Grill Cleaning Tips

Are you looking for grill cleaning tips? By taking proper care of your grill, you can extend its useful life and enjoy delicious meals prepared in the great outdoors for many years to come! The good news is that it's not difficult to keep your grill in proper working order. Follow these tips and you'll be on your way to getting into the habit of proper grill maintenance.

Regardless of the type of grill you are using, it's essential to clean the grate every time you cook on it. Take care of this task after every usage. Simply use a stiff wire brush designed for grill cleaning to thoroughly remove any residue from the grate while it is still slightly warm. If you wait for the grill to cool, it will be much more difficult to properly clean the surface, so make this habit part of your grilling ritual.

If your grill has a cast iron grate, you will need to take a little extra care to keep rust from building up. After cleaning the grate and allowing it to cool completely, apply a small amount of oil to a paper towel and rub it on the grate.

If you are using a charcoal grill, in addition to cleaning the grate after each use, you should also brush out the ashes every time you cook on the grill. You should also give your grill a thorough cleaning periodically, using a wire brush or scraper to remove any food bits that stick to the bottom with regular use and wiping it down with soapy water followed by a cold water rinse. It's a good idea to do this at the beginning or the end of your grilling season, or more frequently if you cook on your grill year round.

If you use a gas grill, there are also a few things that you need to do to maintain your grill beyond simply cleaning the grate with each use. You should wipe down the lid and sides of your grill every time you prepare a meal on it, and follow up with thorough cleaning on a regular basis. A few times each year, take the cooking grate off and clean the area between the grate and the burners, being sure to remove the grease and food droppings that build up naturally over time.

While regular cleaning is important, you should also deep clean your gas grill on an annual basis. You'll need to disconnect the gas, remove the grate, and the burners. Check to see if there are any clogs that might block gas flow to the burners and clean as necessary – or replace if cleaning isn't feasible. You may also need to replace any lava rocks or briquettes that your grill uses at this time if food debris has built up on them.

When cleaning a stainless steel grill, it's important to keep in mind that it will scratch very easily. While you can use a wire brush on the grate, you should never use it -- or any abrasive substance -- to the stainless surface. It's best to use a soft cloth and a cleaner designed especially for cleaning stainless grills to wipe down your grill with each use. A few products you may want to try are Feron's Stainless Steel BBQ Cleaner and Polisher and Goo Gone Stainless Steel Grill Wipes.

It's impossible to underestimate the importance of cleaning and properly caring for your grill. Preventive maintenance can also help it last longer. Consider investing in a grill cover to protect your grill from the elements in between uses in addition to following proper grill cleaning tips to keep it in peak condition. For more grill cleaning tips, see:

• Cleaning BBQ Grill with Vinegar
• Cleaning Grill Grates