How To Clean An Outdoor Grill Grate

How Do You Clean An Outdoor Propane Grill

Clean the grill using a stiff wire brush dipped in water. Do not lean over the grill while cleaning, as this should create plenty of steam. For tough grease spots, add dish soap to the water or a grill cleaner. Once the surface has cooled, wipe the grate with a damp cloth to remove residue or brush bristles.

How To Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates Heavy

Youll eventually encounter a grill grate that wont come clean with a low-impact method. To tackle tougher stains and caked-on grease and grime when you need to know how to clean BBQ grates, reach for a heavy-duty cleaning option.

Having a high-powered grill cleaning method in your back pocket will prepare you for any eventuality and give you peace of mind. Its what you need to become a master griller and top outdoor chef.

This section examines different methods of cleaning grill grates when the usual options dont get the job done. Youll get an excellent solution for cleaning stainless steel grates with vinegar that you can also use on other grate types.

And, we show you some options on how to clean grill grates that use household items such as salt and baking soda to knock out even the most formidable grill stains.

The Obvious Approach: Brushing

This method works best if it is done immediately after grilling while the grate is still hot. Before the grates cool off, scrape each grate with a brush, both top and bottom sides. You can also dip the brush in water which will create a steam that loosens the grease. Not only will this make cleaning time shorter, but it will discourage insects from hanging around your grill. Depending on your grate you may need to wipe them down with a cloth after scrapping.

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How To Season Ceramic Grill Grates

When you buy a new ceramic grill grate, you need to season before using it. Seasoning helps the ceramic grill grates heat process and oiling the grates to keep your grill operating at its prime. Season your ceramic grill grates every six months. It will increase your grill performance for a long time.

Step A: Make your ceramic grill grates cool. Spread high heat oil like canola oil, peanut oil with a toothbrush on the grates.

Step 2: Wipe off excess oil from the grates with a paper towel. A thin layer of oil must remain on the ceramic grates.

Step 3: Turn on the grill and heat for 15 to 20 minutes or until the oil burns off and the grates being to smoke.

Step 4: When you see the color of the grate is a dark or bronze turn off it. Leave the grill away for some time to be cool.

Step 5: Wipe the grill with a soft and clean cloth or a paper towel. Clean it twice to make sure there are no dirt remains. Read more, Apply Ceramic Coating On The Car

Technique # 2 Soaking

Soaking your grates is an easy way to loosen the burnt carbon and grease. You will need a container large enough to house the grates within a water solution for this.

Here is a safe and easy soaking solution

If you dont want to buy a plastic tub, you can get by using a heavy-duty lawn trash bag. Just be sure there are no leaks. The black water will stain almost everything it touches.

Another alternative to soapy water is vinegar and baking soda.

Here is a quick video titled how to clean stainless steel grill grates from ehow, showing the vinegar & baking soda method.

Also Check: How To Convert Gas Grill To Natural Gas

Can You Burn Rust Off

Some people will tell you that as long as you get the temperatures up on your grill, you can clean it. When the grill is hot, it can certainly help to remove some residue, but it is not going to help you remove rust.

When the grill is hot, using a wire brush will help you to get the excess food off, but rust will probably still be there. You may get some of the flakes of rust to fall off, but you need to treat the area with something that will help eliminate corrosion.

Burning off your grill before cooking to remove excess food is fine, but it will not eliminate the rust built up on the grill.

Have The Guests Arrived But The Grill Is Not Clean

In the event that your grill still doesnt look great and you dont have time to clean it, just copy Emeril Lagasses approach:

Wrap fish fillets, sliced veggies, and other quick-cooking items inside foil packets with bundles of fresh herbs and throw them directly on the grill the steam will release the herbs perfume and flavor anything contained inside the pouch.

Im sure no one will notice.

Do you know any other techniques for cleaning stainless steel grill grates? Let us know in the comments below.

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What Happens If You Dont Clean Your Grill

If you dont clean your grill, it will continue to accumulate grease, baked-on food, and charcoal. Your food will start to taste like the inside of your grill, which is not pleasant. Also, with enough baked-on food in your grill, it may catch fire. It will also start to smell of old food if you dont clean it consistently.

That wraps up our guide on how to clean your gas grill with minimal effort. Hopefully one of these strategies works well for you. Have fun barbecuing!If you liked this article, check out our other articles below!

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How to Make Cast Iron Grates Look New

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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.

What Is The Best Way To Clean Grill Grates Fast And Efficient Methods

Cleaning your grates is an important step to making them last longer. But the question is – is the cleaning process the SAMEfor all types of grates?

The BEST way to clean them actually depends on the TYPE of grates you have.

Dont worry as our experts have prepared a COMPLETE guide on how to correctly and efficiently clean grills of any kind!

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How To Clean An Indoor Electric Grill

Indoor electric grills are available in small and large sizes. They are great alternatives for smaller homes.

In apartments, larger size grills are often not allowed because they are considered a fire hazard. Thats where indoor electric grills come in.

Here are the steps you need to clean an indoor grill appliance:

Step 1: Turn off and unplug the indoor grill.Step 2: Make sure to take all food off the grill.Step 3: Place two layers of wet paper towels on the warm grill. Step 4: Close the lid and wait for one to two minutes.Step 5: Clean it up with dry paper towels. Step 6: Make sure every part is dry before using it again.Another type of indoor grills is the electric Griddle.

Clean Your Grates With Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most potent household cleaning agents around. Thanks to the acetic acid it contains, vinegar slowly eats away at grime and dirt. Vinegar is perfect for cleaning up coins, tiles, and laundry, and itll clean up your worst barbecue grill grate issues. Use it to remove corrosion from aluminum, too.

It also makes a fantastic natural stove cleaner. Cleaning stainless steel grill grates with vinegar keeps them looking sharp. You can use this method with cast-iron and porcelain grill grates, as well.

• Gloves

Dip the brush in vinegar. Scrub the grill with the brush until its clean and all the food particles are gone.

You can add a teaspoon of table salt if youre working with cast-iron grates and need some extra cleaning power. Repeat until the grate is clean, rinse the grate and re-season it if required.

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How To Clean Grill Burners

Now, remove the burner tubes and clean themthoroughly. They may be attached with a screw or cotter pin, depending on yourgrill. Removing burners can be quite complex with some grills. Old Weber Genesis grills had a complex system,where the electrodes were mounted to the first burner, and a crossover tubecarried the flame to the other two. Over time, corrosion would tend to freezethe screws attaching the crossover tube, preventing you from detaching it,which required an elaborate workaround to change the burner .The point of this digression is that burners are complicated, and vary a lotfrom model to model, and brand to brand. If you cant look at the burner andfigure out how it works before disassembling it or if parts are frozen inplace feel free to . Wed be happy to talk you through it.

Remove the igniter and wrap the wire endscarefully in foil to keep them free of debris. Be sure to note exactly how theigniter fits into the burner failing to reinstall your igniter assemblycorrectly is one of the surest ways to have your grill refuse to light.

To insure you get the correct burner from your grill, measure the burner from end to end and compare the dimensions to what we list on our site.

Baking Soda And Scour Sponge Grate Cleaning

If you have porcelain or enamel grill grates, this is the method for you. Metal such as a wire brush or aluminum foil can scratch the finish of coated grill grates, so using a scour sponge or nylon bristle brush is best. Dont worry though, the power of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda will help dissolve and abrade the charred on food bits to get your grill grates clean.

• Remove the stainless steel grate from the grill and place on a flat surface.
• Moisten the grill grate with water.
• Sprinkle ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda liberally over the stainless steel grates and let sit for 10 minutes.
• Using a damp scourer sponge, scrub the grate going up and down each wire.
• Rinse with water and return the grate to the grill.

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Clean The Ceramic Grill Grates Properly

Use the soft bristle brush and run it diagonally along the ceramic grill grates. Scrubbed the grill smoothly and lightly, fluid the motion from the bottom to the top of the grates. Run the brush straight over the ceramic grill surface. It will be easier to remove the food derbies and grease on the greats.

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.

Also Check: How To Convert Gas Grill To Natural Gas

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

Cleaning Lightly After Every Use

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Insert Them Into Your Grill

Pro Tip: Now that youre done cleaning, oil the grill grates with canola oil before you cook. This will help prevent food from sticking to the grill in the future and make cleaning much easier.

Canola oil, peanut oil, and avocado oil are all great due to their high smoke points.

Olive oil and extra virgin olive oil are not good to use as they have a smoke point. They will burn at around 400º which is too low for grilling.

Now lets continue with the rest of our grill grate cleaning methods.

What To Do With Charcoal

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The end-of-the-day, just-ate-a-ton-of-meat laziness is kicking in, and with it, the total desire to ignore a problem at hand: the remains of spent fuel.

I implore you, overcome your meat coma and clean out that ash. See, a pile of ash left in the grill can collect moisture, and ash plus moisture can equal a cement-like substance that can become your biggest challenge to cleaning your grillif you can manage to clean it out at all.

To make quick work of this, I keep a big bucket by the grill where I can dump ash at days end. Not only am I more likely to complete this annoying chore if it’s that much easier, but I can also safely move still warm coals out of the grill to finish extinguishing. I store that bucket somewhere where it won’t get wet, then trash the collection of ash when it’s full and I’m positive there’s no coals still burning.

Ash disposal becomes even easier if you opt for lump charcoal, since it creates relatively little ash when compared to briquettes.

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