Fire Up the Barbecue!

It’s not unusual for a grill to get black and crusty, if it’s not cleaned regularly. However, cooking on a dirty grill will ruin the flavor of your food; thanks to residue from last weeks barbecue or smoke from grease buildup burning off. Aside from regular clean-up you should give your grill a thorough cleaning every year, so if you find that your grill is a mess, here are some tips get it ready to fire up for the season.

Cleaning instructions for your grill will differ depending of the kind of grill you have; charcoal or propane. Also, the surface of your grill will also determine what you can use to clean it; painted surfaces should not be exposed to some cleaners as it could damage the coating on your grill. Make sure you review your grills instruction manual before you begin cleaning.

If your grill is really crusty turn it on and let the flames take care of the chunky stuff for you. This may take about 30 minutes or more; you’ll know it’s done when the remains have burned to gray ash. Once it’s cool use a brass bristle grill brush to scrub off the ash. While almost any grill brush will work I recommend investing in a Brushtech Grill Brush because they are designed to last. They can be used on hot and cold grills and they have a well built handle so you can scrub as hard as you think is necessary.

If there is still stubborn carbon spots left you may need to use a carbon removing chemical like Sokoff, to remove any residual carbon. This product can be used from the very beginning in place of burning and brushing and will almost eliminate the need to scrub. Be sure to follow the instructions for proper use and application of chemicals. Always use rubber gloves and wash chemicals off with warm soapy water before grilling on that surface.

Don’t forget to clean the lid, drip pan and wipe down the outside of the grill. Also scoop out the ash and dispose of it properly. Never throw hot or warm ash in the garbage bin as it could cause a fire; wait until it’s completely cool.

Prevention is the best practice when it comes to grilling. According to Charbroil.com Applying a high-temperature cooking oil; such as peanut, canola, safflower, or cottonseed, to the meat will help to even the heat transfer thereby reducing sticking and make cleanup easier.

When you have finished grilling close lid and allow flames to burn off residual food for about 10 minutes. Scrub grate with a brass grill brush and clean out drip pans. If you clean your grill every time you use it, your food will taste better and cleaning will take less time in the long run.

Enjoy!



Links:
For more tips and tricks in grilling visit, http://www.charbroil.com/Recipe/index.aspx

Grilled burgers are a classic, but only if you know how to make them right.
Follow this link to find a recipe for grilling the perfect burger:
http://www.bbqreport.com/archives/barbecue/2007/07/27/recipe-for-grilling-the-perfect-burger/

Comments Please:
If you have any tips or tricks you would like to share please feel free to leave a comment below.