Easy Ways to Clean and Maintain a Grill
August 27, 2010, By Steve McFarlane 2 comments
Keeping your grill clean and shipshape is essential if you want your grill to last as long as possible. Regular cleaning will also help make each grilled meal taste as fresh as the first one you cooked.
After you use a grill, it is best to clean it as soon as possible so it will be ready for the next grilling adventure. The easiest way to clean a grill is to set the kids to work on it, but that would be cruel wouldn’t it? To make the cleanup exercise easier the next time, use the following tips and tricks to conserve your energy and limit the amount of cleaning agents needed to clean and maintain your grill.
Soot and oil are easier to remove when the grill is hot. As soon as you scoop off the last burger, turn down the flames and use a steel or brass grill brush, with a scraping head if necessary, to remove the thick and stubborn stuff. Using this cleaning strategy will ensure that you won’t have to rely on a lot of chemicals to do the detailed cleaning.
To make cleanups even easier, use nonstick spray on the grills before you start grilling. In addition to ensuring that the food doesn’t stick to the surface of the grill, grease and other food particles will find it harder to stick to the grills making grill maintenance much easier. Take the easy cleanup initiative one step further by wrapping drip trays and flame guards in foil - clean them by peeling away and replacing the foil.
If you have a charcoal grill, line the bottom of the charcoal pan before adding the charcoal so you can conveniently throw away the charcoal remains and anything that falls into it with ease. If you line the bottom properly, you may not need to do any cleaning of this area at all.Cleaning the grill itself is not the only thing that will need some attention when you are done cooking. Use a grill pad to keep food off your patio, deck or any surface on which you have your grill. A grill pad catches any grime or residue from the cleaning process.
For more stubborn cleaning jobs, you may need to take a more hands on approach by using the following steps the next day: Things you will need:
- A drop cloth
- Aluminum foil
- A scrub brush
- A wire brush
- A garden hose
- Dish detergent
- Sponge
- A bucket
- Rubber gloves
Cleaning Process
- Put on your gloves and start by placing the drop cloth under the grill to ensure you won’t need to clean the floor also.
- Remove the flame guards or charcoal pan if the grill has one; empty those as required.
- Clean out any loose debris from the interior of the grill with a scraper and hard bristle brush.
- Allow the grates to soak in soapy water or apply an oven cleaner and let it break down the grease, then rinse off with water.
- Use soap and water to wipe down any other area, and then let the components air-dry.
Other Cleaning and Maintenance Tips
Make the cleanup process easier by lining spill areas in and under the grill with aluminum foil and a grill pad respectively. Spray your grates and areas on the grill where grease and oil normally accumulate with nonstick spray before you start grilling to make cleanups easier. Finally, for the spills that escape your preventative measures, spray the areas with an oven cleaner or let them soak in soap and water.
Steve McFarlane is a contributor to Six Apart Media.
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