Aluminum Foil As A Stainless Steel Grill Cleaner
This method works, but should only be used as a last resort, as BBQ tools provide far better results. To remove food residue and grease from your cooking grates before cleaning, ball up some aluminum foil and scrub off the grime.
For aluminum grates, you can also try using a homemade aluminum cleaner recipe. If your grill grates are cast iron, its important to reseason them after cleaning a cast iron grill.
Ensure that you take care of seasoning a cast iron grill after cleaning it. This process involves using oil to rub all over the grates after washing to ensure that they dont rust and to provide a non-stick surface for your next grilled meal. Always reseason your cast iron grill after cleaning.
Quick Answer: What Can I Use To Clean My Stainless Steel Grill
For regular cleaning, Weber and Char-Broil, both big sellers of gas grills, suggest using a dedicated stainless steel cleaner. But Char-Broil agrees with other manufacturers that you can also use a mild liquid dish detergent mixed with warm water. Avoid harsh cleaners such as bleach.
How To Maintain A Gas Grill
- Before grilling, let the grill preheat for 15 minutes to burn off the baked-on food and grease.
Its best practice before every use to burn off all the excess food on your grill. This also makes it easier to clean. Most of the baked-on food will be ash so you wont have to worry about scrubbing the grates vigorously.
- Invest in a grill cover.
For the cold winter seasons, you probably wont be using your gas grill too often. Invest in a grill cover to protect it from the elements and keep it in good condition for the next summer.
- Brush your grill grates off before grilling.
A grill brush is a must. Brush off your grill thoroughly before every use before putting meat on the grill.
Looking for a durable grill brush? Check out the .
- Use a stainless steel polish to protect the gas grill from rust.
When you clean your grill, you might as well apply a polish as well. It keeps your grill shiny and beautiful for years to come. Many grill cleaners double as a cleaner and polish, like this one from Weiman, available on Amazon.
- Empty your drip tray every couple of weeks.
Most gas grills have a drip pan or drip tray that catches grease and oil that drips off your grill grates. If you neglect this, youll have to deal with a nasty grease-coated tray that will be difficult to clean.While youre cleaning your gas grill, remove this tray, dump the excess grease into the trash, and soak it in some warm water and dish soap.
Recommended Reading: What Grills Are Comparable To Weber
What You Need To Clean Your Stainless Steel Grates
When cleaning stainless steel grates, you want to make sure that youre not damaging them. Thats why you have to be super particular about the types of cleaning tools and solutions you use.But just because youve got to be specific does not mean that youve got to spend a lot of money. In fact, weve got quite a few DIY solutions that you can make with things that youd already have around the house.For items, tools, and ingredients, youll want to have:
- Grill brush, stiff nylon scrub brush, or a stainless steel BBQ scraper
- Scouring pad
- Dishwashing liquid and clean water, a soapy water solution, or Citrusafe Grill Cleaning Spray
- Aluminum foil
- A soft cloth or clean towel
- White vinegar
The overall cleaning process can be simplified into four easy steps
How Do I Make My Stainless Steel Grill Look New
Its best not to use stainless steel cleaners or polishes on the grill because theyre not designed to be used on surfaces that get very hot. Instead, fill a bucket with warm water and add some liquid dish detergent to create a warm, soapy solution. Never use an acidic or abrasive cleanser on stainless steel.
You May Like: How Long To Grill Chicken
The Best Homemade Stainless Steel Cleaner
- Total Time: 10 – 15 mins
- Skill Level: Beginner
Fed up with all the fingerprints and greasy smudges on your stainless steel appliances? Skip the;store-bought stainless steel cleaners, and grab a bottle of vinegar from your pantry instead. It’s all you need to keep your appliances looking shiny and new. Read on to learn how to create your own stainless steel cleaner for pennies and avoid buying expensive commercial cleaners.
Though it’s tempting, never use your other go-to cleaning products on stainless steel, such as oven cleaners or chlorine-based cleaners. They are harsh and abrasive and can permanently damage your stainless steel. You also may have run across many other ways to clean stainless steelincluding using furniture polish, flour, or glass cleaner, for exampleand though there may be merit to these methods, they could be messy to use and require other precautions.
Cast Iron Grill Grates
If appropriately maintained, cast iron grill plates can last for several decades. After the grill heat has burned off food residue, scrub the cook plates with a wire brush or scraper.
After you have removed all leftover food particles, coat the entire surface with a high smoke point oil, like vegetable oil, and let them dry completely. If you skip the seasoning process, your grill grates are more likely to face corrosion and rust.
Read Also: How To Grill Boneless Chicken Breast
How To Clean Stainless Steel Grill Grates So They Look Like New
Despite what some people say, that horrible baked-on grease and old food on your grates is NOT extra flavor. Its dirty, acrid-tasting junk. Get it cleaned off! Heres how to get your stainless steel grates looking like new and how to keep them that way.
Youve invited friends for a nice barbecue cookout and they just arrive as youre about to lay your food on the grill. You watch your friends faces as their smiles turn to frowns. They stare in disgust at your pride and joy grill because it looks like a plane wreck scattered with chunks of unidentified burnt remains.
To everyones horror, you are about to lay their food right on those dirty black crusty grill rods. Shame on you! In your defense, youve tried everything you could, but the crusty black traces of bygone barbecues seem welded to the grill.
Dont despair. Youre on this page for a reason, to find a solution and simple ways to keep your stainless grill grates clean.
Through some research and testing, Ive found the best-proven ways for how to clean stainless steel grill grates, to return them back to looking like new. Its really not hard once you know how, and with just a little investment of time each time after you grill, its not even very demanding.
But before we get going, you first need to know what NOT to do.
Note:This is not the guide for you if you have cass iron grill grates. Please head over to our guide for how to clean cast iron grill grates instead.
Contents
Vinegar And Foil For Cleaning
Vinegar can dissolve burnt on food while gently cleaning your grill racks. Foil can be effective in removing debris without scratching the surface.
Recommended Reading: Who Makes Backyard Grill Brand
How To Get Your Stainless Grill Grates Looking Like New
To get those grids looking brand new well, you cant. Once used, your cooking grids will begin developing what is called a patina. Its a combination of discoloration from heat, and a buildup of oils on your barbecue cooking grates that will protect the stainless steel from corrosion and create a non-stick surface for you to cook on. That isnt to say that you cant have some nice looking grids. As outlined in the video, if you use a great, high-temperature oil like Crisco, palm oil, or lard to season your grids every few uses, and keep those grills clean, the grids will remain in great condition.
As always, we recommend that you exercise caution when using a grill brush and remember to perform proper grill brush maintenance to ensure that you arent losing bristles.
How To Clean Bbq Grates
The best way to clean stainless steel BBQ grates is to clean them after each use. Give your stainless steel cooking grids a scrub with your stainless steel grill brush, or our bristle free grill brush. Doing this while the grill is still hot will mean you dont have to do it when you go to cook next time, and goes a long way to ensuring your stainless steel cooking grates remain looking like new.
Don’t Miss: Don Adolfo’s Bar And Grill
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.
Burnoff Brush And Rinse
If youre really struggling with stubborn food remnants and soaking doesnt work, then this method will definitely get rid of them. Wrap the stainless steel grill grates in extra heavy-duty foil and place them back on your charcoal grill or another grill.
Make sure that the heat exceeds 520°F and place the grill cover on top. Leave it to cook for around 15 to 20 minutes.Once done, remove the aluminum foil and scrape the burnt food remnants. Use a grill brush or stainless steel BBQ scraper for this task. Everything should just flake right off. After that, you just have to wash away the burnt residue with hot water and dish washing soap.
Don’t Miss: Which Traeger Grill Should I Buy
How To Clean A Gas Bbq
To clean your gas BBQ, you need to disconnect the gas first to ensure your safety. Detach all removable parts and clean them individually. Wash the body of the BBQ, leave it to dry and reassemble the grill back.
Here is the detailed process of how to clean a gas BBQ:
Cleaning The Outside Of The Grill
There are many strategies you could use for grill cleaning. When cleaning the outside of your grill, we do not recommend using stainless steel cleaners and polishes. Instead, use warm water and dish detergent to create a soapy solution as one of the best ways to clean a grill safely and effectively.
Avoid abrasive and acidic cleaners as they damage the grills finish. Dampen a microfiber cloth in the dish soap and water solution. Wring it out and wipe down the exterior of the grill. Always go in the same direction as the grain to prevent scratching.
Microfiber is the best material to use as it wont scratch the steel, while other fabrics may. For stubborn areas with caked-on grease or other stains, use a soft sponge. Never use a scouring pad or steel wool.
Once everything is clean, rinse with warm water to remove all of the dirt and soap residue left behind from cleaning. Dry with a microfiber cloth, making sure to follow the direction of the grain once again to prevent scratches. You can use some of the same cleaners you use to clean a stainless steel kitchen sink to clean the exterior of your grill.
Don’t Miss: How To Clean Grill Grease Off Concrete
Should I Oil My Grill Grates
Oiling your grill grate helps prevent food from sticking when cooking. To to this, dip a wadded paper towel in a little oil and, using tongs, wipe the oil evenly over the grate. Be careful not to use too much oil, because thats a sure fire way to start a good flare-upa little goes a long way here.
Can You Use Oven Cleaner On Stainless Steel Grill Grates
Spray the grill grates with oven cleaner, coating them thoroughly. You can also spray the interior of the grill with the cleaner, but do not get oven cleaner on the exterior of the grill because it can damage the enamel finish. Use the same solution to wipe down the interior and exterior of the grill, if desired.
Also Check: What To Grill This Weekend
Best Answer: How Do You Clean The Outside Of A Stainless Steel Grill
Go with the grain of the stainless finish, which is usually from side to side rather than up and down. Wiping against the grain can scratch the surface. Rinse with clean water if youre using soapy water. Dry with a clean soft cloth to prevent water stains that can occur from air-drying.
Will Rubbing Alcohol Damage Stainless Steel
Rubbing alcohol is antibacterial so it gets rid of nasties that may be hanging out on handles and surfaces. It also dries quickly without leaving so much as a streak in its wake. And adding a bit of water helps tone down the alcohol so it wont damage your stainless steel or leave an overpowering smell as it dries.
Also Check: Where To Buy Grill Rescue Brush
What Should You Not Use On Stainless Steel
Dont Use Steel Wool or Steel Brushes
Steel wool and steel brushes leave little particles on the surface of the stainless steel. These particles eventually rust and can stain the surface of the steel. Steel wool and brushes are also abrasive and can scratch the surface of your stainless steel.
Clean Off The Flame Tamers
Your flame tamers are the barriers that sit between the burners and the grates of your grill. As they’re so close to the grates, they will get food build up on them, so you’ll need to clean them off. A good, small wire brush is best here to help you get it off. Once you’ve done this, use a dry paper towel to wipe them off. It’s important that the grill is allowed to cool before you start cleaning these, or any other interior components.;
Also Check: Where Can I Buy Weber Grill Parts
Soak Your Stainless Steel Racks Overnight
Cleaning stainless steel grill racks may require an overnight soaking.
Burn Grease And Grime Away
The burning of food and spilling on the grill cannot be avoided. Even an expert will need to have a soft brush ready to remove debris regularly. As you prepare food for guests, burn the grates afterwards on a regular basis as upkeep.
Answer to this question: How do I get baked on grease off my stainless steel grill?
Its good practice to burn off any food residue left on your grill by turning all your burners to high for 15 minutes before grilling, -Kevin Kolman
Read Also: How To Spice Up Grilled Cheese
