Cleaning Tips for Barbecue Grills
Datetime:2013-09-04 Hits:
Cleaning Tips for Barbecue Grills
Foods cooked on a barbecue grill have lots of flavor and a minimal amount of residual fat because the fat burns away. For the cook who cleans the grill, the barbecue grill can turn into a cleaning challenge. Here are some tips for keeping the barbecue grill attractive, functioning and sanitary.
Pre-Cleaning Safety Tips
Before you clean your barbecue grill, do the following. If your grill is a charcoal grill, do not attempt to clean it until burnt charcoal fire has been extinguished. Only then should you disposed of any remaining ash. Allow at least 48 hours of cooling before removing coals to a plastic bag, tying the bag and placing it in a garbage container.
If your barbecue grill is a gas grill, disconnect the gas according to manufacturer's instructions before you clean it. To ensure safety when you reconnect the gas, make sure the control knobs are secure in the 'off' position and that the cylinder valve is in the off position as well. Leave the lid in its open position for several minutes before cleaning the grill.
Clean the Hood
Before the first use of the grill, clean the hood on the inside with water and soap. This will enable easier cleaning after subsequent usage. Occasionally as needed, clean the inside of the hood by washing it with a mild detergent or biodegradable degreaser and water and wipe it dry with a soft cloth or paper towels.
Clean the Grill
Remove charred material from the grill before and after cooking. Clean the grill before each use by using a scraper and/or a wire brush. One technique for after-use cleaning is to pour baking soda on the hot grill and allow it to cool before scraping. If the food surface becomes deeply encrusted, you may be able to clean it by using one of the following methods. Remove the grill to a safe outdoor place. Spray it with a biodegradable degreaser, scrape it with steel wool and hose it off thoroughly. Another less environmentally friendly technique is to lay it on a thick layer of spread out newspaper. Wear protective eyewear and rubber gloves. Spray the grill with oven cleaner and allow it to sit for the time recommended by the oven cleaner manufacturer. Clean off and remove the oven cleaner. Dispose of the product safely according manufacturer instructions.
To prevent cooking food from sticking to the grill surface, rub the metal cooking grate with a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil, or spray the grate with cooking spray designed for outdoor grills. Do not spray the grill surface when it is on the barbecue over a flame. Instead, remove the grate or grill to another location before spraying.
Remove Bottom Grease
Grease may accumulate under the grid. On a charcoal grill, you can scrape away grease after you have removed old charcoal. On a gas grill, cleaning under the entire mechanism may not be possible without damaging the elements that distribute the gas. In that case, you may be able to remove the covers that shield the gas elements and scrape the grease that accumulates near them without causing harm. Check your manufacturer's instructions to determine appropriate and safe cleaning methods.