When summer hits, you want to have every meal outdoors. (And every morning coffee and afternoon ice cream, too.)
So you’re probably using your grill a lot. It makes for yummy burgers, but dealing with the residue isn’t nearly as enjoyable. Here’s the good news: cleaning up your grill isn’t nearly as daunting as it seems—if you do it the right way. We asked Jimmy Shotwell, owner of Memphis Barbeque Supply, for his expert tips.
Tools You’ll Need:
- Heat-Resistant Gloves
- Bristle-Free Grill Brush
- Scraper
- Spray bottle
- Aluminum foil
- Vinegar
STEP 1: Pre-Cleaning Prep
The best way to clean your grill is while it’s hot, ideally after each use. Turn heat to high for about 15 minutes to burn grease and stuck-on food into carbon. You’ll know it’s ready when it stops smoking. Turn grill off.
STEP 2: Brush And Scrape The Grates
Minutes 1‑2
After the grill has cooled slightly, use a bristle-free grill brush to loosen particles, then scrape grates (top and bottom) to remove residue. For help with stubborn, burnt-on gunk, mix one part vinegar to four parts water and spray or wipe it on grates before scrubbing. You’ll need to heat the grill to high again to burn off the vinegar. Never use oven cleaner or put grates in the dishwasher.
STEP 3: Clean The Inside
Minutes 3-5
Disconnect the propane tank, cover heating elements with foil, apply the vinegar and water mixture on the inside of your gas grill, and scrub it all over with the grill brush. (Excess on grates may also come off with warm soapy water and a thick rag.) Remove the foil, reconnect the propane, and voila!
Repeat these steps every few months to remove grease buildup and help reduce flare-ups. Also, remove and clean your grease tray regularly when the grill is cold.
Other Easy Grill Cleaning Hacks
THE ONION
Supplies
Onion
Grill fork
Instructions
1. While there’s still some heat in your grill, attach an onion to a fork and rub over the hot bars.
2. The water in the onion steam cleans them and removes any stuck food.
STEAM CLEAN
Supplies
Water
Newspaper
Grill scour pad
Instructions
1. If you’ve been using your BBQ for the day, once it has started to cool down, cover the grill with water-soaked newspaper and close the lid.
2. Leave it shut for 30 minutes to give it a good steam clean.
3. Scrub off the gunk with a grill scour pad and enjoy!
BAKING SODA
Supplies
Baking soda
Sponge
*Optional: Towels
Instructions
1. Remove grate from the grill and set on some towels.
2. Sprinkle baking soda on the grill and dissolve some in water.
3. Use a sponge to scrub until all the baking soda is gone and the grill is sparkling.
VINEGAR
Supplies
Vinegar
Water
Scourer or sponge
2 Spray bottles
*Optional: Towels
Instructions
1. Remove grate from the grill and set on some towels.
2. Mix 500 milliliters of vinegar and the same amount of water in a spray bottle.
3. Spray the solution onto the grill and leave for 10 minutes.
4. Pour vinegar into a second spray bottle and spray on, then scrub to clean the grill and its interior.
COLA
Supplies
Cola
Newspaper or rag
Large plastic bin
Sponge
Instructions
1. Place grill grate into a large plastic bin and add cola to the bin.
2. Let sit for an hour. Take grate out of tub and scrub with the scouring side of a sponge till all the dirt comes off.
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By Nicole Cherie Jones
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betty Staley says,
Grilled corn on the cobb is my favorite food
Jeanette says,
Doctors have warned the public about cleaning grills with steel brushes. It was reported that some of the fine parts of the steel brushes were lodged in hamburger meat and inside of people tongues and intestines. Grillers should make sure that the grills are well cleaned and wrapped down as well.
Thank you.
Andria in S.C says,
I have seen the problem that can happen with wire brushes, I use a scraper it has V shapes cut into the edge which fit on the grill racks. I also put a sheet of Heavy aluminum foil on the grate, which I spray. This keeps the fats from falling thru and flairing. as I grill all kinds of food items they do not fall thru either. I love to cook veg. they come out so nicely, along with meat, fish, forn, shriimp etc., I do not like the smell
of lighter fluid and I read it is carsogenic, I know it pollutes the air and bothers my asthma, I like my gas grill.
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I love BBQ Country ribs, Along with a great potatoe salad and baked beans. Yum
Ora Reed says,
I like to marinate a baby back rib (whole) overnight and then grill it. No barbeque sauce needed.
Ronald Cato says,
Favorite thing to cook beef ribs
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