For your Memorial Day family BBQ, you better make sure your outdoor grill is up to the task. It goes without saying that regular grill maintenance is key for ensuring the longevity of your appliance—and for enabling unhindered, top-notch performance. For savory steak kabobs and deliciously charred hot dogs this holiday, check out our grill maintenance tips!
Across All Grill Types…
Perhaps the most salient grill-cleaning tip of all is to keep the grates brushed. At the beginning of the season and after every BBQ session, be sure to use a stainless-steel bristle brush to remove any leftover muck off your grates. For easier cleanup, we recommend preheating the grill to 500 degrees to char any leftover debris to ash before putting your brush to work.
Every so often, you can go the extra mile by removing the grates (once the grill is cool) and steeping them in warm, soapy water for a few minutes to loosen any stuck-on grease. Then, scrub generously with your brush!
Regular upkeep tips also include:
- Cleaning the inside of the grill lid – To clear away any cooking debris, including grease and ash, wash this part of the grill with soapy water and your brush, rinsing thoroughly.
- Cleaning the exterior of the grill – Household disinfectant and a damp rag will do just fine here.
- Deep cleaning the cooking grate – For an even deeper clean, we recommend using a scraper first before you soak, brush, and rinse. As a bonus tip, applying vegetable or olive oil to the grates before and after every grilling session prevents rusting and keeps food from sticking.
- Use a waterproof grill cover between days of use!
Without further ado, here are more focused tips for every grill-fuel type Spencer’s TV & Appliance carries.
Charcoal Grill Tips
The most touted rule in any “how to clean a charcoal grill” guide is to do so after every cooking session. In addition, industry experts preach that deep cleaning this outdoor appliance every couple of weeks during grilling season (which, in the perpetually sunny state of Arizona, is always) is essential for prolonging its life expectancy.
In addition to brushing and soaking the grates, when it comes to cleaning your charcoal grill, you must constantly mind the ash pan.
Here’s how to clean charcoal grill ash: depending on the appliance model, the ash pan (the receptacle at the bottom of the grill) can be detached from the grill for easy disposal, and in most other cases, simply sweeping the leftover ashes into a plastic bag will do the trick. If your ash pan is detachable, we recommend soaking and rinsing it separately—if your model hangs tight to it, soapy water and a brush should be enough to make the ash pan gleam.
It should be noted that emptying out the ash pan after every cooking session prevents premature rusting in charcoal grills, as ashes readily absorb moisture and could pose a problem if left sitting for too long. A pro tip: line the ash pan with aluminum foil before you start cooking. This simple step allows you to just wrap up the leftover ash after you finished barbecuing. In other words, easy-peasy cleanup!
Gas Grill Tips
Our “how to clean a gas grill” guide is simple. It entails all of the above in terms of hand scrubbing removable parts and surfaces. But when it comes to prepping a gas grill for outdoor cooking, safety is the name of the game.
Before you think about flipping a burger on the grates, be sure to follow the safety essentials as denoted in your gas grill’s product specifications sheet and manual. Before use, ensure that your 20-pound liquid propane cylinder is filled only to 80 percent capacity. The rationale is, there must be enough room for the liquid to expand—and forcing an excess of propane poses a hazard.
In addition, remember to check for gas leaks every time you disconnect or reconnect the regulator to the propane cylinder. To prevent dangerous gas buildup, keep the grill lid open as you fire up the “barbie.” And, in the same spirit, do not alter the cylinder fittings when the grill is operating or hot.
In terms of grill maintenance, you must empty out the grease traps after every use, but make sure you wait for the grill to cool before removing the drip pan. And finally, every two weeks during grilling season, disconnect the propane tank, cover the gas openings with masking tape, and remove the burners and grates to perform a thorough cleaning of your appliance.
Electric Grill Tips
Finally, we have arrived at our “how to clean an electric grill” guide!
After you have served up your last kabob, turn off your electric grill, and while the grill is still slightly warm, scrape the grates with your stainless-steel bristle brush. Outdoor electric grills are usually stocked with a removable liner underneath the grates—take this piece off and scrape off any excess grease and fallen food debris. Depending on the severity of the mess, you may choose to generously scrub this part with soapy water and a sponge.
Per our grill maintenance recommendations for all outdoor cooking appliances, remove the grates to wash them with soap and water. And remember to dry any removable pieces you wash with a clean rag.
Call Spencer’s TV & Appliance today to see what we can do for you—and don’t forget to check out our digital catalog to see how our array of free-standing grills and built-in grills can help you step up your game this summer.
From our family to yours: Happy Memorial Day!