Cleaning grills after grilling is just about giving the grills a quick scrape. Even after quickly scraping the grills, there are some leftover grease and charred bits that contain harmful bacteria, which not only affects your health but also the taste of your food.
Importance of Cleaned Grills
Not only does an uncleaned grill contain charred bacteria, it also causes rust and clogging. If the grill is rusty or clogged with grease, it won’t last longer and your food won’t cook properly. Also, a dirty grill can have burnt grease which releases harmful chemicals when they are heated up. Leftover grills can cause big flames that cause your food to burn or even cause a fire while cooking. But cleaning the grill often, especially after cooking can prevent all of these from happening.
Essential Tools and Supplies
When cleaning out your grills, there are a couple of things you’ll be needing to get the job done.
- Grill brush
- Wire brush
- Scraper
- Rags
- All-purpose cleaner
- Grill grate cleaner
- Water hose
Cleaning the Grill Grate
Before you start, let the grill cool down completely to avoid getting burns or injuries. Once the grill is cool, use a wire brush or a scraper to remove any loose debris like ash, burnt food, or grease that has been stuck in the grate. This allows you to have a clearer surface to deep clean later.
When deep cleaning, apply a grill grease cleaner for a mix of dish soap and water to break down the grease and grime. Let the mixture sit for a few minutes so it can work well. Next, scrub the grease using a wire brush or a scouring pad. Try as much as possible to get into all the corners and edges where grease likes to hide.
Rinse the grease thoroughly with water to remove all the cleaner and residue. Leaving soap behind after this process can affect the taste of your food the next time you grill. So always dry it down with a clean towel to prevent rust.
First, cleaning the grill grate is such a tasking job. But if you get into the habit of brushing the grill grate after every use, cleaning becomes easier in the future. You can do this while the grates are still warm, but not so hot as to touch. Afterwards, use a grill brush to remove the food particles and the grease.
Cleaning the Grill Interior
Over time, grease and burnt food collects inside your grill during and after grilling. Using a grill scraper, remove large pieces of grease and food that have stuck to the interior. These chunks can block heat and even cause flare-ups if it is left unchecked. Spray an all-purpose cleaner, or you can make your own using dish soap and water, inside the grill.
Then grab a rag or a grill brush and scrub every surface inside the grill. Focus on areas where grease tends to build up the most, like walls and the burners. Afterwards, use a hose or a bucket of water to rinse everything thoroughly. Make sure no cleaner or grease is left behind, because this can affect the taste of your food when next to the grill.
Cleaning the Grill Pan
Let’s not forget the drip pan which collects grease and food dripping. It can get really gross if not cleaned regularly. The first thing you want to do is remove the drip pan and dump out any grease or food bits. You can use a scraper to get rid of the stuck-on grime. Next, fill a sink or a bucket with hot water and dish soap.
Then scrub the drip pan thoroughly. Having a wet drip pan can cause it to rust or smell bad, so you can use a towel, to dry the drip pan thoroughly. Or you can let it dry before putting it back on the grill.
Cleaning the Grill Exterior
Cleaning the exterior of your grill is just as important as cleaning the inside of the grill. This is also to prevent it from rusting or corrosion. When cleaning outside of your grill, use a wire brush to gently scrub away any rust spots on the grill surface. However, you need to be gentle with this process in order not to leave scratches on the body of the grill. Make sure to get into all the little cracks and crevices on the exterior.
If the rust is really stubborn, you can apply a rust remover, which is designed to break down tough rust, making it easier to clean. Once you’ve removed the rust, rinse the grill surface with water to wash away any leftover rust particles or cleaning product. If your grill has stainless steel parts, spray or apply a small amount of stainless steel cleaner to the grill surface. This will help to remove dirt, fingerprints, and tricks. Using a soft, clean cloth, wipe the surface in the direction of the metal grain above the area until it is smooth and shiny to give your grill a more polished and like-new look.
Bottom Line
Keeping your grill clean is important not only for its appearance, but also for safety, durability, and flavor. Bacteria, grease, and rust on an unclean grill can interfere with your cooking and possibly make you sick. Also, all of the residual debris can start large fires or damage the grill over time.
