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Properly Cleaning Your Grill
by
PineHallBrick
(IC: professional)
With summer all around us, we are at the height of grilling season. Outdoor cooking is a huge part of Americana and most homes have their own grill that is used throughout the season, but unlike their other cooking surfaces it may not be receiving the same care and cleaning standard. Here are a few tips to maintain and clean your grill.
Heat things up
Your grill will clean easier if it is warm. The best time to clean your grill is after cooking and allowing it to cool for a few moments.
Brush away debris
Using a long-handled grill brush with firm bristles, scrub the grate to remove any debris left from cooking. If left uncleaned, leftover food particles and sauce drippings can be a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause food-born illnesses.
Once you have brushed away and scoured your grate, place your brush in warm, soapy water to clean away any bacteria. Hanging the brush to allow it to dry will help maintain the integrity of the brush and keep it working properly.
Oil your grate
When the grill has cooled, wipe the grate with a damp paper towel, as grease and salt can accelerate corrosion. After drying, apply cooking spray or oil to the grate. This will help prevent future food from sticking.
Dumping the ash
If you are using a charcoal grill, it is imperative that you discard the ashes after they have completely cooled. If left in the elements, ashes can cement into the grill and disrupt future cooking.
With gas grills, regularly clean the pan liner and burners with dish soap and water as they can catch food and grease drippings during cooking.
Keep it dry
For storage, a water-resistant cover can dramatically increase the lifetime of your grill. Store your propane tanks outside and away from direct sunlight.
Following these tips will ensure that your summer cookouts will go off without a grilling hitch.
Heat things up
Your grill will clean easier if it is warm. The best time to clean your grill is after cooking and allowing it to cool for a few moments.
Brush away debris
Using a long-handled grill brush with firm bristles, scrub the grate to remove any debris left from cooking. If left uncleaned, leftover food particles and sauce drippings can be a breeding ground for bacteria that can cause food-born illnesses.
Once you have brushed away and scoured your grate, place your brush in warm, soapy water to clean away any bacteria. Hanging the brush to allow it to dry will help maintain the integrity of the brush and keep it working properly.
Oil your grate
When the grill has cooled, wipe the grate with a damp paper towel, as grease and salt can accelerate corrosion. After drying, apply cooking spray or oil to the grate. This will help prevent future food from sticking.
Dumping the ash
If you are using a charcoal grill, it is imperative that you discard the ashes after they have completely cooled. If left in the elements, ashes can cement into the grill and disrupt future cooking.
With gas grills, regularly clean the pan liner and burners with dish soap and water as they can catch food and grease drippings during cooking.
Keep it dry
For storage, a water-resistant cover can dramatically increase the lifetime of your grill. Store your propane tanks outside and away from direct sunlight.
Following these tips will ensure that your summer cookouts will go off without a grilling hitch.
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Published June 24th, 2013 8:16 AM
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2 of 3 comments
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Irene on Aug 08, 2015When my grill plates need cleaning, I put them in the oven, set it on the "clean" cycle and let the oven do the work for me. When the cycle is done, a quick dip in soapy water will remove any ash residue. The plates come out looking brand new. I've also used this method with an "ancient" cookie sheet, and a cast iron frying pan with great results.
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B. Enne on Aug 08, 2015Watch out when using wire brushes, especially cheap ones. Sometimes the wire sticks to the grill unnoticed and then ends up in food. There are people who have choked on wire pieces stuck in their throats (or intestines), and had to have them surgically removed...NOT an urban legend. We only uses metal scrapers. http://consumer.healthday.com/gastrointestinal-information-15/digestion-health-news-200/wires-from-bbq-grill-brushes-can-cause-big-health-woes-700975.html http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/a32733/wire-grill-brush-dangers/
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