What Can I Use To Clean My Grill Grates

The Obvious Approach: Brushing

How To Clean Grill Grates – THROW AWAY Your Wire Brush!

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.

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.

Good News: Grilling Season Is Almost Upon Us Before Firing Up Your Gas Grill Take Some Time To Learn How To Clean It

If your gas grill is a workhorse during the warm weather months, its worth learning how to clean it. Follow any of these options to get your gas grill clean, which will help your food taste great and keep your grill in good shape for years to come. Be sure to tune up your grill at the start of the season, too.

For grilling safety, always make sure your grill is cool and both the grill and its gas supply are turned off before you start cleaning.

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Best Way To Clean Grill Grates

Well-maintained and clean grates are the key to a sumptuous and well-cooked meal. Not only will you achieve perfect and DEFINED CHAR MARKS, but youll also be doing your grill a favor.

There are 3 regular cleaning methods you can try at home. Well also go over the safest and fastest deep cleaning method for stubborn greasy grates!

So, grab your grates, and lets get cleaning!

Stay Safe And Use An Aluminum Foil Ball To Clean Your Grill

How to Clean Porcelain Coated Grill Grates with Video ...

So for everyone at a home, I just want to encourage you guys to stay safe and grill on. Get rid of that wire brush, grab an aluminum foil ball. Ive heard of some other techniques with an onion, but at the end of the day, I can eat the onion, so I really dont want to use it to clean the grill. So anyway, thanks for tuning in. If you liked this video, you know the drill, go ahead and hit that big thumbs up like button or even better.

so that you can follow our adventures as we share more simple cooking tips and delicious recipes involving the meats. Ill see you guys next.

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How To Clean Rusty Grill Grates

By: Author Lindsay Reed

The burgers and hot dogs are ready, but your grill grate is rusty. Not sure how to get that rust off so you can showcase your grill-master prowess and keep your food delicious?

Thankfully, its pretty simple to learn how to clean rusty grill grates using ingredients you probably have around the house. Ive outlined a few of my favorite ways so you can find the one that works for your grill and your timeframe.

Allow Yourgrates To Season

Avoid over cleaning your grates in the beginning to allow them to season and develop a non-stick coating. We like to compare GrillGrates to a good cast iron pan: seasoning is the KEY to good food! Your grates will go from gray to light brown to black over time this is a good thing!

Warning: Do not put in the dishwasher.Do not use oven cleaner or harsh caustic cleaners.

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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.

Cast Iron Grill Grates

How to clean porcelain coated 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.

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Grillaholics Brass Grill Brush

A brass grill brush will safely clean any grill grate even a porcelain- or ceramic-coated grate without worry of scratching. The Grillaholics Pro Brass Grill Brush features a 3-in-1, 360-degree brush head that quickly cleans the top and sides of grates. The heavy-duty handle is guaranteed not to break even under maximum pressure. And this grill brush comes with a lifetime money-back warranty.

Can You Use An Onion To Clean Grill Grates

It sounds like an old wives tale, but yes, you can clean dirty grill grates with an onion. Onions have natural antibacterial properties and natural acids that break up gunk thats burnt onto the grill grates.

First, heat up your grill for 15 minutes so the grates get nice and hot. This will help food particles burn off. Meanwhile, slice a large onion in half. Once the grill has heated, rub the onion along the grates. It helps to use a long fork or something similar as a handle for the onion. Or you can use our wooden grill grate scrape.

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Specific Grate Material Care

  • Stainless Steel: to help prevent rust you can put a piece of aluminum foil over the grate and turn the grill on for 10 minutes. The foil will concentrate the heat and help quickly burn off stuck-on food that could lead to rust.
  • Cast Iron: these grates are particularly hardy, except when it comes to water. Be sure to use a nylon brush after cooking to scrub the grate down and prevent water from sitting on it. Oil coatings are particularly important for these grates as well.
  • Enamel Coated: enamel coated surfaces guard against rust, but you have to keep the enamel intact. Harsh wire brushes, metal utensils, or hard contact could fracture the enamel. If the enamel chips off your grate could start to rust.

If youd like to read more about specific grate materials, take a look at this article from Weber.

Use An Onionto Season Grates

Grill Grates, The Best Way To Clean

One of our favorite tricks is to cut an onion in half and rub down the tops of the rails of clean, hot grates. Onions contain many sulfur compounds that when heated, creates a super slick, rock-hard surface which is good to 1000°F before it degrades. Onions also contain antibacterial compounds that help keep your GrillGrates safe to cook on.

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Grill Brush With Nylon Bristles

Never use wire brushes on your grill grates. Wire bristles can break off on the grill grate and end up in your food.

Instead, use a BBQ cleaning brush with nylon bristles that wont damage your cast iron grill grates. It will still remove any stubborn burnt-on food particles without wires ending up in your food. Make sure the grill is cool before using.

Every Three Months: How To Clean The Outside Of Your Grill

Give the outside of your grill a once-over at least four times a year — more often if you dont have a grill cover.

Before you clean the outside of your grill, unplug it, and make sure that its cool to the touch so you wont get burned. Clean any noticeable grease from the outside of the grill with a disposable rag and warm, soapy water. Finally, apply a high-quality car wax to the outside surface of the grill to protect it from the elements.

Only use non-abrasive cleaners and cleaning pads on the outside surface of your grill. Abrasive cleaners could cause scratches which could result in rust.

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Best Cleaning Device: Wagner Spraytech

The caked-on residue that seems would never come off is no match for this Wagner steamer model. The plus side is you can use this steamer for all sorts of cleaning on your grill aside from the grates. The upper lids or the inside parts that are hard to reach wont be a hassle anymore to clean. This portable steam cleaner makes cleaning your grill a lot more fun!

How To Clean Bbq Grill Grates With Vinegar

108 – Cleaning a Weber BBQ grill grate

Every time you use the grill it gets messy.

Bits of food and grease get stuck to the grates and some even fall down below into the grill.

If youre using a charcoal grill, then its even dirtier because of the ash.

Ash is not that big of a deal. You just scoop it up or if youre clever suck it up with a vacuum cleaner.

The real problem is the burnt food residue on the grates.

If you dont clean them after every cooking session, it will get layers of dirt and grime, and fat.

Thats not only unsanitary but also detrimental to your health.

The most simple solution would be to just scrub the grates with a wire brush. Hold on. This stuff is burnt on pretty badly, kind of like glue.

Instead of spending hours scrubbing your ass off, why dont you try a different approach?

In this guide, Ill show you one of the most simple and effective ways to clean grill grates by using vinegar.

Its natural, cheap, every household and store has it, and its super effective.

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How To Clean Stainless Steel Grill Grates Making Them New Again

The first advantage of using stainless steel grill grates is that they can withstand highly intense heat. And unlike cast iron, theyre not prone to rust or corrosion. Another benefit is that they dont have any coating that can chip off and leach into your food.

However, if food particles get stuck on your stainless steel grates for so long, they carbonize over time and are tough to remove as a result.

That can really ruin your meal. Therefore, you need to care for them regularly to ensure theyre in good shape for many years to come. Good thing is that stainless steel is very simple to clean.

Below, I will show you how to clean stainless steel grill grates properly, starting with the tools that we need for this job.

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Salt Vinegar And A Black Trash Bag

If you need to do a pre-season deep clean or have a very rusty grate, this is my favorite method. Low tech and effective this technique uses the acidity of the vinegar and abrasiveness of the salt to eat away at your grill grate rust.

I suggest gathering all your ingredients together before you begin and setting up on a flat surface where you can lay your grill grate for 24 hours.

Using a 2:1 ratio of vinegar to salt, mix your solution. For most grills, two cups of vinegar and one cup of salt should be enough to cover the whole grate.

After youve mixed your solution, place your grill grate flat inside the black trash bag on the ground. Use a heavy-duty bag , or you could end up with a torn bag and a rusty puddle.

After your grill grate is in the bag, pour the salt and vinegar solution over it. Keep the grate in contact with as much of the solution as possible. Tie the bag off and leave it alone for 24 hours.

When you open up the bag, use the rag to scrub off any rust still left on the grate. With a little elbow grease, you should get that grate clean and ready for grilling.

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How To Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates

Cast iron grill grates are durable and toughbut their number one enemy is water since they’re extremely prone to rust.

To clean a cast iron grill, burn off any leftover food and allow the grill to cool before scrubbing the grates with a nylon brush. Once your cast iron grill grates are clean, dry them. Then, saturate them with vegetable oil to form a protective coating against rust.

Why Is Cleaning The Grill Grates So Important

Is my grill grate rusty or does it just need a good ...

Cleaning the grill grates is essential because they are a big part of grilling. You cant have a good cookout without clean grill grates. Cleaning the grill grates is no different from cleaning the houses floors, especially the clothes. Like clothes, grill grates need to be cleaned every day if you use them often and dont want to smell bad food odors or food that doesnt taste right.

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Remove The Cast Iron Grill Grates From The Stove

The grill grates are an integral part of most grills. The grates cook the food placed on it by heating up, thus searing the surface of the food and sealing in its flavors. Grill grates are made from different materials like steel, cast iron, or porcelain-enameled metals.

A cast iron grill grate is generally preferred for even heat conductivity over other types of materials. And that is why they are used as a standard on pellet smokers though there are few gas smokers which also have them installed to distribute heat evenly across the cooking surface.

They come in various shapes and sizes just like any other regular grate but they last longer than other types making them worth every penny you spend on them.

They do not warp over time, something that happens with steel grates when exposed to high heat for prolonged periods. Even when rust occurs on the grate, it is an easy task to restore its original appearance by simply seasoning it in oil or lard and baking it in the oven until the fat becomes baked-on. This process of seasoning will also provide a nonstick cooking surface.

Because of the above benefits, the cleaning of the cast iron grill is very important. And the first step is to get them out of the stove. You should know how to remove the cast iron grill grates from the stove. On many occasions, we might need to change a new one because it is broken or dirty.

The Most Important Grilling Accessory

There are a handful of essential tools that every pit master needs to have on hand, like a thermometer, a light, fire starters and more. And youll also want a place to store all of these things, so you have them on hand whenever you need them. However, the most essential item everyone from the casual cook to the pro chef is a good grill brush to keep your grates clean.

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How To Keep Rust From Coming Back

After any good cleaning coat your grill surface with vegetable oil on both sides. The oil can keep moisture from attacking the metal. If you want to store your grill for long-term over the winter, put your grill grate inside a plastic bag. When youre ready to use the BBQ again, take them out of the bag and give them a good wipe down with paper towels. Youre then ready to fire-up the barbecue again and start cooking.

Since you dont have to put them in a bag all the time, always wipe the grill down before cooking on them. Vegetable oil also attracts little bugs, dust, and debris. Clean surfaces work better if they dont have any kind of build-up. The oil just helps you keep rust from ruining an afternoon BBQ.

How To Clean Stainless Steel Grill Grates

How to Clean a Gas Grill – Deep Cleaning the Weber

Stainless steel grill grates are fairly rust-resistant and can tolerate intense heat. Since they generally need just a quick brush, they’re easy to clean, too.

When burning off leftover food, cover the tops of your grill grates with aluminum foil. This concentrates the heat, so when you heat the grates for 10-15 minutes, they get extra hot and burn away food easily.

Then, allow the grates to cool and clean them with a grill brush.

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