How To Clean Your Outside Grill

Deep Cleaning Your Propane Grill

You dont need any high-tech tools to do a thorough job of cleaning a propane grill from top to bottom. All you need are some basics: rubber gloves, aluminum foil, a grill brush, and a large bucket of hot and soapy water. Dish soap is recommended.

• Make sure all the grill burners are off and that the dials are in the OFF position.
• Turn off and disconnect the propane tank. If youve just finished grilling, wait until the grill is barely warm before doing this.
• Take out the grease trap and turn it upside down over a trash can so it can drip.
• Put on the rubber gloves and remove the grates as well as the burner protectors under them. Put the grates and burner protectors in the bucket of hot, soapy water for a good soak. Put the grease trap in as well.
• Use aluminum foil to cover the burner tubes and other heating elements. Then thoroughly clean the underside of the hood and the inside walls. Wipe dry with paper towels.
• Take the grates, burner protectors, and grease traps out of the bucket and clean those. Rinse well.
• Take the foil off the burner tubes and gently wipe the tubes.
• Carefully check burner holes with a toothpick to dislodge any clogs. Replace the burner covers, grates and grease trap.
• Clean the grill exterior with a manufacturer-recommended cleaner.

Cleaning Grill Grates: Stainless Steel And Cast Iron Grill Grates

Stainless steel and cast iron grill racks require much more care because they scratch easily. Cleaning grill racks made from stainless steel or cast iron involves using equipment designed for them and a soft cloth.

• Tongs

Use a stainless steel grill brush to clean a grate surface made from the same material, choosing between a straight or roll option. Both clean the top of the grates thoroughly, but roll brushes make it easier to clean the grate sides.

Scrub the rack. Dab a paper towel or cloth in a teaspoon of vegetable oil. Wipe the towel along each bar using a pair of tongs to prevent rusting. Allow the oil to dry directly on the grate.

It makes clean up effortless in the future, preventing food and germs from sticking later. Avoid steel wool and wire brush scrubbers on stainless steel because they cause scratching and lead to rust.

If you do see rust, rub it with aluminum foil to help redeposit chromium. Try also rubbing an old stainless steel grill rack with aluminum foil to spruce it up. Never use abrasive cleaning products.

Cleaning Cast-Iron Grates

The best way to clean a cast iron grill is to soak it in vinegar, baking soda, or hot water. Use a steel wool brush or scraper to remove the gunk before soaking cast-iron grates. Rinse thoroughly.

Cleaning Your Gas Grill Before And After Grilling Season

You can do a deep steam cleaning to your grill at the end of the season to make sure youre putting the grill away in tip-top shape. You may also want to do this again at the beginning of the seasonto clean off any dust that has accumulated over the winter.

• Start by preheating your gas grill for about five minutes . Then shut it down and disconnect it from the gas supply.
• Using a bucket of water and a stiff wire brush, start cleaning the grill. This will create steam, which will help remove even the most crusted grills. Be careful not to burn yourself, and dont lean over the grill into the steam. You can use some soap added to the water if you havent been cleaning your grill regularly after each use.
• Let your grill cool completely, then wipe down the grate and insides with a damp cloth.
• Tearing down your grill, like connecting the gas line, will allow you to clean in nooks and crannies, like getting blockages out of gas ports. Clean side to side using the brush on these, so you dont push debris farther into the ports.
• You can use hot soapy water with Dawn to clean most of the internal parts of your gas grill, including the burners. Put everything back into place once its clean and dry.
• Cleaning the outside of your grill may need a little extra care since you dont want to scratch surfaces or remove any paint. You can use a grill cleaner or the same soap and water mix youve been using, but use a soft microfiber cloth to clean with.

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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.

Best Scraper: Chargon Ultimate

Its the perfect alternative to using a wire brush. Its also handy to hang up with your other BBQ cooking tools. This design comes with a leather strap for hanging on your grill when you need to use it. It has an angled blade design that wraps around of the grate for better coverage on your grates.

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Clean Grates And Racks After Each Use

Cleaning chores are much easier if they are done often, after each use of the grill. This is critical with gas grills since the high temperatures can bake on grease and foods, making it challenging to clean the grates and racks once they cool and the grease hardens.

Make sure to clean these parts after every cooking session.

Other Hacks Weve Seen

First, brush the grill gates with a neutral oil, like canola. Sprinkle kosher salt all across the grates. Then, scrub them down with a halved potato.

* Get the grill piping hot, then scrub it down with half an onion. While this sounds like a lovely method for cleaning the grill pre-steaks, this will likely impart flavor, so best not to do this before grilling peaches.

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Deep Cleaning A Gas Grill

Cleaning a gas grill with vinegar is a chemical-free way to spruce up your grill safely without compromising on effectiveness! Heres how:

• Prep Your Working Space: When cleaning a gas grill, start by turning off the propane . Better yet, go ahead and remove the entire propane tank from the grill. This way, the grill is easier to move and to clean.

• Remove the Grates: Wearing gloves, carefully lift the cooking grates, any other racks , the grease tray, and grill burner covers and place them in your kitchen sink or large bucket. Soak in warm water and a few drops of dish cleaning soap

• Take Inventory & Get Cleaning: Open the lid and the cabinet doors, and get to work. I find it easier to work your way from top to bottom. Start by applying a steady stream of the vinegar solution directly to the grill . Allow it to sit for a minute or so, and then, using paper towels or a rag, use a circular motion to remove any dirt and debris. For stubborn areas, use a scrubber sponge or even the grill brush.

• Clean Inside and Underneath: Are you wondering how to clean the inside of a gas grill? Truth be told, youll use the same techniques as outlined above. Simply spray, wait, and scrub. Dont forget to scrub and sweep the bottom cabinet .

• Finish Up Those Grates: Your grates, grease tray, and burner covers have been soaking for about 15 minutes now. Give them a good scrub, a final rinse, and then place them right back on the grill.

Cost: Free

How To Clean Your Outdoor Propane Grill

Posted: August 3, 2020

If youre like many people in the Delaware Valley, you have opted for a staycation this summer, staying safe at home with your family and enjoying outdoor living in your own backyard.

Of course, cooking out on your propane grill plays a big role in that. For safety sake, you should always do a deep cleaning of your grill at least once a yearor more if your grill has been working overtime. This will keep it running properly and safely. Of course, you should also use a grill brush to scrape off any food residue every time after you finish cooking. This will avoid flare-ups.

As youre cleaning your grill, dont forget to make sure your propane cylinder has enough propane. Its always a good idea to have a back-up cylinder on hand in case you do run out.

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Simply Wash And Rinse With Soapy Water

Its a good idea to start with fresh warm soapy water again. Otherwise, youll get grease smears all over the outside of your grill, and thats never a good look.

Using a sponge, gently scrub the exterior all over, particularly around the grooves and knobs where grime tends to stick.

If you have any stubborn bits of burnt food or grime, soak it with warm water and cleaning product a few times, 30 seconds or so apart to loosen it.

Do not use a scourer as this will scratch the paintwork or surface.

Once youve rubbed it down thoroughly, rinse it with clean water using your garden hose set to a low power setting, and thats it!

Important Notes On Maintaining Your Gas Grill

• Check your grease collection tray:Every time you grill, make sure the tray is not full, as that can lead to a dangerous grease fire.
• Brush the grill grates before grilling: After you preheat the grill, brush the grate with a grill brush or wadded piece of foil to remove the burnt bits of food from the last grilling session. Its easier to loosen the bits when the grates are hot.
• Oil the grate:Oil the hot grates before grilling so food doesnt stick.
• Brush the grates after grilling: If you have time, brush the grates one more time after grilling.

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Use A Commercial Cleaner

Sometimes you just want to be able to spray on a commercial cleaner to clean your grill. Thats totally fine, and you can still avoid the worst chemicals when you do this if you buy a naturally-derived grill cleaner like this one. Just follow the instructions on the bottle to use the cleaner and scrub your grill clean.

Donts Of Bbq Cleaning

• DONT remove all the greaseWhile you might want to clean your BBQ, you also wouldnt want to remove all the grease and leave it like that. Oils protect the BBQ from rust and prevent dirt from sticking.
• DONT use harsh chemicals for cleaning a BBQHarsh chemicals will affect the taste of the food afterwards and can harm the finish of the BBQ and its components.
• DONT use abrasive scrubbers BBQs with stainless steel finishTo preserve the perfect finish of a stainless steel BBQ, avoid abrasive materials when cleaning. A detergent or a wool cloth will scratch the surface, and it will never look as new. Cleaning in circular motions is a no-no. Test on one little spot before you continue cleaning the whole BBQ.
• DONT disassemble gas componentsWe strongly suggest you dont try to disassemble the gas components of a BBQ because its a safety hazard. If not assembled right, you might have a trip to the hospital instead of having a BBQ party. So its best to leave the gas components as they are.

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How Do Youdeep Clean A Propane Grill

Deep cleaning your gas grill is when you will need to remove and replace certain parts to clean them.

Clean the burner valve with soapy water, running water through the inside of the valve.

Clean the inside surfaces of the grill using a nylon-bristle brush dipped in warm soapy water. Rinse with clean water.

When all surfaces are dry, reinstall the burner valves, burners and heat tents.

HOT TIP: To protect your gas grill from rusting, its very important to thoroughly dry the inside surfaces as well as each and every part thats washed or rinsed with water before you reinstall them.

Check your operating manual before cleaning the outside of your grill. Certain materials may be sensitive to harsh cleaning agents. For a stainless-steel exterior, use a specially-formulated stainless-steel grill cleaner and micro-fiber cloth. Ceramic, porcelain and painted steel surfaces can usually be cleaned with a sponge using a solution of mild dish soap and water.

Use A Homemade Grill Cleaner On A Gas Grill

This method is best for gas grills that just need regular cleaning. If your grill is heavily soiled, check out the other tips down below. Heres how to make a homemade grill cleaner for a normal level of dirtiness.

1. Combine 3 cups of water with 1 cup of vinegar and 10 drops of Dawn dish soap. You want the mixture to be sudsy, but not all bubbles, so if you add more Dawn, do so a little bit at a time.

2. Turn your gas grill on to its full temperature. Let it heat up for 15 minutes with the grill lid closed.

3. Turn the grill off, dip your wire grill brush in the sudsy vinegar water, then scrub the hot grill racks.

4. Let the grill cool all the way down. Once its cool, dip a sponge in the vinegar mixture and wipe down the inside and outside of the grill. Dont use anything too coarse on the outside of your grill , to keep from scratching it.

5. Rinse your grill down with clean water, then wipe it dry. A microfiber cloth would be perfect for drying your grill and really making it shine.

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Learn All The Ways To Clean Grill Racks

If you never learned how to clean grill racks, you came to the right place. Our ways to clean grill racks include options for all types of BBQ grill racks and ovens. There are many ways to clean grill racks, but none require special equipment or products.

Whether you regularly grill in oven or on your Big Green Egg, you need to know the right way to remove stuck-on food and sauce drippings from the racks. Read more to find the best strategies.

How To Clean A Charcoal Grill

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.
• Replace your grill brushes annually.

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Clean The Grill Inside And Out

Remove coals and ash from the inside by dumping them into a trash bag. If your grill is equipped with an ash catcher, you can use it, but you may still need to remove some ash by hand. Wipe the inside and outside with a rag. Wash the grill using dish detergent and hot water. After cleaning by hand, hose down the grill and grates and let them dry.

Do I Need To Clean My Gas Grill After Each Use

You do not need to clean your gas grill after each use. If you use your gas grill every day, clean it every one to two weeks. If you use it a couple of times a week, clean it every month. If you spend a whole day barbecuing for a large group, you may want to clean your gas grill after youre done grilling.

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How To Clean Hot Plates

Cleaning the plates while theyre still hot will make your job much easier and maximise the results.

Hot plates have a flat surface and tend to get food stuck in them. To make them clean again, remove the food from the plate and leave the BBQ turned on for a while. The heat will burn off anything left on the plate. After that, take a spatula and scrape the residue left from the food. You can also use a newspaper for scrubbing. Just make a ball from it and scrub it on the plate.

Once the BBQ has cooled off, pour a bit of cooking oil on the plate and wipe it up with a brush. After that, use a microfiber cloth to dry it up.

Before the next use, repeat the procedure. Pour some cooking oil and distribute it evenly with a brush until the BBQ gets too hot.

How to clean greasy plates?

Hot temperatures kill the bacteria, but you can still get sick if old fats go into your food. Its not the bacteria that may cause diseases, and its the toxins they contain.

To get rid of the grease from your plates, turn the BBQ to a high temperature and let it warm up. Scrape off the surfaces with a spatula or a scraper until the residue is removed.

Turn off the BBQ and sprinkle salt on top of the surface. Let it absorb the excess grease. When the BBQ is cool enough, use paper towels and wipe up the surface.

How to clean rusty plates?

Step 4: Pour regular cooking oil on the BBQ plate and rub the surface with the grill stone. Pay extra attention to the rustiest spots.

Warning:

Seasoning method: