What Is The Best Way To Clean Grill Grates

Does Vinegar Clean Grill Grates

The BEST and SAFEST Way to Clean Your Grill Grates

Vinegar by itself can get the job done surprisingly well.

However, by adding baking soda, the mixture becomes much more effective.

Baking Soda adds an abrasive to the liquid and that makes scrubbing off charred bits and pieces a lot easier to accomplish.

Together, Vinegar and Baking Soda make an environmentally safe combination.

Vinegar plus Baking Soda is one of the best formulas for cleaning grill grates.

Update: Cleaning Grates With Easy Off

Ive used Easy-Off in many tests before and it works really well, so it always wins. I mean its right there in the name: EASY! I almost didnt try it in this test, because I know that the harsh chemicals are a turn-off for some people. But then my editor wrote about how its her new favorite method and I gave it a try. Heres how I did it and how it worked for me.

  • Total time: 90 minutes
  • Rating: 4

The method: Remove cooled grates from grill and place them on a trash bag outdoors, or in a utility sink in a well-ventilated area. Brush the grates to remove as much gunk as possible. Spray the grates with Easy Off, allow to foam, and let sit for 40 minutes. Brush down the grates, rinsing frequently. Be sure to rinse thoroughly before putting them back on the grill.

How it went: The Easy-Off works as its meant to, loosening grit and grime, making it much easier to wipe away. It took me two sessions to successfully remove the grime from the grill grate. The first time cleaned the top of the grate, but didnt loosen the stuff that was really stuck down in between. After another 40 minutes, I was able to easily wipe down most of what was left over. There was a tiny bit of gunk left, which I was able to easily get out with some aluminum foil. This method was the easiest , but again, I know its not for everyone.

How do you clean your grill grates when they need a deep, deep clean?

What Is The Best Way To Clean Grill Grates Without A Brush

Picture this. You are about to host a BBQ, but your grill grates are disgusting, and you dont have a grill brush.

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Or, you just got your brand new grill and forgot to pick up a brush to go with it!

Neither situation is good, but lets face it it happens. We forget things all the time, or our grill brush is worn out, lost, or eaten by the dog.

Never fear, where there is a will, there is a way!

In This Guide

  • How to Keep Your Grill Grates Clean
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    Grill Brushes Can Be Hazardous

    Grill brushes are like a balding man. When one hair falls out, more are sure to follow. The difference with metal bristles is they can be fatal if swallowed. .

    If you do use a grill brush, choose a brush with a solid head. Check to see tightly packed bristles before and after each use.

    If you notice missing bristles, discard that brush immediately. Friction is what holds bristles in place. When one bristle falls out, there is less pressure holding the remaining bristles in, and they start to shed en masse.Use the brush only after you are finished cooking where you can rinse or inspect the grate before cooking again.

    Two Simple Steps To Keeping Grids Clean:

    How to Clean a Barbeque Grill in 15 Minutes
  • Clean your grids while the grill is hot after you are done barbecuing. Its a great way to pass the time while your meat is resting.

  • If you forgot, preheat your grill to 500°F+ for 10 to 15 minutes before you begin cooking. Once the grill has gotten nice and hot, use the brush to clear away any debris from your last grilling session.

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    Technique # 1 The Burn Brush And Rinse

    No! Dont set your grill on fire. You simply wrap the grates with heavy duty aluminum foil, close the lid and crank up your grill to a high heat temperature for approximately 15 minutes.

    The food and grease sticking on your grate will be burnt off and become brittle. Use a quality scraper or grill brush to remove the remaining carbon.

    Then you can hose off any remaining debris and residue. Now, youre ready for the next barbecue.

    You may see a similar technique online where you put the grates in your home oven to burn them by setting the oven to the cleaning mode. Bad idea. The smoke can set off your smoke alarm, smoke is never good in a house, and there is the distinct possibility of a grease fire in your oven.

    Besides ruining a perfectly good oven, do you really want to hear about it from your spouse?

    How To Clean Ceramic Grill Grates Step By Step

    Hi everyone, welcome you to ceramices.com website. Today Im talking about how to clean ceramic grill grates. The ceramic grill surface is very smooth. Ceramic grill grates are popular among home grillers. They hold heat very well and rust-resistant.

    It can be tricky to clean ceramic grill grates as they tend to chip easily, especially when they are scrubbed by a hard grill brush. To clean ceramic grill grates properly, use a soft grill brush.

    In this content, I will give you some tricks and tips to clean your ceramic grill properly and easily. You can also use household products or professional ceramic grill cleaners if the ceramic grill grates are thick-coated in grease and food derbies.

  • Final thoughts
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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.

    Get A Ceramic Safe Professional Cleaner

    Grill Grates, The Best Way To Clean

    This is a good rule of thumb to do a deep clean on your ceramic grill grates twice a year. If your ceramic grill grates are very dirty, you can use a professional ceramic safe grill cleaner for a deep clean. Make sure they are safe for ceramic grill grates.You can buy a ceramic safe professional grill cleaner online or at your local store. Most of the grill cleaners come as a spray bottle for easy application.

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    Onion For Cleaning After Each Grilling

    An old barbecue trick I learned from my grandma is to clean heated grills with onion. Peel an onion, cut it in half and use the cut side for cleaning the cast iron grate while holding the onion in your hand or on a barbecue fork. This is a healthier way than oven cleaner, for example, because you don’t use chemicals.

    The Best Grill Grate Cleaner

    If your grill grates are beyond some elbow grease and mild detergent, you may need specific cleaner designed for grill grates.

    When you are looking for the best grill grate cleaner there are a couple of things to remember:

    • While you will of course rinse your grill grates after cleaning them, you are cleaning a surface you cook with. Avoid harsh chemicals.
    • Be sure to try the Nothing But Elbow Grease Method before advancing to grill cleaner.
    • Are you sure your grates are cleanable? If they are cast iron and full of rust, it is time for a new set of grill grates. You can learn more about the different type of grill grate materials here.

    I have two go to products that I have used when my grill gates were a especially dirty.

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    Cleaning Stainless Steel Grates: What Should You Do After Cleaning

    One of the most significant advantages of stainless steel grill grate is their minimal maintenance requirements. In contrast to cast iron grill grates, which must be cleaned on a regular basis to preserve their condition and avoid rust, steel grates do not need any of those.

    Steel grates will remain in excellent condition as long as they are properly dried with paper towels after cleaning and the grill is completely dry. If you live in a humid region, ensure that you have an outside cover for your grill while it is not in use.

    The most important guideline to follow while grilling on stainless steel grills is to oil your food and stay away from the grates. Many individuals do the exact opposite, which is incorrect for two reasons.

    To begin, oiling the grill grates with cooking oils is pointless since the oil will not adhere to the kitchen surface. It will just tumble into the flame below and will serve no use.

    In the second case, even if the cooking oil was able to adhere to the grids surface for any reason, the heat from the flame below would eventually melt it away.

    Not only does oiling your food keep it from adhering to the grills surface, but it also makes cleaning much easier. There will be little oil left on your grill to clean.

    How To Clean Your Grill Grate The Ole Fashioned Way

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    We like to do things the old-fashioned way and cleaning grill grates just happens to be one of them. Forget all those fancy chemical cleaners that are on the market. A little bit of elbow grease will make your grill grate as good as it needs to be.

    There are a few effective ways that you can clean your grate. There are three quick and easy methods, only one of which I use.

    Burn:

    Line your grill grate with a piece of aluminum foil. Place it back on the grill and turn the grill on high. Once youve done that, close the lid. We recommend you leave the grill alone for 15 to 20 minutes.

    Once the time is up, open the grill and remove the foil using tongs. Use a wire brush to scrap away the ash on the grill grate. A possible downsize to this methodif the grill stays at very high temperature for too long, the heat may warp and pit the grates or the metal chamber and other parts. It may shorten the life of gas burners or electric elements. The exterior finish on the grill itself can crack or lose its shine. It wastes fuel.

    Soaking:

    If there is any leftover debris on the grates, use a steel wool pad to remove the particles. Then rinse the grates off with cold water. Be sure to remove all traces of the soap

    Brushing, The Buz Way:

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    Use A Wet Brush On The Grill Grates

    This step is for more dirty grill grates. If your grill grates are dirtier and the grime, grease dont want to come out with just a brush, you can try dipping the grill brush in water and using it to clean the ceramic grill grates. A wet grill brush can help you to remove any dirt or food debris from your grill grates. Make your ceramic grill grates turn on and let it heat up. The hot temperatures will help you to clean it easily.

    Switch off the grill grates and let it cool. Dip the soft grill brush in a bucket of water to make it wet. Run the wet soft grill brush on the dirty greats in a diagonal motion. Start cleaning from the bottom of the ceramic grill grates and go to the upwards.

    Do it continue with a wet brush until the grill grates properly cleaned. Then rains the grill grates and wipe with a soft cloth. Now your grill greats are ready for use.

    Stubborn Stains On Your Grids

    Unfortunately, from time to time, something stubborn sticks to your cooking surface, dont fret. Try these tips instead.

    • A sheet of foil, shiny side down, over the offending area while the grill is heating up to 500°F should loosen the problem. When the grill is hot just brush the offending detritus away with your grill brush. **Please consider wearing Heat Resistant Barbecue Gloves when doing this as the grill will be very hot.**

    • As a last resort, soaking your filthy stainless steel grids in hot water, then scrubbing gently will help get your grids squeaky clean. Just remember that in doing this, you are stripping off the seasoning you have built up and the grids will need to be re-seasoned. Dont worry you can reapply that seasoning by following our instructions on how to season your stainless steel cooking grates.

    Why does the tinfoil trick work? The tinfoil will form a concentrated convection over the offending area. This also traps steam if there is moisture present. It will break down the baked on gunk so that it is easier to remove with a grill brush, very similar to when you turn on the self cleaning in your oven.

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    Can You Clean Grill Grates With Dawn Dish Soap

    For this method, you can clean a cold or hot grate. Fill a large bucket one big enough to fit the grates with hot water and a tablespoon of Dawn dish soap per gallon of water. Go with it, if they choose Dawn to clean birds after oil spills, it must be the best for gently removing oil.

    Are Household Cleaners Suitable For Cleaning Grill Grates

    The Best Way To Clean Stainless Steel Grill Grates{GG SilverBac}

    The Internet has so many DIY solutions to make cleaning products for the best way to clean grill grates. Weve gathered some of the best here. Youll read a lot about a miracle cleaner in the form of baking soda. If you mix baking soda with water in equal parts, youll get a paste. Grease the grill with it. Wait until the paste has dried and wipe the grill clean.

    Coffee grounds are also a popular choice for cleaning grill grates. Put some coffee grounds on a sponge and scrub the grill with it. The fine coffee grains act like an exfoliator. Rinse the grill off with warm water afterward.

    Spraying a crusty grill grate with vinegar or soaking it in water with a shot of vinegar is another household remedy for cleaning your grill grates. Another method is to wrap the grate in wet newspaper. The next day, remove the paper and rinse the grill.

    These household remedies work in most cases, but can be a bit unreliable. If you do not want to experiment when youre cleaning, wed advise you to use a commercially available product. After all, there are special grill and oven cleaners for exactly this purpose.

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    Cleaning Grill Grates With A Brush And A Scraper

    The simplest way to clean grill grates is using a brush and scraper. You can find grill cleaning brushes at most hardware stores or even local grocery stores. This provides a way to remove leftover food particles and any cooking residue while your grill is still warm after cooking.

    Regularly using a grill brush and scraper will help to prolong the lifespan of your grill grates to ensure better grilling performance and safer usage.

    Of course, not all grill brushes are the same quality. The best grill brushes and scrapers have wire bristles that can tackle both gas and charcoal grills. However, if you have porcelain grill grates, you should not use a metal brush. Youll need a brush with nylon bristles that will not cause damage to the coating. Once you have a good brush, the technique is quite straightforward.

    Wait until the grill is still warm. You dont want it too hot or you risk burning yourself, but it should be warm enough so any leftover food or grease is still soft for easier removal. Use an up and down motion with the side of your grill brush to start cleaning. Try to use the same direction to minimize damage to the protective coating on your grates.

    Rotate the brush to get between the side of the grates and clean all sides. You can dip your brush in some soapy water as you scrub. Regular dish soap will help to dissolve any grease.

    How To Clean Porcelain Grates Quick Tips

    Porcelain grill grates are popular because they insulate heat well and theyre resistant to rust.

    But, you still need to periodically clean them to keep them in great condition.

    Watch out for chips and scratches in the porcelain finish. If water comes into contact with the metal under the finish, this may cause rust.

    So take extra caution when cooking with metal spatulas or other metal tools.

    Make sure to use a nylon brush which has soft bristles rather than a metal brush to keep the porcelain scratch-free.

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    Chrome / Nickel Plated Wire Grates

    If you own a standard Weber grill, youve seen these shiny cheap grates before. They work well for a while but after a couple of good years of service, theyre ready to toss out. The plating eventually comes off and they tend to rust quickly. Not too much loss, but then again theyre made to be replaced. These grates work excellent since the grate is thin enough to get a good sear on your meat.

    Weber/Kettle Grill Hinged Grates

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