Cleaning Your Grill Properly

A barbeque grill is more of an investment rather than just an entertaining accessory. It can be used and re-used many times over and give you years of outdoor fun and reason to celebrate. Like any investment, a barbeque grill needs proper care and maintenance to bring out its best for all the ensuing years.

If you leave food residue on the grill after every use, layer upon layer dries out and cleaning it then could be a monumental task. Also food left on the grill reacts with it and could encourage the onset of rust, which could drastically decrease the grill�s lifespan.

Most grills have similar cleaning and maintaining requirements, though each kind may have its own specific maintenance schedule.

Step 1- Gather The Necessary Items

Most of the tools necessary for cleaning grills could be found commonly in most households. You will need dry baking soda, brass wire grill brush, mild dish soap, steel wool pads, preferably those that have soap loaded onto them, dishcloth or sponge, spray cooking oil and aluminum foil.

Step 2- Brush The Grill Off

The grill should be routinely brushed to dislodge foods which are stuck to it. Brush off all surfaces using the brass wire grill brush or any other brush specified for the kind of grill you own. Some grills like propane grills, charcoal grills or multi fuel grills could have their own specific instructions. This prevents buildup of food, which in the long run can be a huge chore to remove and could cause the grill to rust if left on for too long.

Step 3- Spray Cooking Oil

Once the grill has cooled down completely and you have brushed off all the debris and buildup, then spry the cooking surface with a thin layer of cooking oil. This is done to protect the barbeque grill from rusting. It is absolutely important that your barbeque grill has cooled down completely before spraying cooking oil. A hot surface could heat up the oil and cause it to ignite. This is a potential danger to your barbeque grill and more important it is a potential danger to you too.

Step 4- Use Aluminum Foil and Baking Soda on Your Grill

Baking soda enjoys a reputation of being a quick and efficient polishing and cleaning agent. After brushing off the buildup and all the debris, scrub the barbeque grill lightly with baking soda to give it an extra shine and get it looking brand new. Baking soda could also be used to remove build up from knobs, handles and other areas where you cannot use the wire brush.

A cheaper option is using aluminum foil. Gently rubbing the grill with aluminum foil will leave it looking shiny and nice.

Step 5- Clean Your Racks

Using the wire brush remove as much food build up as you can from the grill racks. The meats are placed on the racks of the grill and special care needs to be taken to keep them as clean as possible. After taking off as much as you can with the wire brush, wash the racks with dish soap and warm water. You can use steel wool pads on racks that are extremely dirty and hard to clean. Rinse off all soap residue before keeping it away or reusing it.

The quest for Michigan's Best BBQ, Ann Arbor edition - tell us your favorites - AnnArbor.com

The quest for Michigan's Best BBQ, Ann Arbor edition - tell us your favorites AnnArbor.com Whether you spell it BBQ, barbeque or barbecue, whether you're a griller or a smoker, chances are you have an opinion on the restaurant that does it best in Washtenaw County. Me? I've been known to frequent Satchel's BBQ on Washtenaw.

Competitive barbecue heats up in Rochester - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

Competitive barbecue heats up in Rochester Rochester Democrat and Chronicle “Barbecue is about good stewardship, it is about community,” says Wemett, a competition pitmaster whose team, Good Smoke BBQ, was ranked No. 1 by the Empire State Barbecue Championship in 2011. “Barbecue is one of our country's true culinary styles,” ...

The urban myths of KILLIN' GRILLIN' - Canton Repository

The urban myths of KILLIN' GRILLIN' Canton Repository Learn it, and as if by magic, your $59 drugstore kettle grill becomes a smoker. If you simply have to have the 'man toy,' it's a free country. That's no guarantee of success. As with golf, the key to great barbecue is technique, not equipment. and more »

BBQ Fest Winners Announced - MyFox Memphis

MyFox Memphis

BBQ Fest Winners Announced MyFox Memphis The Grand Champion for 2012 BBQ Cookoff was Yazoo's Delta Q. They also won the Whole Hog competition. 1st Place in the Shoulder Competition was the Red Hot Smokers. The trophy for best ribs went Natural Born Grillers. The champions in the Patio Porkers ... and more »

Get a taste of barbecue - Abilene Recorder Chronicle

Get a taste of barbecue Abilene Recorder Chronicle One of the things they love the most is sharing their delicious barbecue with others and getting feedback. The People's Choice BBQ Competition and Tasting gives anyone the opportunity to taste the best smoked barbeque in the land.