Nothing lasts forever ... especially barbecue parties. And once your guests have left, you don't want to leave a dirty, dried up grill. It should be properly cleaned after each use! Fortunately, with gas barbecue grills, the job is twice as easy, and the sooner you clean it, the better for you.
A gas grill is much easier to clean when it is still warm. Let’s have a closer look at how to do so. You don't need to clean the inside of the dome each time after a barbecue. Experts usually advise you do this once before and once after the barbecue season, for example just before putting the grill away for winter. Looking after your equipment is not only important from a hygienic perspective, but will also prolong the life of your equipment and make your food taste much better.
Nothing lasts forever … especially barbecue parties. And once your guests have left, you don’t want to leave a dirty, dried up grill. It should be properly cleaned after each use! Fortunately, with gas barbecue grills, the job is twice as easy, and the sooner you clean it, the better for you.
A gas grill is much easier to clean when it is still warm. Let’s have a closer look at how to do so. You don’t need to clean the inside of the dome each time after a barbecue. Experts usually advise you do this once before and once after the barbecue season, for example just before putting the grill away for winter. Looking after your equipment is not only important from a hygienic perspective, but will also prolong the life of your equipment and make your food taste much better.
The golden rules for a clean gas barbecue grill
Small pieces of meat, fat, marinade or bits of halloumi cheese … such leftovers will turn into mould over time. And since the remains will stick not only to the top surface but also to the bottom of the wire rack, the quicker you get your wire brush out the better.
Close the barbecue lid and reheat the grill to the maximum. When exposed to heat, the leftovers will dry up completely, leaving behind only a charred pile of white ash that can be easily removed with a grill brush. Thanks to the above step, you can also clean the burner covers below the grate. To finish off, wipe everything down with a damp cloth and a bit of washing-up liquid, and everything should shine like new again!
How can you tell if the cleaning process is over? It’s very simple. Cleaning a barbecue grill is like choosing a new Pope. The rising smoke will tell you when the grill has “burnt out any remaining dirt”. Less and less smoke will then be visible, which usually happens after 10-15 minutes. Only then should you open the lid to see what’s going on underneath it. If not everything has turned into dust, then close the lid and wait a few minutes.
How to clean the grill brush
You should also prevent food from sticking to the metal brush, the sole task of which should be to remove the above-mentioned ash. However, if the grill brush does become dirty, we recommend cleaning it with water and grease-dissolving detergent, and rinsing everything off with hot water. Don’t forget to dry it afterwards! Then shake the brush well and wrap it in a towel. To prevent too much dirt, put the brush under the grill cover in order for it to also “burn out”. This is, of course, provided that the brush is equipped with a long and heat-resistant handle. For this reason wooden handles are generally unsuitable for this method
Not only the grate requires attention
When cleaning the barbecue grill, do not forget about the drip tray and the worktop. Not only the grate, burner guards or grill plates need to be cleaned. Everyone has a cloth or sponge at home, as well as access to water and grease-dissolving detergent. So what are you waiting for? Allow the larger food particles to soak, and then scrape them off. Vinegar as a cleaning agent is good at getting rid of dried-up remains. Once again, do not use a wire brush or steel wool to scrub the stainless steel surfaces.
The grill exterior does not necessarily need to be cleaned after each use, although it is relatively easy to do all the steps manually. Available glass or stainless steel cleaners are usually very effective degreasers on the external surfaces. It is enough to clean the exterior at the end of the barbecue season, which is just before winter.
The devil is in the details
Not all food remains will stick to the grate or the burner cover. Chunks of meat, marinade and leaking fat often end up on the bottom of the grill. All these bits that have fallen to the bottom will eventually start to rot if you don’t react in time. The problem, however, is that any remains will stick to the bottom, even if you apply the “burn clean” method. The reason is very simple: the heat will rise just above them.
Before cleaning the interior, be sure that the grill has cooled down completely so that you do not burn yourself when removing the metal parts. To avoid scratching, do not remove dirt with a metal pan cleaner, but rather a plastic or wooden spatula. The grill surface should be cleaned with a mild detergent that will not damage the material. Oven washing up liquid should do the job here. Let it soak into the oily layer of leftovers for a few minutes, then wipe it all off with a cloth. This step is especially useful for owners of gas barbecue grills with a drip pan, which makes it easier to the dirt to be easily removed, wiped off and disposed of in one go.
How should you clean a cast iron grate?
Cast iron grates are cleaned in the same way as ones made from stainless steel. For coarse dirt, careful use of a soft brass brush is often recommended. After cleaning, apply a thin layer of oil with a soft cloth and burn off the dirt so that the patina is preserved. You can use olive oil or vegetable oil for this. However, this is not necessary after each cleaning. Without the patina on the cast iron grate, the food would start to stick to the metal. Additionally, this layer of oil protects the grill grate against corrosion. What if rust starts to appear? Just rub in heat-resistant cooking oil and turn on the grill.
If you are thinking of regularly cleaning certain parts of your gas barbecue grill with water or in a dishwasher, then we highly recommend against it! This would surely make everything start to rust.. Therefore, the “good old” method of wrapping a dirty grate with a damp newspaper is not a good idea.
Be especially careful when using a high-pressure or steam cleaner! Before you get rid of the dirt under high pressure, remove any vulnerable parts (such as gas burners) and check the gaskets and gas hoses for any damage.
How is cleaning commercial barbecue grills different from cleaning home-use versions?
The process of cleaning a gas barbecue grill with easy-to-clean stainless steel or die-cast aluminium plates is very different. These models are popular in the catering industry. It doesn’t matter whether the grill plates are flat or not. Strict hygiene guidelines are particularly important when it comes to commercial catering, so commercial grills should always be cleaned following industry recommendations. The great advantage of grill plates is that no grease or larger food remains will fall into the grill, so cleaning the interior becomes unnecessary. Fat drains away much more easily with grooved plates, which is why they are also considered a “healthier” option. However, compared to flat plates, the grooved structure makes them more difficult to clean.
Under no circumstances should these items be cleaned with abrasive solutions or detergent, as this could cause scratches to the surface, and even the smallest scratches will cause food to stick to the plate. Use a plastic scraper to push the oily residue into the grease tray instead. Removing the container is simple and the contents are easily rinsed. You just need to wipe the surface with a damp cloth at the end. Most commercial barbecue grills available on the market have a triple-sided splash guard. Cleaning both the raised side walls and the rear walls becomes child’s play, and your gas barbecue grill will be ready to prepare more delicious food in no time!
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