Grill Cleaning 101- To Protect Your Investment
Entertainment, Grilling, Barbeque
Living in the Phoenix area, you can get outdoors to use your BBQ grill year-round. But most homeowners still do the majority of their grilling in the summertime. The biggest reason for the increase in grilling in the summer months is the longer daylight hours. No one wants to be outside in the cold on a dark winter night grilling. But once the sun sets later, we flock to the grill to enjoy all of our favorites and the fun of dining al fresco. So before spring officially arrives, it is time to give your BBQ grill the once over cleaning that will keep it functional and safe for the coming grilling season. And if you discover that it is time to replace your grill or you want to add on to your outdoor kitchen, call the outdoor kitchen pros at UNIQUE for a free consultation. They can be reached at 480-969-1911 or CLICK HERE to complete the online request form, and a designer will be in touch.
Clean Inside And Out
When you think about cooking your food on something that sits outdoors throughout the year, you quickly decide that a good cleaning is not a bad idea. After all, you might not have fired up your grill since the last monsoon or dust storm. Investing about 30 minutes to deep clean your grill will provide you with peace of mind and no unexpected hassles when you are ready to enjoy your first grilled meal of the year.
Here are the simple steps to follow to know that your grill is ready and waiting for the first steaks, burgers, or veggie skewers of the year!
- Turn on the gas and heat your grill for about 5 minutes. This will begin to remove any grease that may have adhered to the grill.
- Next, turn off the grill and close the gas valve. Then disconnect the gas if you are using a portable tank. For a grill operating from a natural gas line, just be sure that the gas line is turned off completely for safety.
- Clean the grill racks while they are still warm using a steel brush or a steel wool cleaning tool with a long handle.
- Once the racks are brushed and cooled, rinse them and set them aside to dry. Once the racks are completely cool, brush them with cooking oil to prevent rusting.
- Next, begin cleaning the inside of your grill, using a degreaser to remove any adhered grease from areas like the burners. Also, use a scraper for places hard to reach when cleaning. Make sure to remove all of the grease from the burners.
- Also, clean the grease tray with a degreaser. Use a scraper to remove any hard oil or residue. Rinse it with water and use a clean sponge to remove any leftover liquid.
- If the outer parts of the grill are stainless steel, use a specialized polish to clean any dust or residue.
- Once the grill is clean and dry, replace the grill racks. Be sure to brush the racks with oil before replacing them to prevent rust.
It is a good idea to rinse or dust your grill monthly to prevent damage to the outer surface. This is important even if you have a grill cover as the grit and dust can scratch the grill surface when the cover is removed or returned to the grill. If you do not use your grill regularly, it is a good idea to test the gas and burner function monthly as well. This is the best way to prevent any disappointment when you are set to grill, only to discover that your grill is not working correctly. If you have any questions about cleaning your specific grill, check the manufacturer’s website or give the pros at UNIQUE a call at 480-969-1911.