Clean The Cooking Grates
- Use the putty knife and wire brush to remove all debris from the cooking grates, brushing it straight into the garbage can the grates are balanced on. Scrape the biggest pieces of gunk first, then use a wire brush on the top and bottom of the grates to get what’s left.
- Once all debris is removed, spray the grates thoroughly with grill cleaner, then wipe them clean with a heavy-duty disposable shop towel.
Degrease The Upper Cookbox
- Disconnect the gas supply from your grill, then put on a pair of gloves to protect your hands from grill grease and cleaning products.
- Mix a solution of 20 percent dish soap and 80 percent water in a spray bottle, then open the lid of your grill and spray down the inside of the upper cookbox. Leave the solution to dissolve the grease for a few minutes, then brush it thoroughly with a stainless steel brush.
- Next, carefully remove the cooking grates and balance them on top of an open garbage can lined with a garbage bag, to prep them for cleaning.
How To Remove Rust From Cast Iron Grates
Sometimes accidents or unintentional neglect can happen, and your grates will sadly become rusty.
This can occur if you accidentally leave the cover off your grill, or if you simply dont use it for a prolonged period and moisture gets inside the grill.
If this happens, dont panic there are several ways you can remove rust and restore your cast iron grates to their former glory.
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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: ;
Clean The Grill Grates
You should always clean your grills grates immediately after use by rubbing them with a metal scraper before the grate cools off. The grease is still loose at that point and should slip right off.
If you have years of buildup, however, youll probably need a more labor-intensive approach.
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Cast Iron Grill Grates
If you ask me, these grates can be perfect for getting non-stick grilling if you are very careful. Heres why this happens and why so many people think cast iron is some magical metal. The surface has a very nice quality of holding cooking oil. Its iron, so the little imperfections in the metal will allow the oil to remain on the surface evenly. But when you add heat, this changes everything. That oil can burn-off and then you get fat and food sticking to the grate.
Youll have to clean these more often when the heat is getting too hot. Even though they hold up great for higher heat, they will need scrubbing and oiling after every use. They can be a headache over the other alternatives. If you want to keep it simple, dont invest in cast iron grates unless you are prepared to do more prepping to keep these grates well oiled and properly cleaned.
Youll Get Lots Of Bacteria
Just imagine what grease and meat chunks would be able to grow after a few months of sitting out in warm weather. You might think that just cranking the heat, or using an autoclean function will be enough to kill everything, but this isnt always the case.
Heat in your grill is concentrated in the cooking area. Below the burners, where fats and grease tend to accumulate, doesnt get nearly as hot. This might not be enough to kill whatevers being cultivated there.
This is why a thorough clean, including some disassembly and degreasing, can go a long way in keeping bacteria away from your food.
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Use Tin Foil To Wipe Clean
While you can use a specialist BBQ cleaning pumice stone, you can do just as good a job with the leftover tin foil youve been cooking with. If youve been using tin foil on your BBQ, screw it into a ball and just scrub away, says Lynsey Crombie. That will start to lift off the food. a good budget alternative to buying a cleaning tool.
Dirty Grills Pose Health Concerns
Its true that preheating a grill probably kills any bacteria, but thats not the only health concern.
When the grills heat hits greasy buildup on dirty grill grates, it can produce a chemical tied to colorectal cancer. That process also leads to grill flare-ups which can overcook if not ruin your food.
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Now Were Cooking Outside In
Steaks, burgers, and veggies, that need to be seared or cooked from the outside inward, should be placed directly over the burners.
A little olive oil brushed on the steak will prevent it from sticking.
Do NOT use salt on the meat before cooking, as it draws out the moisture and makes the meat dry.
If you do salt it as you start cooking, use coarse salt to get a nice salty crust.
A bit of coarse black pepper can be nice, too.
Easy Ways To Clean Grill Grates
Cleaning your grill grates may sound daunting, but it doesnt take much to get them sparkling. Heres how to clean grill grates four ways.
1. Burnoff
This is the quickest and easiest method for cleaning grill grates. Grill grime, begone!
2. Clean with Hot, Soapy Water
In addition to using the burnoff method, we recommend scrubbing your grill grates down with hot, soapy water every month. This way, you can ensure that there isnt any lingering buildup on your grates. Plus, this method kills two birds with one stone: cleaned grates that are also sanitized by the heat.
Lightly scrub your grates.
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Is Apple Cider Vinegar Better Than White Vinegar For Cleaning
Truth be told, there are no actual differences between these 2 kinds of vinegar in terms of cleaning.
The main difference is the smell.
White vinegar has a strong sour smell while apple cider vinegar gives off a more pleasant sweet odor.
So, if dont like the smell of white vinegar, then use apple cider. Your grill grates wont be less clean.
How Cleaning Bbq Grill With Vinegar Works
It only takes a few simple steps to clean your barbecue grill with vinegar. All you need is a spray bottle, lukewarm water, white table vinegar and a sheet of aluminum foil.
You can also use vinegar to clean the exterior of your grill. If you don’t want it to smell like vinegar for days on end, it’s best to go with the diluted solution. Instead of using aluminum foil to scrub, just use a standard cotton cloth. Spray the solution on the cloth instead of directly on the grill so it’s easier to make sure you hit every area. Use a cotton swab to take care of any tight spots.
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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.
How To Clean A Charcoal Bbq
If you have a charcoal BBQ, you need to deep-clean it at least once a year. Even more often, if youre using it regularly. Carbon and ash can accumulate from the barbecues frequent usage, which can be extremely dangerous for your health.
Clean the grill grate and the charcoal grate. Remove the ash and clean the bottom of the BBQ and the tray. Reassemble the BBQ back and leave it to air dry before putting it away.
Follow the step-by-step process of how to clean a charcoal BBQ:
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Pour On A Splash Of Beer
Image credit: Charlie Richards
BBQs and beers go hand in hand so if find yourself with a little beer leftover after a BBQ, pour it over the grill while its still warm. Then give it a good scrub with a wire brush to get it sparkling. Its not a waste of good beer dont fear, its a savvy way to get the grill gleaming.; Use beer to clean your BBQ advises Lynsey. Using your scrubbing brush pop beer onto the end, she demonstrates while presenting on This Morning. The acid in the beer will help clean it .
Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates Without Removing From The Grill
Cast iron grill grates are durable and heat evenly but can be prone to rusting. If you open your grill to see rusty cast iron grates, dont despair. Reach for the baking soda, even if your cast iron grates dont easily come out of your grill.
- Make a paste of 1 ½ cups ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda, ¼ cup dish soap, and ¼ cup white vinegar in a small bowl. It should be a frothy liquid consistency that sticks to the grill grates.
- Using a brush, paint the grill grates with the paste, avoiding the heating elements if this is a gas grill. Close the grill. Note: do not turn the grill on.
- Let the paste sit for 8-12 hours or overnight.
- Use a nylon-bristled brush or scourer sponge to remove the loosened debris and grime.
- Use a damp sponge and warm water to wipe away any remaining residue.
Once all the rust is removed, thoroughly dry the grates and rub them with a generous amount of vegetable oil to coat them and protect from moisture. You can also turn the grill on high after coating with oil to help lock in the seasoning and be ready for your next BBQ.
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Clean The Bbq Grill With Newspaper And Steam
Lynsey Queen of clean has a neat trick with newspaper to clean a caked-on BBQ grill. Allow your barbecue to cool slightly, but while its still warm, lay a sheet of old newspaper across the top and generously spritz with water. Close the lid for half an hour to steam clean it.;
Lynsey explains, Grab one sheet of newspaper and pop it o the BBQ youve been using and just get a spray bottle of water and spray the newspaper. Pop the lid back on and what will happen is this will give your BBQ a steam clean. It will start to release all that grease, all that fat and all those bits from the food.; When you take the newspaper off it will be all greasy and; dirty, put that away . And youll find the newspaper has done most of the work for you.
How To Clean A Grill 4 Min Read
While some call all that buildup and grease seasoning, lets call it like it isdirty grills are nasty and they can make steaks, burgers, and dogs less tasty. But lack of flavor isnt the only concern with dirty bbq grillsthey can also harbor bacteria that can lead to foodborne illness.
The Department of Agriculture attributes the increase in foodborne illness during the summer to dirty grills and improper food handling while cooking out. The leftover food from grilling can harbor bacteria and it attracts pests that can leave pathogens on your grill. The quickest and easiest way to reduce bacteria on your grill is to always heat the grill for 20 minutes before cooking to kill pathogens and bacteria. But your grill will also need a deep cleaning at least twice a year.
Heres how to clean a grill for better tasting, healthier grilling.
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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.
Your Food Will Taste Funky
This one really shouldnt come as too much of a surprise. We all know how you get all kinds of leftovers stuck everywhere when youre done cooking. Obviously, these dont stay fresh forever.
If you dont clean your grill, youll be exposing fresh meats to old gunk. This happens when pieces of meat stuck to the grill dislodge and stick to what youre cooking. Also, the leftover grease, fats, and meat pieces that are near the bottom of the grill will eventually go up in smoke, giving your food a fresh coating.
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How To Clean A Charcoal Grill
Charcoal grills are easy to use but quick to build up with grime. Before you start cleaning, be sure the grill is completely cooled down. Treating a burn will add way more time to your grill cleaning regimen, and youâve got burgers to prep!
- Remove grates from inside the grill.
- Remove all the old ashes.
- Make sure the ashes are completely cooled before doing this! Do not add water to the coals to cool them, since this creates a chemical reaction that will erode the metal of your grill.
- Some charcoal grills have ash catchers beneath the bowl, so be sure to check for ashes there, too. If you want to go analogue, use a garden trowel to scoop out the ashes. A more effective and modern solution for the ashes is to suck them out with a vacuum hose attachment .
