How to clean a grill
The Drift
Everybody loves a good backyard barbecue—but the more you use your favorite outdoor grill, the more you’ll need to make sure you’re taking the proper steps to clean and maintain it. Follow these tips for how to clean a grill to ensure that yours—whether it’s a charcoal grill or gas grill—can remain in tip-top shape and performance.
HOW TO CLEAN A GAS GRILL
For proper maintenance, gas grills should be cleansed at the beginning and end of each use. Before you clean your grill, it’s a safe bet to check the manufacturer’s recommendation for which cleaning tools to use (a wire brush is generally safe for steel and uncoated gas iron grates, but ceramic-coated grates may be damaged by improper handling.
HOW TO CLEAN A CHARCOAL GRILL
Charcoal grills produce a mouthwatering, smoky flavor (try out our recipe for smoked Turkey to see for yourself). They’re also among the grills that require the most cleaning. Built-up charcoal ash can block vents at the bottom of the grill, making it difficult to control temperatures and increasing the risk of a fire. It’s also always a safe bet to check the manufacturer’s recommendation for which cleaning tools to use.
HOW TO DEEP CLEAN GRILL GRATES
Over time, your grill grates may accumulate stuck-on food that won’t come off with regular cleaning. To deep-clean grill grates, soak them in a mixture of vinegar and baking soda to break down any stuck-on food. Let soak for 8 hours or overnight for a truly deep clean. Then, rinse the grates and scrub off any remaining food using a grill brush.
Proper grill maintenance
When storing your grill for the season (although we believe grilling season is every season), make sure to give your grill a thorough clean. To avoid corrosion, you’ll also want to remove the battery from the igniter before storing your grill long-term. Make sure to get a good grill cover to keep your grill clean and protected from the elements. Cover your grill whenever it’s not in use.