What You Need To Clean Your Grill
Before you begin cleaning, make sure the grill is completely cool, including the grates, ash box, and all components. You can heat the grill for 15 minutes before you start cleaning it in order to burn off excess debris on the grates, but make sure to let it cool down until its warm, and use a grill brush to scrape off ash and loosened debris.
Note: Do not use oven cleaner on a grill or put any part of a grill in a dishwasher.
Techniques & Methods To Get Rid Of Rust On Cast
Grates may get rusty due to accidental or involuntarily negligence. Thus, it is essential to keep an eye on them. Moisture may accumulate within your grill if you mistakenly keep the lid off or if you do not use it for an incredibly long period of time, allowing it to rust. Leaving that way might also cause it to become a breeding ground for mildew and other microbes.
Fortunately, you can eradicate corrosion from cast-iron grates in several ways and restore them to their original splendor, so dont lose heart if this happens to you.
Diy Grill Cleaner Tip For Gas Grills
Its essential to clean your grill regularly for two reasons: to catch buildup that has stuck around and to prevent future build up from forming. If your hot grill is made from stainless steel or cast iron, use these few tricks.
If youre using a grill that is gas operated, turn on the clean knob to preheat the grill to soften grease and residue and make it easier to remove. Use your wire brush to scrape off the extra gunk.
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Wipe The Grates And Racks
Wipe the grates and racks with a damp rag to remove loosened bits, and make sure there are no loose brush bristles left on the grate .
If you have a cast-iron grate, clean it completely, then brush on some vegetable oil with a paper towel to keep your grate in proper shape. Bare cast iron needs to be inspected regularly, because it is more likely to rust.
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Scrape And Brush Burner Tubes And Lower Cookbox

- Use a stainless steel wire brush to remove all debris from the burner tubes. Be sure to brush the tubes from side to side only, because front-to-back brushing could clog their holes and prevent the proper gas flow next time you light the grill.
- With the burner tubes clean, use a shop vacuum or hand broom to remove any loose debris from the bottom of the cook box. Use a putty knife to scrape all remaining debris into your grills grease tray.
- Use a headlamp or flashlight to make sure youre not missing anything. If your grill has accessories in the lower cookbox, such as flavorizer bars, scrape and brush those clean, too.
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Storing Your Traeger Pellets
The best way to store your unused pellets is to keep themyou guessed it, dry. Moisture does not benefit these guys.
For best results, some recommend not leaving pellets in the hopper, but rather emptying them into an airtight container when you are not using the grill.
We live in a high humidity environment in South Carolina, and have never done this. We keep the hopper closed, the grill cover on, and the grill in a covered location.
Would it be better if we did? Maybe. Do we have the time and the bandwidth to empty every time? No. Have we ever gotten bad results from it? Not that we know of.
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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How Do You Clean And Restore A Cast Iron Skillet
A: To clean a cast iron skillet, you should use soap and water. You can also use a mild detergent to remove any food particles stuck in the pan. After that, dry it off with paper towels and let it air dry. If your skillet is rusty or has other stains on it, you should scrub it with an abrasive cleaner before cleaning it.
Cleaning Lightly After Every Use
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Soak The Grill Grates And Metal Pieces In Hot Water And Dish Soap Soak Them In Your Sink Or A Large Plastic Bin
At this point, youre probably hoping that you dont have to scrub the grill grates vigorously. Luckily, you dont. Just fill your sink with hot water and dish soap and let the grates soak. Some grill grates will be too big to fit in your sink. In that case, set your grill grates in a shallow plastic container with hot soapy water.
If you dont have a plastic bin handy, you can try the strategy we used to clean stove top grates. Learn more right here.
Before You Start Cleaning Grill Grates
Determine whether your grill grates are made of porcelain, cast iron or stainless steel. How you clean your grill grates and what products you use depends on what material the grates are made of. Keep these tips in mind before you start scrubbing.
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Porcelain grates: Porcelain grates are rust-resistant as long as the finish is intact. To clean, use a soft-bristled or nylon brush in lieu of rougher metal or wire brushes.
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Cast-iron grates: Cast-iron is tough so they can handle those stiff, wire brushes. However, they do rust easily, so we recommend rubbing the grates down with either vegetable or canola oil after cleaning.
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Stainless Steel grates: These grates are durable and dont require as much special care as porcelain or cast-iron grates. But, that doesnt mean they arent subject to rusting. To prevent rust, be sure to dry the grates completely before cleaning.
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A Better Way To Clean Your Bbq Grill
Its barbecue season, which means youre likely firing up the grill to whip up some of your summer favorites. But after a whole winter season sitting stagnant, it likely needs a good clean. So you get out your bristle brush and begin scraping.
Except the grime isnt budging. If no amount of elbow grease seems to get to the bottom of the stuck-on grime and oil, Jeff Rossen, NBC News National Investigative Correspondent and host of Rossen Reports, has some tricks up his sleeves to help you get through the grime and back to cooking up some tasty summer fare.
Best Pellets For Traeger Smoker

Traeger makes a variety of different pellets for their smokers and grills. All of the Traeger brand pellets are all-natural hardwood, are made in America, and are most commonly sold in bags of 20 pounds of pellets.
Their pellets also come in a variety of flavors, which you may change depending on the type of food youre cooking.
Fruit woods like cherry and apple impart a sweeter, more subtle flavor that matches perfectly with poultry, pork, seafood, and baked goods.
Bolder staples like oak, hickory, and mesquite are tailor-made for savory beef, wild game, and vegetables.
The chart below shows you the different flavors of pellets and what they best cook:
Here are the varieties of Traeger wood pellets available:
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You Don’t Need A Brush To Keep The Grill Spic ‘n’ Span Here’s A List Of Ways You Can Clean Up Without One
Using a grill brush isnt the only option when it comes to getting your grill clean between barbecue sessions. These unexpected ideas for how to clean a grill will all get the job done effectively, no brush required. You wont feel guilty about firing up the grill to cook extra-saucy BBQ recipes this summer, because any leftover marinade will come off in minutes.
Be sure to clean your grill grates or racks after each use for the best-tasting meals. Heres what to do:
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Degrease The Upper Cookbox
- Disconnect the gas supply from your grill, then put on a pair of gloves to protect your hands from grill grease and cleaning products.
- Mix a solution of 20 percent dish soap and 80 percent water in a spray bottle, then open the lid of your grill and spray down the inside of the upper cookbox. Leave the solution to dissolve the grease for a few minutes, then brush it thoroughly with a stainless steel brush.
- Next, carefully remove the cooking grates and balance them on top of an open garbage can lined with a garbage bag, to prep them for cleaning.
Clean Using Salt Paste As A Base
Kosher salt and water can be more abrasive to remove the rust off your cast-iron BBQ grill grate than sodium bicarbonate or vinegar. After applying it, use a wire brush or a ball of steel wool to remove any remaining rusty material. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
If you have obstinate rust, you may need to start with a salt paste however, once the first few layers of rust are removed, you can switch to some less gritty sodium bicarbonate paste.
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How Does Grill Grates Get Dirty
When preparing the dishes that you love on a grill, oil drips from the steaks and settles on the grill grates as a result of the excess heat.
Some of the oil may evaporate from the surface but with continued use, a lot of leftover oil settles on them and forms a coat.
Burned food also collects on them as a result of the excess heat as well and in no time, your grill will be full of dirt and all sorts of grime.
Dust settles on the grates when it is in storage and this makes your grill a hotbed of germs and all manner dirty things.
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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.
How To Clean The Grease From The Grill

Scrape any grease or food debris off the grill with a griddle scraper. Scrub the grill with warm water and a non-abrasive brush to remove the grease. Apply food-safe polish when the surface has cooled. Using a dry towel, clean the surface.
If the grill is burnt, mix one glass of water with a half cup of vinegar and pour it on the grill. Allow 10 minutes for the frying pan to heat up and boil. After that, add 2 tbsp baking soda. This material will react with the vinegar to create bubbles, which will aid in the removal of burnt spots.
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Why We Dont Like Brushes For Cleaning Grates
Everybody thinks that wire brushes work best, but in reality, they can be dangerous if not used properly. You need to use a scraper to knock down the dried-up stuff that a wire brush cant do easily. Like brushing your teeth huh? Not really, since little wire hairs can snap off and stick to the greasy spots you cant get to. You wont see it there until it gets in your food. Sending your BBQ guests to the hospital is never part of the plan.
Only use a wire brush after youve scraped off all the grease and given the grill a good inspection. Dip your wire brush into water before doing any scrubbing after the grill is free from oil and junk. If the grill is still hot, the water will vaporize and causes steam to remove anything left-over. This will also prevent little wires from sticking to the grill surface too as theyll drop down into the grill bed.
Be Careful With Metal Bristle Brushes
Metal bristle brushes are a very effective tool to use when it comes to cleaning a grill or smoker, but you have to be very careful. Especially with cheaper brass bristle brushes. Sometimes, the bristles can become loose, fall out, and stick to the grill grates. This is the last thing you or anyone you are cooking for want to end up ingesting. That can quickly turn into a bad situation.
If you are using a metal bristle brush, make sure to wipe the grates with a damp paper towel or cloth to pick up any loose bristles. Some people even rub half a lemon or onion over the grates after brushing to eliminate any bristles. Look the grates over one last time before cooking just to be extra careful.
You will have less chance of stray bristles with a good quality stainless steel grill brush versus cheaper copper. But, if you do notice any bristles coming loose from your brush, dont chance more getting stuck on your grill and throw the brush away.
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Learn How To Clean Grill Grates The Right Way Follow These Tips And Your Grilled Food Will Taste Better And Be Saferjust In Time For Burger And Brat Season
Its grilling season! Whether youre a grill master or a newbie to outdoor cooking, all grillers need to know how to clean grill grates the right way. Dirty grills arent just a health hazard, they also change the flavor of your food and can slow down your cooking time! To avoid carcinogens we provided four easy ways to remove even the toughest of grime. And while youre at it, be sure to follow these tips on how to get your grill ready for grilling season, too.
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