Cleaning a barbecue grill should be viewed similar to maintaining the top of a stove. Most people clean the stove surface after each meal they cook. Every now and then, they remove the eyes and clean in and around the area. This type of attention is needed just as much by grills as it is by a stove. Be sure that you at least wipe down your grill each time you use it so it will last longer.
The grill’s grates should be thoroughly cleaned after each use no matter what type of grill you own. Look at them as the pot or pan you would use on the stove. You wash and store it after you’ve cooked a meal, correct? Grates that are left unclean are more likely to have food stuck to them in future uses. Even if you use aluminum foil on the grates, it is still recommended you clean them, as the foil may have torn and exposed the metal to food.
To clean the grates of your barbecue grill, there are a few products you can use. A wire brush is recommended to scrape off any stuck on food. Oven cleaner also works well. Leave the cleaner on the grates overnight. They will only require a minimal rub down when you return to them the following day. If you have a self cleaning oven, you could just pop the grates into the appliance and let them get cleaned that way. Sponges and rags are also helpful to wipe down the grill.
If you have a charcoal grill, you will need to empty out the ashes after each use. You should also take a wire brush to the interior of the lid, the sides, and the bottom of the grill. Remove any foods that were cooked onto any surface. Failure to do this can lead to more smoke than normal in future uses. It can also tarnish the flavor of your next meals if not removed.
Gas grills can be very misleading when it comes to cleaning. Many models come with a “clean” setting. Owners seem to think they can just switch the knob to this option and the grill will be sparkling on its own. However, this is not the case. It still needs to have the grates cleaned. This setting merely heats up the grates to melt away grease and leftover food. A brushing of the grates should still be done to remove any foods that are not removed through the clean function.