How to Clean a Barbecue Grill

When was the last time you cleaned your grill?  If you're like most people, your grill is way overdue for a good cleaning. 

Routine Grill Cleaning

The first step in keeping your grill clean (which also makes it a safer grill), is to regularly clean it.  That way grease and carbon buildup is kept to a minimum. You will need some common household items on hand to perform a routine cleaning of your grill:  

• Brass wire grill brush
• Steel wool pads, preferably that contains soap already
• Mild dish soap
• Sponge or dishcloth
• Aluminum foil

The first thing that should always be done to your grill is a routine brushing. Using your brass wire grill brush (with the grill off, of course) you should brush off all the surfaces. (You can also use a wadded-up ball of aluminum foil).  By routinely brushing your barbeque grill, you will prevent any type of buildup. If buildup from food is left too long, it can become increasingly difficult to remove.

Your main focus should be on the racks.  The racks in your grill are especially important as this is where the food touches when it is cooking. You will have to use the wire brush to remove as much buildup as possible. Once you remove as much as possible, start washing the racks with dish soap. If the racks are really dirty, you may also want to use the steel wool pads. Be sure to completely rinse off all soap and residue before cooking on these racks again.

This process should be completed each and every time you cook on your barbeque grill. If these steps are not taken, you may find it increasingly difficult to clean your grill, and may find that damage will occur.

And, if your grill is really dirty...

If you haven't cleaned your grill in awhile, it may be time to roll up your sleeves and give it a heavy-duty cleaning job.

The majority of problems that arise from barbeque grills comes from lack of cleaning and maintenance. That means if you notice something does not seem quite right with your barbeque grill, chances are it can be fixed with just a simple cleaning.  Even if you clean it, and still find that it is having problems, at least you saved yourself the potential embarrassment of taking it to a professional only to find out all it needed was to be cleaned.

Most food will expel grease and carbonize to some degree in a barbeque or smoker. Fats drip into the pan, smoke rises from the surface. The result? A black, crusty compound gets deposited on the interior. That compound is mostly carbon, with some unburned grease thrown in just to make the clean up that much more difficult.

Cleaning in layers will help make the job easier. Some grease can be eliminated when scraping the carbon off, but for the most part it will need to come off first. Fortunately, with modern oven cleaning sprays, removing the grease is fairly easy to do.

Remember, clean when the grill is off!

There's always a temptation to clean right after cooking - both to 'get it over with' and because some things come off easier when the grill is still hot. That's true to an extent. Bonds between the material and the grill solidify when as the materials cool down. And a little scraping right away with a special scraping tool is okay in order to remove the large chunks of carbon from the grill or barbeque edges.

But wire brushing and other activities such as spraying with cleaner and wiping are dangerous when the grill is still hot. There's the obvious risk of a bad burn by touching the metal. But beyond that, a wire whisk will fling specks of hot carbon onto your arms and face. Bad news. Cleaning liquids that come into contact with hot metal will vaporize, often producing toxic gases. Another bad idea. Waiting may make clean up a little harder, but it's much safer.

So, with the grill off, spray generously and wait at least two hours. Allowing it to sit overnight is warranted if you haven't kept up on cleaning.  Take apart any removable sections from the grill like grill bars, drip pans and lid. Always scrape away from you and keep a firm grip. Many edges on a barbeque are sharp and solid enough to cause considerable harm if your hand slips.

A few hours later or the next day, you can wipe off the oven cleaner and grease deposits. These sprays work extremely well. But, be sure to use lots of water, rinsing a sponge or towel frequently. You don't want any of the oven spray/grease residue left inside the barbeque. If it dries and remains, it will definitely impart a foul odor and taste the next time you cook.

Finally, use a grill cover!

One method of preventing problems with your barbeque grill is protecting it from the outdoors. Covers are available for grills in all shapes and sizes, so chances are, you will find one that fits your grill. If you have a cover for your barbeque grill, then all you will ever need to do is do the regular maintenance listed above.