The good weather is finally on its way, and that means all kinds of opportunities to get the grill going. Whether that's a pool party, a 4th of July BBQ, or just a relaxed evening outdoors, you'll want to get those burgers and hot dogs cooking.
When you're cooking outdoors though, you'll need to keep that grill clean. It's not like the kitchen equipment inside your home, so how often should you be cleaning it? Here's what you need to know.
In this article, we're exploring an age-old question among grill enthusiasts and barbecuers alike ...
How often should you clean your grill?
How Often Should You Clean Your Grill?
Unlike your indoor cooking equipment, you'll see that your grill doesn't need to be deep cleaned more than twice a year. If you're grilling on it all year round, then it will need to be cleaned every few months. Keeping it surface-level clean is good enough for the occasional BBQ, but you do need to remember that they get dirtier than you'd think. Vegetables fall through the grill, grease splatters, and meat creates all kinds of burnt-on gunk. Getting on top of this is important.
It's a good idea to do a spot clean every time you use your grill. Scrub down the grill with a brush, preferably one with grill brush replacements. This is enough to make it clean to cook on, but you do need to look into deep cleaning your grill.
If you want, you could choose to use an automatic grill bush, like the Grillbot. These have brush rollers that run over your grill, cleaning it automatically. They're a good option for cleaning your grill after cooking, to keep on top of the cleaning.
Many people like to give their grill a thorough clean as the warmer months draw to a close. This ensures that no old food is sitting on the grill for months, and it'll be perfectly clean once it's time to grill again.
How to Fully Clean a Grill
There are a few steps involved to fully clean your grill. In most cases, you will want to clean any areas that come in direct contact with your food.
This ensures the next items you cook are clear of residue and grime leftover from your previous meal. If you have a Grillbot, you simply set the timer and let your automatic grill brush do the hard work.
If, however, you don't have a Grillbot or want to clean the components below the actual grill, you can follow the following steps.
Related: Grill Cleaning Made Easy
Step 1: Scrub the Grill
Your grates are usually scrubbed after every use, but you need to ensure that every piece of food is removed before you get cleaning. Really get in there with your grill brush and ensure that you've got everything off.
Want to automate this process?
The Grillbot allows you to set and forget it. The Grillbot is an innovative grill brush that cleans your grill for 10, 20, or 30 minutes. This allows you to get back to having fun with your friends and family.
Once that's done, wipe down the grate with a clean sponge, to remove any lingering grease or other burnt on food debris. If your grill is cast iron, wipe on some vegetable oil once it's clean to protect it. You'll need to inspect it more often as cast iron is prone to rust, if not properly taken care of.
Step 2: Clean the burner protectors
If you have a gas grill, then you'll need to ensure that you clean your burner protectors. These are designed to protect the inner workings of the grill, so of course, they're going to get very dirty over time.
Take them off the grill, and place them in the bucket of water with some dish soap. Use a sponge to scrub the dirt off. In most cases, this is all you need to keep the burners clean. You'll certainly see a difference once you've given them a scrub.
Step 3: Clean the burners and burner plates
Now you're ready to clean up the burners themselves. Even with the protectors, you'll see that they get dirty over time. It's essential that you clean these, as the burners can get clogged up and start malfunctioning if you don't. If you can't get them out of the grill, you can simply clean them with a clean sponge.
Next, take the burner plates out. These usually slide right out, along with the drip pan. Scrub these in the bucket of soapy water and they should come up as good as new.
Step 4: Put the grill back together
Now that you've cleaned everything up, you're ready to put the grill back together. It'll be lovely and clean, ready to get grilling again when the sun comes out.
The Importance Of Cleaning Your Grill
Just like any other kitchen equipment, it's important to clean off your grill regularly. This is especially true as you're placing food directly onto the grates. You will also want to clean your grill brush.
Remember, the longer that you leave grease and burnt food in the grill, the harder it will be to get it out once you are done. Regularly cleaning it makes the job a lot easier in the long run. If you use a charcoal grill, it's especially important that you clean it regularly. Dumping out the ash after every use is vital, as ash combines with moisture when left in the grill and hardens, making it impossible to clean.
Conclusion
Cleaning the grill regularly will take time. Fortunately, you can automate this process with the Grillbot. With this innovation, you can clean your grill in the background while you enjoy time with friends and family.
Simply use the type of brushes best for your grill and set the timer. The Grillbot will do all the hard cleaning for you.