How and Why to Clean the Grill

Grill cleaning can be compared to a visit to the dentist: nobody wants it, but everyone understands that this is something that needs to be done.

What are the dangers of a dirty grill?

• food residue on the rack spoils and you risk getting a digestive disorder;
• fats that have accumulated in the grill can catch fire and cause a fire.

How often should you clean the grill?

Are you a barbecue lover and cook on the grill every day? Then a deep clean is sufficient every couple of months. If you use the grill infrequently, clean it right before starting to prepare a dish.

What do you need for cleaning?

• Rubber gloves,

• Grill brush,

• Plastic spatula,

• Dishwashing sponge,

• Microfiber towel,

• Dishwashing liquid,

• Paper towels,

• Rapeseed or avocado oil,

• Two buckets.

How to clean a gas grill?

Heat the grill for ten minutes to burn off food residues. Close the lid. Start cleaning the grill from the outside.

• Mix in a bucket dishwashing liquid with hot water.

• Wet the sponge and wipe the grill surface.

• Rinse and dry thoroughly with a microfiber towel — do not use paper towels, as small cardboard particles can scratch the surface of stainless steel.

Before scraping ash, open the lid, turn off the gas and let the grill cool down.

• Clean the rack on both sides with a soapy brush.

• Rinse and let it dry.

• Dampen a paper towel with rapeseed oil and rub the rack all around to protect it from rust.

• Remove the thin plate at the bottom of the grill — the metal reflector.

• Empty the waste that has accumulated in the tray into a bucket.

• Clean the reflector and tray with a soapy brush, rinse and let it dry.

• Gas burners should be cleaned with a brush using gentle up-and-down motions, avoiding letting debris enter the holes.

How to clean a charcoal grill?

Close the lid and wash the outside of the grill.

• Mix in a bucket dishwashing liquid with hot water.

• Dampen the sponge and wipe the grill surface. If necessary, use the scrubbing side.

• Rinse and dry with a microfiber towel.

Now inside.

• Clean the rack on both sides with a soapy brush.

• Rinse and let it dry.

• Dampen a paper towel with rapeseed oil and rub the rack all around to protect it from rust.

Get rid of ash.

• Place an empty bucket under the holes at the bottom and sweep the ash and debris into it.

• Remove charcoal remnants from the walls, lid and bottom using a plastic spatula.

• Clean the internal surfaces of the reservoir and lid with a brush.

• Rinse and let it dry.

How to clean a shawarma pan?

To start, remove meat remnants and dried fat.

• Heat the shawarma pan over fire.

• Remove food remnants with a metal scrubber. A crumpled piece of foil can be used instead of a scrubber.

To remove stuck-on dirt, use white vinegar.

• Mix vinegar with warm water in equal parts.

• Apply the solution to the shawarma pan with a dishwashing sponge or spray it from a sprayer, leave for several minutes.

• Remove the residue with crumpled foil or a metal scrubber.

• Rinse and dry with a towel.

Protect the grill from rain

The main threat to a grill is water that collects at the bottom. The liquid seeps inside, mixes with ash and becomes coal paste. After drying, the mixture hardens like cement and is almost impossible to remove. Therefore, it is necessary to properly cover the grill from rain!

Prevent fires

Leaks are the main cause of fires in gas grills. Always check it before using: add a little soapy solution to the gas hose — if there are holes in it, soap bubbles will start emerging from them. You cannot cook on such a grill!

What to do if the grill catches fire?

• Close the lid to cut off oxygen supply.

• Turn off the gas.

• Use a fire extinguisher if one is available nearby. Make sure it is suitable for putting out burning oil, otherwise the fire will only intensify.