Barbeque Grill Cleaning Tips
Maintaining the cleanliness of your grill, whether it is charcoal or gas, will go a long way to improving the flavor of the food that you are grilling. Cleaning your grill is a continual process. It should be done before, during and after grilling. Proper storage of your grill will assist in the process as well.
Clean Before You Grill
Each time before you grill, take a wire bush and scrape the grilling surface. This is most beneficial after the charcoals have become ashen-covered. This is when they will be their hottest, and it is easiest to remove baked-on food and sauces that are difficult to remove when the grill is cool. Coating your grates with peanut oil before cooking will reduce the chance of food and sauces burning onto the grates.
Clean as you go
Clean your grill while you are grilling. As you remove meat from an area of the grill, scrape the grill with a wire bush. This will remove any remaining sauces or food residue that are coating the grilling surface. Not only will you take advantage of the heat of the grill, but it will also prepare the surface to cook meat with a different marinade, so the old sauce or marinade's flavor does not interfere with the intended flavor.
Clean Again When You Are Done
Clean your grill grate one more time when you are finished. Again using a stiff wire brush is sufficient. Gadgets being advertised to clean grills use water to create steam, which makes food particles wet and harder to remove.
After The Grill Cools
If you are using a charcoal grill, make sure you dispose of the ashes and partially burned charcoal from the grill and the ash catcher. These ashes can contribute to rust if you leave them in the grill until the next time you use it. Cover your grill with a grill cover so rain does not contribute to rusting and corrosion. If you do not plan to use the grill for several weeks, move it to a covered area if one is available.
Once A Season Cleaning
Once a season, to keep your grates seasoned and remove any baked on sauces and marinades, you need to cook your grates. To do this, cover them completely in aluminum foil. Start your grill as you normally would when grilling food. Afterward, remove the aluminum foil and use a wire brush if any food remains stuck to the grates. Applying vegetable oil at this time to the grates will coat them to limit the risk of food sticking in the future. If this does not clean the grates sufficiently, soak them in water for half an hour, and then use a wire brush to remove the remaining food residue.
