A common reason why BBQ grills don’t last as long as expected is because many people aren’t aware of how to clean their grill properly. Many times, it just boils down to being lazy if you don’t clean up your BBQ after each use.
Instead of scrubbing off the cooked-on food remnants on the grill, many of us take one look at the mess and decide that we can always do it tomorrow. Maybe you really intend to follow through, but it’s not always easy or convenient to actually do it. So we end up just putting away or covering up the dirty barbeque grill, complete with charred food remnants and pooled grease.
And before you know it, your barbeque gas grill simply isn’t working. And the real downside to these circumstances is the ultimate effect on the taste of your next piece of meat if the grill remains dirty.
Buying a new BBQ grill can be a costly purchase, so it’s important that you properly maintain the one you have so it lasts as long as possible. It’s actually not that difficult to clean the grill after each use. Really, you only need to scrub it down for a couple of minutes, leave it to dry, and then put it back.
Check out these simple ways to keep your barbeque clean and in top working order.
Your first task is to get rid of the bits of food that have been burned black while cooking and are sticking to the grill. Wait until the grill has completely cooled down and then scrub the inside with a stiff wire brush, preferably one made for this purpose. Clean the interior of the grill thoroughly. Don’t use soap or chemical products, since the remains of these products will enter into your food the next time you cook.
When cleaning the grate, first detach it from the BBQ and then give it a good wash with warm water and mild detergent. Avoid harsh chemicals and bleach as you clean up the burned bits that are stuck on the grill.
To remove stubborn food particles, soak the grate for a few minutes and then vigorously brush it to remove the charred bits of food. Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove any traces of soap. Then allow the grate to air dry before placing it back in the grill.
It’s a good idea to keep your barbeque grill covered or put away out of the elements so that it won’t start rusting.
I am the First! lol Firstly, I am old school, I do not use a gas grill. I can cook with gas inside if I want to. Cooking outside to me means using charcoal. The taste is soooooooo much better. We don’t use chemical starters. We use one of those chimney things and 2 pieces of newspaper. Thats it. We don’t put away the grill, as we use it all 4 seasons. It has a lid, so is covered. A wire brush is a good tool, and we do have one. However, we use it before each cooking; not after one. Before hand is easier; you know the grill is cooled. And, since it’s covered it’s really not an issue. Cleans up easier after it’s been cooled a day or so too.
The weber has been covered with snow year after year, and we’re only our 2nd grill. Been married 37 years. Using something I think actually helps. The heat keeps it from rusting for a long time. Too many people have a grill, and only use it a couple of times a summer.
We have a special mat so we can pull it up closer in winter when it’s icy and snowing; cause we still use it.
Sandy
Sandy we try to BBQ year round as well. I admit that we do it much less in the winter than in the summer, but yes, there’s still the occasional outdoor barbecue on mild winter days. We keep our BBQ in our very narrow driveway year round. The driveways so narrow we can’t park between the houses anyway so it’s a good place to store and use the bbq. We have a cover for our BBQ (need a new one though as ours is ripping) and so far our barbecue hasn’t rusted (we’ve had it since 2001).
Our barbecue is gas (propane). I do like a charcoal grill, but my husband isn’t the best BBQ’er and isn’t patient at all … the few times we’ve used a charcoal barbecue he’s doused it with that chemical fire starter stuff which I HATE as that’s all you can smell and even taste on the food afterwords! Uhg!
We always clean the gril once it’s cooled down and we rub it with lemon first too as that helps to cut the grease.
Oh and in the winter we have a Foreman Grill that we use indoors (as well as the occasional outdoor BBQ). I guess we eat a lot of grilled food. LOL
Someone told me to rub it with half a lemon while it’s still warm but not really hot anymore. That should make the job of cleaning much easier. Maybe a good tip, I hate cleaning the grill!!
Luc, yes we’ve been rubbing our grill with a half lemon shortly after cooking for the last two years or so (got the tip from a neighbor). It works … the lemon cuts the grease and makes it much easier to clean the grill later!
I live down south and BBQ all year long. Love to grill but hate cleaning. I always do it right before I cook new food. Never try lemon, but will try it tomorrow. Do you use the lemon to clean before or after cooking? Thank you.