Garden barbecues should be cleaned at the beginning and end of the grilling season, as well as before and after each use. A barbecue that is constantly kept clean will continue to function perfectly for a long time and will always guarantee well-cooked and tasty food.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: After Each Use. Light Cleaning
Don't see it as a complicated operation - it's like washing dishes after meals. Regular cleaning after each use must still be a light cleaning, to remove encrustations and to keep the various parts of the barbecue clean.
Step 1. Get started simple
To lightly clean your barbecue, just use the residual heat from the grill after cooking. Sprinkle some vegetable oil on the cooking grate and scrape off any remaining meat with a barbecue spatula or wire brush. Then clean up using blotting paper. If you feel like you've cleaned your barbecue sufficiently, that's it. If not, proceed to the next step.
Step 2. Select and set the "clean" button, which is used to preheat the barbecue
However, don't be fooled - this burns any food debris that has fallen down the grill, but it doesn't really clean the barbecue. More than anything else, it dissolves the residues that have remained encrusted to facilitate cleaning, but then you will have to do it concretely, while the barbecue is still hot (obviously not hot). This can take anywhere from half an hour to a few hours, so you have time to walk away and come back when it's running out and the barbecue is still hot.
You can also use residual heat from cooking as a cleaning effect, as long as you start cleaning the barbecue when it has cooled down sufficiently but is still hot
Step 3. Disconnect the gas
This is a safety precaution, just in case. Wear disposable gloves to protect your hands.
Step 4. As soon as it has cooled down enough to handle safely, grab and lift the grill
Use a sturdy wire brush to remove all grease and food particles (to thoroughly clean the grill, see the heavy cleaning section below).
Step 5. Clean the grill above the fires
This is the part of the barbecue consisting of lava stone, refractory bricks or some sort of metal plate. Put on disposable gloves and wipe off all visible food residues, or use the wire brush first to loosen the burnt food encrustations.
Step 6. Rub with a cloth
It is good practice to keep a special cloth to be used exclusively for cleaning the barbecue (to be placed in the washing machine together with other heavily soiled fabrics). Use the cloth to clean the grates and the cooking grate and to remove encrustations and residues that you were unable to remove with the brush. Let it dry and check that the barbecue is ready for use again.
Some people prefer to use paper towels because they can be disposed of
Method 2 of 2: At the beginning and at the end of the Grilling Season
Step 1. Disconnect the gas
As always, safety comes first.
Step 2. Lift the various parts of the barbecue, one item at a time
Check the fires carefully. To ensure even cooking, remove any obstructions or clogging. If you can't do this effectively, replace the burners.
If you think the fires are having problems but are unsure, you should contact the vendor for assistance
Step 3. Clean the lava stone (or bricks or steel plate) of the barbecue
Use the wire brush to remove food debris and charred bits. Take advantage of this to thoroughly clean the most difficult to reach corners where you did not go by doing the light cleaning. If food has stuck to solid fuel, replace the lava stone (or bricks or steel plate). If you do not do this, in the next cooking it will emit a foul-smelling smoke that will spoil the taste of the roasted food.
Step 4. Clean the cooking grate with soapy water
To clean really well (when there is an accumulation of resistant deposits):
- Use a wire brush to remove any loose or charred bits of food. Make marks and scratches on the grill surface with the wire brush as well. It doesn't matter if it's not perfectly intact.
- Place the cooking grate in a garbage bag or large airtight plastic container.
- Add 170-230ml of ammonia.
- Seal the bag or container tightly. Let the ammonia sit overnight (about twelve hours). Keep it out of the reach of children and pets. Put it somewhere outside, for example in the garden shed - it's a good way to keep it safe.
- The next day, take the grid out of the container or bag. Do this in a well-ventilated area, as ammonia fumes will escape the moment you open the container.
- Use the wire brush again. The food residues should now come off easily.
- Rinse the grill before using it again.
- Lubricate the barbecue with oil. If the cooking grate is made of cast iron, it will be very useful to lubricate it with a suitable vegetable oil. This prevents rust from forming and keeps the grill in good condition. If the grill is made of another material, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Step 5. If the grille paint is peeling or showing signs of rust, repaint it - go to a hardware store and ask for a suitable, non-toxic paint
If the grill is in good condition, just give it a good wash with soap and water followed by a polishing, so that all the dirt and grease is removed and the grill can be as good as new.
Step 6. Reassemble all parts of the barbecue
Check that all connections are in place and turn on the barbecue. Before using it again, allow the heat from the barbecue to completely burn off any soap residue.
Advice
- If you add oil when roasting meat or other foods, it will be easier to keep the barbecue clean.
- There are commercial products specifically designed to clean barbecue grills and grills. Contact your hardware store or the shop where you bought the barbecue and always read the instructions before use.
- Before cleaning, read the manufacturer's instructions. The suggestions in this article apply in general: your barbecue may have particular indications that must be carefully considered, to avoid damaging it.
Warnings
- Always make sure the barbecue is not too hot before touching the grill or other parts for cleaning.
- If you opt for the cleaning method that uses ammonia, be careful not to breathe in the fumes. Clean in a ventilated area, and if you are particularly sensitive to chemicals, wear a mask that filters out fumes. Also, don't mix ammonia with other products, or you could create a poisonous mixture - only use pure ammonia.
