How to Clean Barbecue Grill Grates

Summer is approaching fast – we can practically smell the barbecue already! Soon we will be enjoying tasty burgers, a few drinks and good company.

But wait!

Is your barbecue actually ready to do its job?

If the answer is no and you’ve found your grill to be covered in grease and grime, worry not! In this post, we will show you how to clean barbecue grates correctly, because, trust us, there is a wrong way to do it.

So, if you:

• Have abandoned your greasy barbecue in the garage;
• Are wondering how often you should clean the thing;
• Are asking yourself when exactly you should wash the BBQ – before or after use,

Then look no further! We have the answers.

Why should you clean the barbecue grill grates?

Let’s get one thing straight – well-seasoned grill grates can make your steak taste amazing. However, we can’t say the same for food prepared on a dirty and greasy barbecue. You see, if you don’t clean your grill, the food you cook on it will start to taste, well, just bad. Not only that, but leaving your barbecue in a poor condition can affect its performance.

So, that you’re now convinced, let’s get down to business.

How to clean your BBQ grill grates

These steps work well for stainless steel and porcelain-coated grates, which are the types you’ll find on most modern grills. They’re tough enough to handle everyday cleaning, and these tips won’t damage their surface. More on the not-so-popular metals later. Now…

Heat up the grates

Turn your grill on and heat it up to 120°C for 10-15 minutes. After that, grab a brush and scrub the grates clean. You can also use aluminium foil crumbled into a ball and vinegar. Spray the vinegar on the grates and wait a few minutes. After that, scrub with the aluminium foil. It’s recommended you do this after each use of the barbecue.

If you’re unsure about the coating on your grates, avoid stiff wire brushes. Porcelain can chip, and nobody wants tiny flakes in their next burger.

Soak if needed

Sometimes the buildup is stubborn, and scrubbing alone won’t cut it. In that case, remove the grates and place them into a tub or a heavy-duty bag. This method works when you want to clean oven racks, too. Fill it with warm water and a splash of dish soap or vinegar. Let them soak for about 30 minutes. This softens up the grime and it comes off much easier when you start scrubbing again.

Scrape and rinse

Once the grates have had a soak, go back in with your brush or scrubber to tackle the remaining residue. Then rinse everything thoroughly with clean water to wash off the soap or vinegar.

Dry completely

Moisture is the enemy, especially for certain metals. Towel dry the grates carefully. If you can, put them back on the warm grill for a few minutes to make sure they’re fully dry. This little step prevents rust from sneaking in.

Oil lightly (optional but helpful)

A light coating of vegetable oil goes a long way. Wipe the grates with a paper towel dabbed in oil. It protects stainless steel from surface rust and helps food release more easily next time you cook. For porcelain-coated grates, keep it minimal. Just a thin wipe is enough, no heavy coating is needed.

Now, a few words on the not-so-popular metals some grill grades are made of.

• Bare cast iron grates. This stuff is tough but a little high-maintenance. Long soaks or acidic cleaners can cause rust, so keep it short. Dry thoroughly after cleaning and rub a light coat of oil over the grates to keep them seasoned and protected.
• Chrome-plated grates. Mostly found on older or budget grills. The chrome layer can flake if you scrub too hard, so stick to nylon brushes or gentle tools. Treat them carefully, and they’ll last longer.
• Aluminium grates. Rare, but they do exist. Avoid harsh scrubbing and acidic cleaners like vinegar or lemon juice, these can pit the surface. Mild soap and soft brushes are the way to go.

How to season grill grates

Every passionate cook out there knows that cast iron grates perform best if seasoned regularly with oil. You’ve probably noticed yourself that with every use of the grill, the food tends to stick less and less to it.

However, we aren’t saying you should never clean your barbecue again.

After you wash your cast iron or stainless steel grill, smear a small amount of plant-based oil on the grates to protect them from rust.

1. Clean.
   Clean the grill grates using one of the methods described above.
2. Oil.
   Apply a bit of vegetable oil to the grates with a paper towel.
3. Heat.
   Heat up the barbecue and let the oil burn away.
4. Repeat.
   Keep oiling and heating up the grates several times.

Great! You have now revived your grill.

Does every grill type require seasoning?

The answer is no. If you have a porcelain grill, you don’t need to season it with oil. The same goes for porcelain-enamelled cast iron and stainless steel grill grates. The layer of porcelain protects the grates from rust, which eliminates the need for oil.

When you use any of these grill models, just heat up the appliance 15 minutes before you start cooking and apply some oil to your food.

No time to clean your barbecue?

Cleaning your grill requires quite a lot of elbow grease, literally. It’s messy, sticky, time-consuming and overall just not a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. So, why not call someone to clean the thing for you?

We here at Fantastic Services offer barbecue and grill cleaning. It doesn’t matter if you own a charcoal grill, hooded grill, smoker, or spit roasters – we can take care of the greasy situation. The experts we work with can thoroughly inspect your appliance, wash all of its removable parts in a special dip tank, filled with an effective cleaning solution, and put your appliance back together in no time.

Spend your free time where it matters – let Fantastic Services handle the rest!

Takeaways

• Make sure to clean your grill after every use to keep it in good shape.
• Always dry out cast iron grill grates after washing them with water. If you don’t, they will rust.
• Apply vegetable oil to stainless steel and cast iron grills to protect them.
• Be careful when cleaning porcelain grates. You can damage them by scratching their surface.
• Porcelain grate grills don’t require oil seasoning like other types of barbecues. The same goes for porcelain-enamelled cast iron grates and porcelain-enamelled steel cooking grates.

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We hope you found this post on how to clean BBQ grates helpful. If you have any experience or some cleaning tips and tricks, please share your thoughts in the comments below!

Image source: shutterstock / Arina P Habich