How to Clean a Gas Grill
Some of you seem to think letting your gas grill burn for an extra couple minutes after cooking is all there is to cleaning and this is a misconception. Consider your gas grill to be an outdoor, cooking extension of your kitchen, which is cleaned relatively often. Learn how to clean a gas grill, prolong the life of your grill, protect the finish and components and cook in a safe environment.
Cleaning and maintaining the looks of the outside of your gas grill will make it look nice and always ready for a barbecue with guests. Barbecue sauces and marinades accidentally spilled anywhere on the outside can have serious corrosion effects and damage the paint while raising a few health concerns. Do not use any type of abrasive cleaner on stainless steel, porcelain or painted surfaces. Spray the exterior surface areas with a grill cleaner and wipe with an old rage. Hose off and let dry. If you cannot afford a grill cleaner, a hose, soapy water and soft bristled brush should do it. A gas grill cover helps to keep out dirt and makes your grill last longer.
Check the exterior paint of the grill after a thorough cleaning. Look for signs of the paint wearing off or even rust. If either condition occurs, you want to check into removing the rust and repainting. Rust can slowly erode metal and eventually cause serious damage. Keeping a grill well painted helps to prevent rust and further damage.
Maintaining the inside of grills is important to the taste and smell of foods as well as preventing health issues. The larger build up of grease and grime that you allow to go unchecked the longer it will take to clean. Remove cooking grates and clean using a wire brush. Brush the lid inside and sides too. Sear plates can be cleaned using a putty knife to remove dried food. Brush ashes and food particles from the burners with a brush after removing sear plates. Soak lava rocks in a bucket of soapy water and scrub with a brush.
- Give the drip pan top priority to prevent smells and fire hazards. Maintain the drip pan by replacing it every two to four weeks based on grilling usage. Scrape out dirty drip pans with an old spoon or putty knife. Avoid using aluminum foil in drip pans because they interrupt grease flow.