too. If you feel like swapping in a safer tool, weve got plenty of other grill cleaning ideas you can start using today.

• Aluminum Foil: Grab a handful of aluminum foil, ball it up and use grill tongs to hold it while you scrub away. You can even re-use the same aluminum foil from cooking your favorite foil packet recipes.

• Nylon Scouring Pad: Grab a scouring pad from your kitchen and take it to the grill for fast and easy cleanup.

• Grill Stone: Gently rub this pumice-like grill stone back and forth across your grill grates. Then, finish it off by wiping the area clean with a soft cloth or water. Its that easy.

• Onion: It might seem a little strange, but you can use half an onion to clean your grill. Just spear the onion on a barbecue fork, and use the cut side to scrub grates clean. The acidic enzymes will break down grease without being overly abrasive. And if youre cooking with charcoal, the onion can simply be thrown into the coals to discard.

Inspect All The Parts

The annual cleaning is a good time to inspect all the parts and replace any that are worn or damaged. Grill burners can eventually wear out, as can the heat deflectors and other parts. Hardware stores sell many of the parts necessary to tune up a grill, and the grill manufacturer may offer them for sale online.

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Item Have Been Added To Cart

Out of the many different types of grills, the varieties that heat using charcoal require the most cleaning. Keep charcoal grills in peak condition by cleaning them after each use and thoroughly cleaning before and after each grilling season. ;;

After each use:;

Charcoal ash gathers at the bottom of the grill every time it’s used, so you must clean the grill after each use. Built-up ash can block vents in the bottom of the grill, making it difficult to control cooking temperature and increase fire risks. ;;

• Once the charcoal has cooled, remove the bricks and brush out the ash. ;
• Cleaning grill grates is best done with a long-handled stiff-wire brush. If you dont have a brush, ball up some aluminum foil and hold with long-handled tongs. ;
• Use a rag or folded paper towels to apply vegetable oil to the clean grates. This will help prevent rust and food build-up. ;
• Clean the inside of the grilling bowl and lid using mild dish soap and a steel brush. ;

Before and after each grilling season:;

In addition to cleaning out old charcoal, keep your charcoal grill in peak condition with regular maintenance. Follow these cleaning tips at the beginning and end of each grilling season, performing more often as needed.;

• Clean the outside of the lid and bowl using soap and water. You can also use grill cleaner. Towel dry to prevent rust. ;
• Keep the grill protected with a grill cover. ;

After each use: ;

Before and after each grilling season: ;

How To Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates

This is going to sound obvious, but cannot be overstated: The best way to keep your grill clean and rust-free is to give it a good cleaning immediately after every use.

Once youve finished cooking and removed your food, open all vents if using charcoal, or turn up your grill to high if using gas and then close the lid to allow the grill to get hot.

This way youre able to burn off much of your stuck on food and barbecue sauce.

Once youve burned off your food, you can either close your vents to extinguish your charcoal or turn off your gas to allow the grill to cool to a point where its comfortable to put your hand in to clean.

While your grill is still warm, scrape the grates with a good grill brush.

A brush with a scraper is excellent here as youre able to scrape any remaining food off your grates easily.

After cleaning your cast iron grates and making sure theyre dry, you now want to apply a very thin coating of vegetable oil to help prevent rust from forming.

Just a wipe with a cloth or piece of kitchen towel lightly dabbed in oil is sufficient. Youre looking to apply a thin film, not coat your grates heavily.

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Scrape And Brush Burner Tubes And Lower Cookbox

• Use a stainless steel wire brush to remove all debris from the burner tubes. Be sure to brush the tubes from side to side only, because front-to-back brushing could clog their holes and prevent the proper gas flow next time you light the grill.
• With the burner tubes clean, use a shop vacuum or hand broom to remove any loose debris from the bottom of the cook box. Use a putty knife to scrape all remaining debris into your grill’s grease tray.
• Use a headlamp or flashlight to make sure you’re not missing anything. If your grill has accessories in the lower cookbox, such as flavorizer bars, scrape and brush those clean, too.

Clean The Exterior As Well

Dont forget to wash the exterior of the cooking device as it is important in keeping it in the best condition for later use.;

The best cleaning solution that you can use to clean it is soapy water since it is safe and wont corrode the surface of your cooking device.

Make a cleaning solution and wash the grill

Pour some detergent or mild dishwashing soap in a basin of water to create your cleaning solution.;Wash the exterior using the mixture and wipe it dry using a rag soaked in water.;

This will remove all the soap residue and leave the grill sparkling clean.

Dry it on the sun

Let it dry in the sun for some time to ensure that there is no moisture on its surface.;Moisture causes corrosion and this is why you should make sure that your grill is completely dry after washing it.

Which grill cleaner to use?

If your model is made of stainless steel, you should;use a special stainless steel cleaner;that will ensure that the surface is clean.;

The same applies if you are using a porcelain grill.;Use a special porcelain cleaner;for the best results.

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Vacuum And Wipe Burner Tubes And Lower Cookbox

• Use your shop vacuum to remove any remaining debris from the burner tubes and lower cookbox.
• Spray both the tubes and box with grill cleaner, then use a shop towel to wipe them down thoroughly. This is the time to make them as clean and shiny as possible, so don’t be afraid to use lots of spray and towels.
• Once everything’s sparkling, go ahead and replace the cooking grates.

How To Clean Stainless Steel Grates Quick Tips

Stainless steel grill grates can handle 800+ degrees Fahrenheit, which is hotter than any residential grill will get. Unlike cast iron, stainless steel is somewhat rust-resistant.

The easiest way to clean the grates is to simply brush them. Well go over this method below.

With stainless steel grates, you can use a nylon brush or wire brush, but nylon is the safer bet. You always run the risk of scratching the grates using a wire brush if you press too hard.

Also, the bristles can break off in your grill and cook into your food, which is a health hazard. So just be mindful of how much pressure you use when cleaning your stainless steel grill grates.

Now lets get into eight different methods you can use to make them look nice and shiny.

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