Disgust (Photo: Victor Sandyawan/EyeEm via Getty Images)
You may be ready to grill this summer, but is your grill really ready? Most likely it is covered with a thick layer of cooked food and fat that can make you ill or even start a fire.
To help you understand how to get your grill working again, we consulted with a group of professional grill cleaners and experts to explain why it's important to clean your grill, how to give it a deep clean, and how to take care of your grill. during the busy summer season.
The dangers of a dirty grill
Cleaning a grill before the start of a heavy use season (e.g. summer) and performing minor cleaning tasks during this busy time serves several good purposes.
For one, grease and food buildup on the grill is "a food safety issue," said Elizabeth Davis, an eco-friendly cleaning professional and founder of Hudstone Home , an Australian company that makes eco-friendly cleaning products. " When food or fat builds up on your grill, it can attract bacteria such as salmonella, listeria or E. coli, which can be transferred to the food you are grilling and cause foodborne illness.
Dirt, leftover food, ash and grease can also turn a grill "into a fire hazard," Davis warns. If an overly greasy grill is lit, flames can spread and spread, and flaming bits of food can fall off the top of the grill, which can ignite grass, sticks, or other combustible materials around the grill.
Finally, lack of maintenance on your grill can shorten the useful life of these devices. "If you don't clean your grill, it can rust," Davis said.
How to thoroughly clean your grill
To start the grilling season off on the right foot, take the time to give your grill a thorough cleaning. This entire process only needs to be done once a year, but it will set you up for success throughout the summer season and beyond. Susie Bulloch, owner and founder of Utah-based Hey Grill Hey (an online resource with grilling tips, recipes, and product links), gave us a step-by-step guide to your annual deep grill cleaning:
1. Remove the grilling accessories.
Bulloch begins by " removing all loose components, including grates, burner covers, drip pans, drip pans and even burner knobs." Then set these parts aside for cleaning.
2. Scrape the inside of the grill.
Bulloch recommends getting "an inexpensive putty knife from the hardware store." Then use "the sharp edge of the scraper to scrape away any stuck debris inside the grill or loose components (grates, burner caps, drip trays, etc.)."
3. Degrease the accessories.
To clean grates, drip pans, burner covers, and other accessories, "use a natural, food-grade citrus degreaser to spray off loose parts. All shelves, pans and knobs are fully soaked in degreaser and then wiped clean. The best tool for this job is a regular kitchen sponge with a scouring (but not too abrasive) side," Bulloch said. Instead of a commercial degreaser, you can use a homemade spray that is equal parts water and white vinegar.
4. Clean the inside of the grill.
When removing the grill grates and pans, use a degreaser (either store-bought or homemade) and a sponge to spray and clean the inside of the grill. "Be careful to avoid indoor areas where fuel needs to flow (especially the small holes in your gas grill's burners)," Bulloch warned.
5. Clean the outside of the grill.
Use a microfiber cloth to clean the outside of the grill. If you find stubborn grease stains or residue, "use an additional degreaser or stainless steel cleaner" to remove them, Bulloch advised.
6. Reassemble grill.
Now that the accessories, interior and exterior are tidy, it's time to put the pieces back together. "You should add all clean components to your grill and reassemble according to the manufacturer's instructions," Bulloch explained.
7. Heat the grill.
The final step in cleaning your grill is to fire it up and "maximize it". This helps burn off residue from your cleaning process and ensures your grill is ready to go," Bulloch said.
Look how delightfully clean these grilles are. (Photo: Simon Montgomery via Getty Images)
If you use a wood or charcoal grill, Leroy Hite, CEO of Cutting Edge Firewood (a company that sells firewood for grilling and smoking), says that exposing it to high heat really is "the best way to clean grills." are. He recommends opening the top and bottom vents "for maximum airflow," adding plenty of charcoal or wood pellets to the grill, and using a lighter to light. You will then close the lid once the wood or charcoal is lit and "burning well".
Bring the internal temperature to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and partially close the top and bottom vents to stop some of the airflow and slowly increase the temperature. Let the temperature rise until it is above 500 degrees and below 600 degrees. "If it gets too close to 600 degrees F, you're going to have excessive grill wear," Hite warned.
He said to watch out for "black smoke coming from above (the darker the smoke, the dirtier the grill)." When the smoke fades and becomes colorless, the grill is clean. Now you can "let the temperature drop for several hours or overnight. Once the grill/smoker is no longer hot, remove any ash.
How to take care of your grill during the season
Clean shelves and drip trays once a month.
While the big deep clean should be an annual tradition, it's important to do small maintenance cleans during grilling season. Cole Hansen, general manager of Johnsonville Sausage in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, recommends cleaning these grates at least once a month. The drip pans, too, should be cleaned at least once a month, and as with the rest of the grill, Gabby Martin, cleaning manager at Bio Recovery Green Cleaning Services , recommends "cleaning when you notice dirt or it's at least an inch thick. Uncleaned carbon or heat residue can accumulate carcinogenic materials and not only affect air quality, but also transfer potential health risks to your food.
Vacuum pellet and charcoal grills regularly.
As Hite mentioned, wood grills and charcoal grills produce a significant amount of ash. For this reason, it's a good idea to "vacuum the barrel [of these grills] after five uses," says home improvement expert Kathryn Emery, who runs the Be The Best Home blog . Emery tells us that a "small handheld vacuum" is a good tool for this purpose.
Keep your grill covered when not in use.
A simple way to keep your grill clean is to "make sure you keep your grill covered." This will prevent pollen or dust from building up, and if you're working with a stainless steel grill, the cover will also help prevent rusting or discoloration.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
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