Make Every Sizzle Count No one looks forward to scrubbing down their grill grate every summer. It’s a tiresome job. Not that I do it, of course. In my effort to make sure my husband feels included in every aspect... The post Is Your Grill Ready for the Season? appeared first on Sharp Eye.
Make Every Sizzle Count
No one looks forward to scrubbing down their grill grate every summer. It’s a tiresome job. Not that I do it, of course. In my effort to make sure my husband feels included in every aspect of his family’s life, I bestow special honors upon him, one being all things to do with the grill, including producing grilled food for dinner in the summer.
Why should you clean the grill grates and the interior of the grill annually? If grease and carbon build up inside a grill it can ignite when exposed to high heat. Also, bacteria love to live in that stuck-on stuff upon which you’re about to put your carefully prepared food. Finally, that charred schmutz on the grate has concentrated amounts of the cancer-causing compounds found in charred foods.
Cleaning the grill grates:
Most people resort to one of those nasty wire brushes to clean the grill grates, which wreak havoc on the hands. And a worse possibility is that bits of the metal bristles can break off and end up in your food.
I recently read an article that said that an onion is an effective alternative to the wire brush for cleaning. Here’s why – the acidity in an onion will break down caked and stuck-on food which makes that stuff easier to dislodge. Onions also have antibacterial properties which help to sanitize the grates. The best onions to use are the white onions (the largest you can find) due to their water density. The juices from the onions leave a film on the grates and that discourages food from sticking during future uses. If you can’t find a white onion, a lemon half coated with coarse salt can also be substituted.
Other equipment you’ll need is a grill fork and a spray bottle filled with distilled white vinegar.
- Spray the dirty parts of the grill grates with the white vinegar.
- Turn the heat up in the grill which will burn away much of the caked-on food and grime.
- Cut the onion in half crosswise and skewer it on the grill fork with the flat side facing down.
- Rub the exposed onion end along the hot grill grates. That should dislodge greasy bits of the grime and they will drop into the flames underneath. Repeat this step until the grate is clean.
Inside the grill:
Make sure you keep the cover on the grill when it’s not in use to keep out foreign objects that might ignite.
Use a stainless-steel cleaning pad for the inside to get rid of grease in the main part of the grill as well as the lid.
An alternative to onions or lemons for grill cleaning:
Someone who knows their way around all things to do with homes recommended Simple Green as a grill cleaner. Simple Green has a Heavy-Duty BBQ & Grill Cleaner that is specially formulated for grills, and also biodegradable. It removes grease, grime, and food residue from grates, stainless steel and even the outside of the grill. Make sure the grill is not on or hot when you spray the Simple Green. It can also be used to clean your microwave. $12.97
Steps from the Simple Green website:
Remove grates and other parts: Take out the grates, drip pan, and any other removable parts.
Apply Simple Green: Spray the cleaner onto the grates and other parts, allowing it to sit for several minutes to penetrate the grime.
Scrub: Use a scrubber, or cloth to scrub away the loosened grime.
Rinse and dry: Rinse all parts thoroughly with water and allow them to dry completely.
Clean the rest of the grill: Spray Simple Green on the inside of the grill body, let it sit, and wipe clean. You can also clean the outside of the grill with a cloth dampened with Simple Green.
Reassemble and enjoy: Once everything is clean and dry, reassemble the grill and you’re ready to cook.
The post Is Your Grill Ready for the Season? appeared first on Sharp Eye.
