With the sun finally coming out, there is no better time to break out the barbecue and welcome the warmer weather with a party.
After several uses during the previous summer, and then a winter tucked away in the shed, your grill will not necessarily be at its best. Fortunately, cleaning it (even after months of neglect) need not be a daunting task-just follow these simple steps, and your grill will be dirt-free and ready to go.
Be careful to follow manufacturers’ suggestions when choosing a cleaning method and products-every barbecue is different, although most should follow a similar pattern as the guide below. Needless to say, you should always allow the barbecue a sufficient amount of time to cool down before cleaning it.
1) With the grill in place, bring the barbecue to full heat. If you have a gas barbecue, this simply means turning the heat up to full. For a charcoal barbecue, throw in fresh coals and wait until they reach a scorching temperature.
2) Put the lid on and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. This blasts off dirt and food particles, making it easier to clean the barbecue parts.
3) Wait for the barbecue to cool, then scrub the bars with a steel brush. Be sure to angle the brush at awkward angles.
If you have been using your barbecue recently, you won’t have to do much more. Once a month, however, it is worth doing a very thorough scrub to make sure you have a really clean barbecue grill.
Here’s how:
4) After using the cooking method above (and waiting for everything to cool), remove the grates.
5) Using warm water and soap, wash the bars. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or tools that could damage the grill. There are some products specifically designed for cleaning barbecues and some general-purpose all-purpose cleaners that work wonderfully, but it is worth checking the manufacturer’s guidelines. First, try a cleaning solution on a small area to make sure you are using a grill-friendly product.
6) Rinse and dry immediately, then rub on a light coating of vegetable oil to prevent rust.
Most barbecues have drip trays for collecting grease and ash-these will need to be cleaned with each use. Again, it is best to let the trays cool a bit before tackling them: hot grease can cause a nasty burn.
7) When you’re cleaning barbecue drip pans, you can save yourself a nasty job absorbing grease by using cat litter, if you have it. Otherwise, pour the cold grease into the basket instead of the sink.
8) Wash all trays with hot water and soap as before.
The rest of the barbecue does not require much cleaning, as you can see:
9) Dust the inside of the barbecue with a steel brush and, if necessary, some hot water and soap.
10) If you have a gas barbecue with food caught in the burners, check the manufacturer’s instructions to find out the best way to pull it out. Some recommend carefully removing the food using a pin. Whatever you try, be sure to turn off the barbecue completely and wait for it to cool before attempting anything.
Following these steps will result in a cleaner, healthier barbecue, just in time for the milder weather. So grab a cold drink, call some friends, and enjoy the best!
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