How To Properly Take Care Of Your Barbecue Grill
Many people love their barbecue grill, but few know how to properly take care of it. This is because most people don’t think about the importance of cleaning and maintenance. Even though it’s a time-consuming task, taking proper care of your grill can ensure its longevity! Here are some tips on how to clean and maintain your BBQ grill!
1. Cleaning Your Grill
Most people know that their grill is on the outside of their home, meaning it’s exposed to the elements. There are different types of barbecue grills, and while the cleaning procedure is generally the same regardless of the type of the grill, some aspects of cleaning and maintenance can be different.
Cleaning a gas or an electric grill is certainly not the same as cleaning a pellet grill or charcoal grill, so it’s important to consider that. Sometimes rain can cause rust on metal parts of your grill, but even if you live in a rainy climate, wet food particles on your grate are virtually guaranteed to lead to flare-ups and smoke during cooking!
All this buildup will also clog up your screen filters so food can slip through without being cooked properly. The good news is getting some elbow grease across all those surfaces with some pipe cleaners or old toothbrushes will do wonders for keeping your barbecue grill running at full power. Remember that flipping down one side of the grates helps keep debris off the bottom while still allowing airflow!
2. Oiling The Grates
Oiling the grates prevents food from sticking to the grill, which means you’ll have more control over how it browns. Additionally, giving your grill a good rub down before you start cooking will help keep the excess grease in the container on your grill, rather than it dripping on your coals or flames. Oil the grates with a paper towel soaked in some oil, allowing any excess to drip off back into the container. If you’re using an oil-based seasoning on your grate, wait until your grill is hot before doing this step!
Pouring the oil on the grate will cause flare-ups, which means you’ll end up with burnt food. Instead, keep your grill at maximum temperature and rub down your grates with some oil-soaked kitchen roll or an old towel!
3. Cleaning The Exterior
The exterior of your barbecue grill can easily get dirty from grease splatters and splashes from cooking, but to prevent rust and other issues, make sure to wipe it down with a cloth dampened in warm water. To avoid scratching the metal or other surfaces, rub gently using a dry towel afterward.
If you’re worried about any leftover spices or oil splattering onto surfaces around your grill, invest in a grill mat! These are great for barbecues, picnics, and camping trips because they keep surfaces clean while letting you cook up delicious food! If you have a side burner, the plates that hold it can get greasy and grimy from splatters! To avoid this problem, keep your grill covered when not in use to avoid any food particles from sticking – or better yet, clean those plates after every use!
4. Removing Rust
Your grill gets exposed to the elements outside, which means it’s likely to develop some rust. Luckily, there’s an easy way to eliminate this problem – scrubbing with limes! Cut the fruit in half and scoop out the insides. Then, use this half as a blade to scrape away any rust on your grill. If you can’t find any limes around but do have some lemons on hand, those work just as well too! Your metal surfaces should be shining like new after just one quick scrub!
5. Cleaning The Grease Container
Any excess grease that drips off your food will end up in the container below the grill, and it can build up fast if you’re not careful. Make sure to scrape it down regularly with a spoon or brush (a toothbrush works great) to avoid any buildup that could end up being a fire hazard.
6. Cleaning The Hose
If you have a gas grill, there might be grease build-up around your pipe fittings and hose. Make sure to clean them with some cooking oil and a rag over time – or if you notice any leaking gas during use, this could mean that they’re clogged! Use pipe cleaners or even old toothbrushes to clean out the hoses and remove any excess gunk that could hamper your grill’s performance.
7. Cleaning The Wheels
Keeping your wheels clean is an easy way to prevent rust and keep your cart looking sharp, but it’s even more important for mobility and safety! If your cart gets stuck during a barbecue party, not only will this make accessing your grill difficult for yourself or anyone helping you, there might be grease build up if your cart is digging into one spot! Spray it down with a hose and scrub away any gunk, and you’ll be good to go for the next event.
8. Removing Excess Ingredients
If you’ve cut back on sauce, oil, or spices during cooking, make sure to wipe up any excess from the plates before putting them away. Leaving any behind could lead to smoke during the next use, which means your clothes will smell like burnt food! Even if you’ve only reduced the ingredients slightly, make sure to do this before storing your plates or putting them back on the grill.
9. Cleaning Up After Yourself
The final tip is just as important- clean up after yourself! Even if you’re done cooking for the time being, make sure to discard any leftover food into a garbage bag before putting your utensils away. Not only could this attract bugs and other pests, it could also end up ruining the next meal you cook on it! After all, nobody likes a dirty grill- or a smoky one.
The purpose of this article is to provide some tips on how to properly take care of your BBQ grill and avoid the problems that come with neglecting it. If you follow these simple maintenance steps, we guarantee you’ll be able to enjoy more time cooking without worrying about a grease fire or dealing with any rust issues! We hope that you’ve found our suggestions helpful!
