How To Deep Clean A Gas Grill
Your gas grill receives a lot of use, especially in Northeast Florida where its warm all year round, and its an important part of your familys outdoor space. Even with brief cleaning after each use, buildup will appear on the grill and itll start to look worse for the wear. A thorough, deep cleaning is required in order to keep your grill functioning correctly and safely and your food tasting great.
Heres how to deep clean your grill:
How To Clean Grill Grates With Coffee
For a deep cleaning , you can turn to the coffee cleaning hack. Here’s how it works: Brew a pot of coffee and pour it into a large container. Remove the grates from the grill , and submerge them in the coffee. Let sit for one hour. The acid in the coffee will help break down stuck-on sauce and grease. Thoroughly rise and dry the grates before replacing them.
Why Is It Important
One of the most important things I consider while picking a Gas Grill is how easy maintenance will be. While gas grills are a lot easier to clean than other types the fact is, it wont do it by itself. For this tutorial we will be cleaning our Broil King Regal S590 Pro Grill that we love.
Whether it is routine maintenance or an end-of-season scrub down, de-crusting isnt fun. The carbon deposits on grills are not just downright ugly and tell-tale signs of poor upkeep they are also grounds for festering bacteria. Carbon accumulation can cause uneven heating, which can ruin that perfectly seared steak. Furthermore, build-up of unsafe grease on your grill can hinder gas flow to your ports and also create flair ups.
The bottom line is, a clean grill is a well-functioning grill. Cleaning your gas grill regularly helps you use it for the longest possible time, and make the most out of it. With a little effort you can ensure that your grill performs better, and that will reflect in the quality of food you make.
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Best Ways To Clean A Grill
There are some tried and true ways to clean a grill that will help you get your grill clean now and clean it in between cooks. It is recommended that avid cookers deep clean their whole grill or smoker every 2-3 months. More casual cookers should do a deep clean at the end of each grilling season. Then, once youve deep cleaned, you can clean more easily in between cooking sessions.
How To Clean Your Grill’s Catch Pan
Always keep the bottom tray and grease catch pan of your gas grill clean and free of debris, advises Kolman. This not only prevents dangerous grease fires, it deters visits from unwanted critters. To do so, remove the bottom tray beneath the grill and set it above a large trash can. Then, gently scrape the inside of the grill with a putty knife, and push all resulting debris through the bottom. To deep clean the tray, use warm, soapy water and a fine steel wool pad, says Kolman. You should also check the catch pan liner monthly and replace it when needed.
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How Often To Clean Your Gas Grill
The average person only needs to deep clean their gas grill following the steps described above 1 or 2 times per year, depending on how heavily you use your grill. However, for everyday cleaning purposes, treat it similarly to your kitchen stove. Experts recommend giving it a good scrub with your brush after each use.
Once per week, let the grill run on high for about 15 minutes to burn off excess grime.
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 .
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Mandatory Gas Grill Maintenance Tips
Oil it up. Use a pair of long handled tongs and paper towel to apply vegetable oil to your grill grates before each use. The oil will prevent food from sticking to the grates too much. Be sure to apply the oil once the grates are hot.
After each use, while the grates are still hot, use your long handled stiff wire brush to scrape off any residual food. Itâs like brushing your teeth, if your teeth were made of metal and your toothbrush was extremely abrasive.
Torch food drippings between uses. If youâre using your grill regularly, once a week you should turn it on high and leave it on for about 15 minutes to burn off any residual food build up, grease and grime.
Invest in a grill cover. The reasoning behind this should be obvious, but the less your grill is exposed to weather, the better. Also grill covers might prevent hypothetical wasps or birds from nesting in your grill between uses.
Safety first. Occasionally check your fuel line for leaks by liberally applying soapy water to all of the propane connectors, valves and line with a sponge or wet rag. Fire up the grill and check for any little bubbles forming in the soap suds. If you see bubbles forming, you may have a gas leak and should replace the problem area, whether it be the hose, valves or connectors.
Note: If youâre storing your grill outside, itâs okay to leave the propane connected but OFF. If your grill is inside, like in a garage or enclosed patio, best to disconnect the gas entirely when not in use.
How To Clean Grill Grates
When cleaning your grill or smoker, the grill grates is always the first place to start. After using high heat and getting the grates nice and hot, once theyve cooled to a moderate temperature, the main goal is to scrape off any remaining residue and carbon char. This can be done in several ways, including:
- A ball of aluminum foil: This simple scrubber method works surprisingly well. After heating up the grill, wad up a large sheet of aluminum foil into a ball, and, with a heat-proof glove, scrub the grates.
- A block of hardwood: You can easily make your own effective grate scraper by using a hand-sized block of oak or other hardwood. Again, make sure you have a heat-proof glove for this one and then rub the wood block on the hot grill grates. After a few uses, grooves will be worn into the wood that will fit the grates perfectly.
- Steam clean the hot grates: Using a bucket of water and a good-quality wire brush, you can create steam to help clean and scrub the grates. Dip the brush in water and scrub the hot grates with the wet brush. Then, use a paper towel to remove any remaining food bits and ensure there are no loose wire bristles on the grates.
You should periodically deep clean your grill grates as well. Remove the grates and use hot water, mild dish detergent, and a brush or stainless steel scrubby to thoroughly clean both sides. Soaking the grates for a little while in a large tub of hot water with the detergent will make the scrubbing even easier.
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Wipe Grime From The Burners
These are the burners themselves. Some grills make them easier to remove than mine if they come out easily, you can rinse these with your soapy water as well.
I didnt want to remove mine and risk messing things up, so I took my damp sponge and just wiped them down. I was surprised at how much grime came off. That grime can ultimately clog the burner if its not cleaned regularly.
Clean The Grill Right After Use
If we follow the steps listed below, we could keep our grills in much better shape. It turns out that it really doesnt take much work to keep a grill clean if we do it regularly.
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How To Clean A Grill With Just Tin Foil
If you’re grilling packets of fish or wrapping up corn, you likely already have a box of tin foil sitting next to your grill. When it’s time to clear off the grates, tear off a piece of foil and roll it into a ball. Hold the tin foil boil with tongs and rub it over the grates to knock off debris and cooked-on food.
Grilling : Cleaning A Gas Grill
Keep your grill functioning at its best with a little loving care! Cleaning a gas grill is important not only for sanitary reasons, but it helps to keep the components of your grill working properly. Knowing what products to use and how to do so, will protect and preserve your grill for years of use.
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When Should You Clean Your Gas Grill
How often you clean your grill depends on how much you use it. In general, a once a month scrub-down of the grates, bars, and grease management system is a good idea, says Kolman.
If you notice your grill isnt heating up as high as usualsay, it struggles to get over 500 Fthat may be a telltale sign its overdue for a cleaning.
Too much grease and schmutz in the grill can hinder the effectiveness of the grill and the quality of the food youre cooking, says Kolman.
Why Deep Clean Your Grill
It may seem like a silly question, I mean, why wouldnt you. However, a deep cleanse vs. general maintenance is very important. You may not cook overly fatty things but everything drips a little. This develops carbon-like debris in the bottom of the grill, which acts as a sponge for any greasy drippings. It doesn’t take much to cause one of those puffy little grease sponges to ignite. Deep cleaning your Napoleon BBQ is also great for ensuring your Napoleons longevity and performance.
Giving your Napoleon Grill a deep clean in the spring, and one in the fall after a hard-working grilling season is a great idea. Now that you know all the steps to the dance, will you be giving your Napoleon a scrub down this weekend? Tell us about your favorite adventures in grilling on our social pages like Facebook and Instagram by using the hashtags #BBQAdventure and #NapoleonGrills.
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Maintaining Your Grill Between Deep Cleans
Green notes “a tight-fitting grill cover will help protect your grill from moisture” and keep it cleaner in between uses. If possible, store the grill in a covered space like a garage or shed when not in use.
Though you should scrape down and oil your grill grates before each use, it’s a good idea to scrape them after each cooking session as well to remove stuck-on food bits before they have a chance to sit. Re-oil your grill grates with a high smoke point oil to re-season them. This will help prevent your food from sticking and rust from developing.
If you don’t take proper care of your grill, it can be susceptible to rust. Green explains that “it’s important to inspect your grill for rust before each use and replace anything that has a hole or crack in it.”
What Tools Or Equipment Do I Need
If youre looking to clean a gas grill with minimal effort, youd be surprised at how much easier life can get when you use the right tools. Among various other grill cleaning supplies available in the market, this is what works best for me:
- Grill Brush, or other coarse cleaning brush
- Soft cloth/rags and/or paper towels
- Wire bristle brush
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How To Clean The Inside Of A Gas Grill With Minimal Effort
Grilling is fun but did you ever wonder what happens to all the grease and other food particles that fall under the grates? They build up inside and eventually can clog the burners.
Whats even worse, the grease will eventually burn itself onto the grill.
The burners will become less efficient and the whole grill will start to smell like old burned grease.
Nobody wants that.
This way youll ruin your entire barbeque party.
The best way to prevent this tragedy is by regular cleaning.
Im not talking about just cleaning the grates but also whats underneath them.
Here, Ill show you how to clean the inside of a gas grill in 7 easy steps with minimal effort like a pro.
Some people assume that heat generated within the grill will kill all of the germs inside. Thats why they hardly commit to cleaning their grills but this could not be further from the truth.
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.
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No Scrub Baking Soda And Vinegar Grate Cleaning
If you have an extremely dirty grill with stubborn, caked-on grease or grime that doesnt loosen right away soaking the grimy grates overnight in baking soda and white vinegar can save the labor of scrubbing.
Try this method to deep clean your grates at the beginning of grilling season or use it after a cookout, especially if you cant scrub the grates right away.
- Once your grates are completely cool, remove from the grill.
- In a large garbage bag , combine 2 cups of white vinegar and one cup of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda. The mixture will begin foaming right away.
- Place all the grates into the trash bag and seal it with a tight rubber band or knotted string. Place the bag with the grates and the solution in a cool, out-of-the-way place and wait 8-12 hours or overnight.
- Remove the grates from the bag and rinse in a large sink or with a hose. Most, if not all of the grime should fall away from the grates. Rub any stubborn residue away with a ball of aluminum foil or sponge it will be much easier and looser than before soaking.
- Seal the garbage bag and discard it and any remaining solution.
- Return your grates to your grill.
