Cleaning the barbecue is of fundamental importance to keep it in good condition, as well as to ensure better cooking of the food. Whether your barbecue is charcoal, gas, or electric, it should be cleaned after each use to remove bacteria and food residues that can settle on its surface. Follow these steps to better prepare your barbecue for the summer.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Method 1: Cleaning the Gas Barbecue
Step 1. Clean the burners and tubes
With the arrival of summer, when you love to cook outdoors, it would be better to give the barbecue a good clean up. Before starting, make sure the gas tank is closed.
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Remove grates and briquettes.
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Detach tubes and burner. Clean the pipes with warm soapy water. Rinse them well and dry them with a clean cloth. Clean the burner with a damp cloth.
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Use a dry cloth to thoroughly clean each burner hole. Use a toothpick or bamboo skewer to clean any holes thoroughly.
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Step 2. Wash the barbecue
Cover the gas valves with aluminum foil to keep them dry (and prevent rusting). Using soap and lukewarm water, clean the outside and inside of the barbecue and wipe it dry with a clean, dry cloth. Once done, reattach the gas pipes and burners.
Use a long-handled barbecue brush to remove any caking
Step 3. Burn fat and food residues
Turn the briquettes, close the lid and put the temperature on the maximum for 15 minutes. This will soften the grease residue on the grates, making them easier to clean.
- Allow the barbecue to cool for 10-15 minutes before removing grates and briquettes. Wash the grates with soap and water, using the brush to remove grease deposits. A steel wire cloth can also be useful for removing dirt residues
- Dry the grates with a clean, dry cloth, then put them back together with the briquettes.
Step 4. Clean up your barbecue consistently
After each use, use the barbecue brush to give it a good clean. Carefully remove food scraps.
Pay particular attention to the area near the briquettes or lava stones, as food often falls from the grate. Remove dirt and dry the area with a cloth
Step 5. Cover the barbecue
Once it has cooled, cover the barbecue to protect it from the elements. Cover the gas pipes to prevent insects from gnawing on them.
- If you store your barbecue outside, cover it and leave the gas line attached.
- If you store your barbecue indoors, cover it and detach the propane tank. The tank should be stored outside. Keep it in the shade, away from heat sources.
Method 2 of 3: Method 2: Cleaning the Charcoal Barbecue
As warm weather approaches, remove the ash and wash the outside of the barbecue. Plus, stock up on charcoal for the first barbecue of the year. Remember that cleaning the barbecue after each use is important to keep it in good condition.
Step 1. Heat the grill
Before you start cooking, light the charcoal briquettes, put the grill on the stove and close the lid. Let the grate warm up for 10-20 minutes.
Heating the grill will allow the grease deposits to dissolve, making cleaning the tool easier
Step 2. Brush the grill
Grab a long-handled (and wire-bristled, preferably) barbecue brush and start brushing the grill to remove dirt residue. If you don't have a barbecue brush, you can use crumpled foil held with kitchen tongs.
- Clean the grate by removing any traces of grease, marinade, spices, and melted cheese that can contaminate fresh food.
- Dirty grills can also cause meat to attack, especially delicate meat, such as fish. As for the fish, it is always best to place it on the grill over a sheet of foil, to prevent it from sticking to the metal grate.
Step 3. Use the oven
If you have a self-cleaning oven, you can avoid brushing the grill by putting it in.
- Remove the grill and other metal parts soiled with food from the barbecue.
- Place these parts directly on the oven racks and set it to automatic cleaning.
- The oven should heat up to almost 500 degrees. This will burn any leftover food on the grill and clean the oven, all at once!
Step 4. Oil the grill
After brushing the grill, fold a sheet of kitchen paper in four to make a kind of cloth. Dip the cloth in the oil (olive or seed) and use a pair of kitchen tongs to wet the grill.
- Oiling the grill prevents food from sticking to its surface. Some bacon or beef fat is equally good, and gives the food a very distinctive flavor.
- Be careful not to spill the oil on the charcoal, as it could cause a strong flame, or generate an area of intense heat. One of the goals of grilling is to keep cooking at a constant temperature.
Step 5. Brush and oil the grill a second time
After you finish cooking, brush the grill one more time and oil it to protect the surface from rusting.
- Whether or not soap and water should be used to clean the grill is a controversial issue. It mostly depends on your preferences, but remember that it is still a surface on which you cook. Using solvents that are too harsh (such as bleach or an oven degreaser) could cause their unpleasant taste to transfer to the food.
- At the end of the season, it is best to leave a layer of oil and grease on the grill, to protect it from rust (which only needs water, iron and oxygen to manifest itself).
Step 6. Dispose of the ash
Wait for the ash to cool for 48 hours before wrapping it in a thick layer of foil and discarding it in a non-flammable container (a metal bucket or bin).
- Be sure to store the container away from flammable substances or materials, such as gasoline, acetone, sawdust, or paper.
- If you need to cool the ash quickly, wrap it in foil and soak it in water before throwing it into a non-flammable container.
Step 7. Cover the barbecue
Storing the barbecue in the best way is important to keep it in good condition. A barbecue cover can protect it from rust and weather, especially if it is left outside.
- The sheet not only protects the barbecue, but also the utensils left inside.
- Some barbecue covers are light, being designed specifically for the warm months, while others, more suitable for the cold season, are particularly thick.
- A good, well-fitting cloth will protect your barbecue at its best and prevent annoying animals and insects from sneaking into it.
Method 3 of 3: Method 3: Cleaning the Electric Barbecue
Electric barbecues, both indoor and outdoor, have important advantages (they do not need fuel!) And significant disadvantages (they do not give the food the characteristic flavor of grilling). Fortunately, cleaning an electric barbecue can be done in a snap.
Step 1. Unplug the barbecue
After cooking, turn off the barbecue and unplug it from the power outlet. Let it cool down before you touch it.
Step 2. Clean the grease cup
Many electric barbecues have a small bowl that collects the fat that drips during cooking. This bowl should be cleaned after each use.
- Remove the bowl following the instructions included in the barbecue package. Throw its contents in the trash.
- Wash the bowl in the dishwasher (if the instructions allow) or by hand, using soap and water.
Step 3. Thoroughly clean the inside of the barbecue
Use a paper towel to wipe away any excess dirt. Some models have removable plates, which can be washed either in the dishwasher or by hand with soap and water.
- Consult the instruction manual and carefully follow the instructions contained therein.
- Do not completely submerge the barbecue in water. It is an electrical appliance and its components can be damaged in contact with water.
Step 4. Give it a sponge swipe
If your grill plates are not removable, use a soapy sponge to clean them. Be careful not to use an overly abrasive sponge, as it could damage the inside surface of the barbecue.
Step 5. Wipe it with a tea towel
After wiping with the sponge, use a dish towel to remove any grease or soap. Finish by wiping the plates with a clean, dry cloth.
Step 6. Clean the outside of the barbecue
Use a sponge with a few drops of dish soap to degrease the outside of the barbecue. The grease often splatters and settles on the edge of the barbecue, so it is advisable to clean these areas thoroughly after each use.
Read the barbecue instruction manual to find out how to best store it
Advice
- Once a year, examine the briquettes and lava rock on your gas barbecue. If they are excessively caked with grease and food, change them promptly. Dirty rocks can spoil the taste of food.
- If you have a stainless steel barbecue, don't use excessively abrasive surfaces to clean it, as you could scratch it. Use neutral products designed specifically for stainless steel.
- Stainless steel discolors with heat. This is a common process and cannot be avoided (it can however be minimized by not overheating the barbecue).
Warnings
- Never put parts of an electric barbecue in a self-cleaning oven, as they cannot withstand excessively high temperatures.
- Place the barbecue at least 3 meters away from the house and from any flammable materials.
- Do not use the barbecue in confined spaces.
- Be cautious when you are near the flames. Do not use gasoline or kerosene to light the fire. These are not an adequate (nor safe) substitute for products specifically designed for flame ignition.
