By Mrs. Mathis
Image by jeff_golden Ah, spring is here and everyone is wondering how to clean a grill that they put away dirty last summer. Even those who were responsible enough to know that cleaning barbeque grills before putting them away will save time in the long run feel the need to review the basic rules of proper grill cleaning. Then again, there are the first time grill owners who already have a clean barbecue grill and just want to know about cleaning a grill before and after its first use. So, this article is for everyone wanting to know more about grill cleaning, for any reason.
How To Clean a Grill: Keeping a Clean Barbecue Grill Looking Good
If you have a brand new grill, start with these simple guidelines to make future grill cleaning easy.
- Read the owner’s manual and follow their instructions for seasoning the grill. If you don’t have an owner’s manual, read on.
- Before using your grill the first time, season the rack by rubbing it with a very thin coat of shortening. Then turn up the heat and let the grill warm up well.
- Coat the grill with shortening or oil before cooking any low fat food such as fish or vegetables.
When cleaning a grill that has just been used, start when it is just barely cool enough
to work with. If you have heat resistant gloves to wear, you can start even sooner.
- Scrub the rack well with a balled-up piece of aluminum foil or a wire brush to remove any stuck on residue.
- Remove any cooled ashes or leftover charcoal.
- Wipe the inside of the grill out with a damp cloth.
- Cover the grill and give the outside a wipe down, too.
- Store the completely cooled grill under a sheet or tarp until it is ready to use again.
Cleaning Barbecue Grills That Have Been Neglected
If you are cleaning a grill that has been neglected by you or a previous owner, you can still salvage it, though it may never look new again.
- Start by spraying the entire interior surface with any oven cleaner designed to work without heat. Leave this on overnight, in a well-ventilated area.
- The next morning, wipe the, hopefully, now clean barbecue grill down with a heavy paper toweling.
- Use a wire brush to scrub off any remaining bits of refuse.