Dirty BBQ grills are gross! They are unsanitary and could attract unwanted critters (and their fifth and diseases) into your BBQ. Clearing your BBQ regularly can also help food cook faster and more evenly.
But how often should you actually clean your BBQ? What should be cleaned after every use, and what should be cleaned less regularly?
As we enter BBQ season in the Pacific Northwest, here is what you need to know about getting your BBQ ready for the season and keeping it clean all year.
Bringing your BBQ out of storage
If you are a seasonal-only BBQ griller, you’re probably considering bringing the BBQ out from the garage soon. Here’s how to ensure it’s ready for that first cookout of Spring.
Step 1: Visual inspection
First, wipe your BBQ with a clean, wet cloth to remove any cobwebs or bugs that may have made your BBQ their winter vacation home.
Ensure all bolts are tightened and that everything fits as it should. Visually inspect for any areas of rust, especially any cook surfaces and moveable parts. Cooking food on a rusty grill is a serious health hazard. You may need to replace these before firing up the BBQ this season
Be sure to inspect and clean the drip tray (hopefully, you cleaned it at the end of the season, so it shouldn’t be so bad now).
Step 2: Check the igniter and fuel source
If your BBQ has an ignitor, ensure the batteries haven’t corroded. Replace them now if necessary. As a best practice, don’t leave batteries in your BBQ over the off-season and replace them annually.
Check all parts and hoses in your fuel system to ensure nothing is broken or cracked. Tighten everything as you go.
Step 3: Clean the grill
For this step, you’ll need a shop vac, a soft bristle brush, a sponge, a soft cloth, and warm soapy water. Please avoid using chemical BBQ cleaners, as they can be harsh and abrasive on your BBQ parts.
Start by vacuuming up any loose debris with your shop vac. Then, wipe down all surfaces with your soft cloth and warm, soapy water. This should remove most or all grime.
Next, take your soft brush to remove any grime from your heat shield. Avoid using a wire brush, which can rub off the protective coating on your parts (when this coating is gone, your parts are more susceptible to rust). Use your soft cloth and warm water to remove the remaining grime on these parts.
If you have a pellet or charcoal grill, clean your trays regularly and inspect your pellets and charcoal before each use to ensure they don’t have mould or food build-up.
Check the electrode on the burner. This area often develops grime, preventing your ignition system from igniting. If needed, use a toothpick to clean out any small areas of the electrode.
Set all parts aside to dry thoroughly before reassembling your grill.
Step 4: Test fuel for leaks
Testing your propane or fuel tanks for leaks is always a good practice before using them. To test, mix water and dish soap and pour it over the canister, especially at the neck. If you see large bubbles forming, you have a leak and that canister shouldn’t be used.
You're ready to begin grilling once everything is cleaned, reassembled, and tested!
Regular maintenance after every cookout
After every use of your BBQ, you can do some basic cleaning to help prevent the build-up of food and grime. Once the grill has cooled, clean your drip trays and grates. If food has dripped on your heat shield, wipe with warm, soapy water now, too.
If your grills have a lot of caked-on food after a meal, turn the BBQ heat to the maximum for 10-15 minutes to burn off the stuck food. Then, when cooled, wipe down with a warm, soapy cloth to remove any remaining debris.
If you need extra cleaning power, follow the manufacturer's recommendations on cleaning products. For example, Traeger makes an all-natural grill cleaner specifically designed for Traeger Grills. It’s made from a grease-cutting formula without harmful chemicals.
Cover your BBQ with a protective cover between uses to prevent damage from heat, rain, and weathering.
Important note about BBQ cleaning brushes
Credits: Napoleon
Avoid using stainless steel or brass bristle brushes to clean your grill. These can easily dislodge from the brush and accidentally end up in your next steak dinner. Instead, use a gentler cleaner like the Napoleon Cedar Grid Scraper. These cedar paddles will conform to the shape of your grill surface, making cleaning on and between grills easier and safer.
Traeger also makes a wooden scraper for its grills and a nylon-bristled cleaning brush for cleaning grill grates. The company claims its strong nylon bristles won’t damage your grills or end up in your burger.
Monthly BBQ maintenance tips
Perform a deeper clean and inspection monthly, depending on how often you BBQ. Inspect all parts you did at the beginning of the season, and soak dirty parts in warm, soapy water to loosen any debris that may have built up.
Wipe down the inside and outside of your BBQ with a warm, soapy cloth to keep it looking new and discourage rust. Always thoroughly dry everything before replacing your BBQ cover.
Other (yummy) BBQ inspiration tips for the summer
Once you’ve got a good handle on your BBQ maintenance and cleaning, it’s time to start grilling. Here are some fun ideas for grilling this summer:
- Try grilling a new meat or cut of meat or fish
- Experiment with a new homemade or store-bought marinade or spice rub
- Mix and match vegetable skewer combinations
- Challenge your neighbours to a BBQ competition, and the winner buys drinks for the next BBQ
- Host a DIY pizza night and cook them on the BBQ
- Try a new flavour of wood chips if you usually use a specific flavour for smoking.
Is it time for a new BBQ?
If you’ve pulled out your BBQ and discovered it’s too broken to use, now is the perfect time to get a new one from West Coast Appliance Gallery. We’re stocking up on great new BBQ models for the upcoming season.
Visit our Victoria showroom or browse our outdoor kitchen and BBQ selection online today.