Helpful Tips for Easier Grill Cleanup

As the barbecue season draws to a close, novice and expert grillers young and old will all share a similar feeling of grief; although some moreso than others. I'm not talking about sparking up that outdoor cooker one last time before season's close, I'm talking about the one thing every griller dreads but knows is inevitable; cleaning the grill. After a summer full of good times and good food with friends and family, the end result on your grill is usually a black, crusty compound, made up of mostly carbon and some unburned grease. For those of us who may not have gone to great lengths to clean our BBQ grill this summer, here are some tips to help make that cleanup job a little easier this year.

• Always allow grill to cool down to just above room temperature before cleaning. There’s the obvious risk of a bad burn by touching the metal, but beyond that, a wire whisk will fling specks of hot carbon onto your arms and face. Bad news. Cleaning liquids that come into contact with hot metal will vaporize, often producing toxic gases. Another bad idea. Waiting may make clean up a little harder, but it’s much safer.
• Take apart any removable sections from the grill like grill bars, drip pans and lid.
• Clean in layers; grease first then carbon build-up. It will make the job much easier.
• Modern oven cleaning sprays are your best bet to remove grease build-up
• Allow cleaner to sit a minimum of two hours. If you haven't kept up on cleaning all summer, allowing it to sit overnight is warranted.
• When removing oven spray, be sure to use lots of water, rinsing a sponge or towel frequently. Left-over oven spray/grease that dries will impart a foul odor and taste the next time you cook.
• When removing the remaining carbon build-up, there is no safe alternative to elbow grease. A proper scraper will help, but even with it, you are going to have to exert some force.

Clean the barbeque regularly and each clean up will be easier than if the job is only done every third time or once a season. Your food will taste better and your guests will be grateful because of it.