Discover the proper way to clean grill grates. Just in time for burger and brat season, use these tips to make your grilled food taste better and safer.
You need to prepare to clean grill grates and choose the right tools to clean grill grates. Below will give you 6 methods on how to clean grill grates.
Read on for more detailed information.
Before You Start Cleaning Grill Grates
Determine whether your grill grates are made of porcelain, cast iron or stainless steel. The type of material the grill grates are made of will determine how to clean them and what products to use. Keep these tips in mind before you start scrubbing.
- Porcelain grates: Porcelain grates are rust-resistant as long as the finish is intact. Use a soft-bristled or nylon brush instead of rougher metal or wire brushes when cleaning.
- Grates made of cast iron can withstand those hard, wire brushes because cast iron is a tough material. However, they do rust easily, so we recommend rubbing the grates down with either vegetable or canola oil after cleaning.
- Grates made of stainless steel are more enduring and don’t require as much special maintenance as grates made of porcelain or cast iron. But that doesn’t negate the possibility of rusting. To prevent rust, be sure to dry the grates completely before cleaning.
Choose the Right Tools to Clean Grill Grates
Even though some grillers choose to use a traditional grill brush, many are unaware that wire grill brushes can be slightly dangerous. Wire bristles are infamous for breaking off and falling into your food. Many individuals have unintentionally consumed these bristles without even realizing it. We have a ton of other grill cleaning tips you can use right away if you feel like switching to a safer tool.
- Aluminum Foil: Gather a small amount of aluminum foil, roll it into a ball, and hold it with grill tongs as you scrub. You can even re-use the same aluminum foil from cooking your favorite foil packet recipes.
- Nylon Scouring Pad: For quick and simple cleanup after grilling, take a scouring pad from your kitchen.
- Rub your grill grates gently with this grill stone that resembles pumice. A soft cloth or water should then be used to finish by wiping the area clean. It’s that easy.
- Onion: Although it may seem odd, you can clean your grill with the cut-up portion of an onion. Use the cut side of the onion to clean the grates after simply spearing it with a barbecue fork. Without being overly abrasive, the acidic enzymes will dissolve grease. Additionally, you can simply throw the onion into the coals to burn it off if you’re using charcoal for your cooking.
How to Clean Grill Grates?
Here are the details:
Clean With Aluminum Foil and Baking Soda
- In a small bowl, combine 1 ½ cup ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda with 1 ½ cup water to make a paste. It ought to have a liquid consistency that is thick and adheres to the grill grate.
- Apply the baking soda paste to the grill grates with a brush or sponge, then wait a few minutes before using.
- Cut a two to three foot long piece of aluminum foil. long) and crumple into a ball.
- Working across the grate and up and down each wire, scrub the baking soda-coated grate wires with the aluminum foil ball.
- After giving the grate a good rinse, put it back on the grill.
Baking Soda and Scour Sponge Grate Cleaning
This technique is appropriate for grill grates made of porcelain or enamel. The finish of coated grill grates can be damaged by metal, such as a wire brush or aluminum foil, so it is best to use a scour sponge or nylon bristle brush. But don’t worry, the strength of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda will assist in dissolving and abrading the burned-on food particles to clean your grill grates.
- The grill’s stainless steel grate should be taken out and set down flat.
- Water should be applied to the grill grate.
- For 10 minutes, liberally sprinkle ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda over the stainless steel grates.
- Scrub the grate while moving up and down each wire with a damp scourer sponge.
- Return the grate to the grill after giving it a good rinse.
Use a Pressure Washer
You can quickly and easily clean your grill grates with your best pressure washer if you’re looking for a less time-consuming option.
Set your BBQ grills up against a flat surface, like a sturdy wall and turn the pressure up to high, to dislodge any stubborn sticky leftovers.
For best results, start at the top and work your way down. It takes less than ten minutes to complete this method of thoroughly cleaning your BBQ grill grates, after which you can set them out in the sun to dry.
Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates Without Removing from the Grill
Cast iron grill grates can rust but are sturdy and distribute heat evenly. Cast iron grates that are rusted when you open your grill are nothing to be alarmed about. Even if your cast iron grates are difficult to remove from your grill, grab the baking soda.
- Make a paste of 1 ½ cups ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda, ¼ cup dish soap, and ¼ cup white vinegar in a small bowl. It ought to have a liquid consistency that foams up and adheres to the grill grates.
- If it’s a gas grill, avoid the heating elements and apply the paste with a brush to the grill grates. Avoid turning the grill on before closing it.
- Give the paste 8 to 12 hours or even overnight to rest.
- To get rid of the loose dirt and grime, use a nylon-bristled brush or scourer sponge.
- Use a damp sponge and warm water to wipe away any remaining residue.
As soon as all of the rust has been eliminated, thoroughly dry the grates and rub them with a generous amount of vegetable oil to coat and shield them from moisture. To help seal in the seasoning and get ready for your next barbecue, you can also turn the grill on high after oiling it.
Give Your Grill Grates a Steam Clean
Did you know that using a steam cleaner can be used to clean barbecue grill grates? Use a steam cleaner on the grill, like Kärcher’s SC 2 Easyfix(opens in new tab), for a thorough deep clean that also has the added benefit of getting rid of any bacteria.
Steam cleaners are such a versatile piece of equipment to keep around the house. They make light work of the grease, and dirt, delivering deep cleaning results with no chemicals or scrubbing.
No Scrub Baking Soda and Vinegar Grate Cleaning
Baking soda and white vinegar can be used to soak the grimy grates overnight, saving you the time and effort of scrubbing if your grill is extremely dirty and has caked-on, stubborn grease or grime that won’t come off right away.
Especially if you can’t scrub the grates right away, try this method to thoroughly clean your grates at the start of grilling season or after a cookout.
- Remove the grates from the grill once they are completely cool.
- Put two cups of white vinegar and one cup of ARM & HAMMER baking soda in a large garbage bag (large enough to hold all the grates). It won’t take long for the mixture to start foaming.
- Place all the grates into the trash bag and seal it with a tight rubber band or knotted string. Place the bag containing the grates and the solution in a cool, hidden location (like your garage) and leave it there for 8–12 hours or overnight.
- Grates should be taken out of the bag and rinsed in a big sink or with a hose. Most, if not all of the grime should fall away from the grates. Any remaining residue can be removed with a sponge or ball of aluminum foil much more easily than before soaking.
- Discard the garbage bag and any residual solution after sealing it.
- Put the grates back on the grill.
How Do I Make Grill Grates Look New?
Make sure to close the grill’s lid when it’s not in use to prevent rust and mold. If you plan to store your grill, for example over the winter, ensure that your cooking grills have been thoroughly cleaned. In order to store them along with your grill, lightly coat them in cooking oil and wrap them in plastic bags.
Our instructions on how to remove rust from grills and BBQs will be useful if you do find rust on your grill grates.
To keep your grill grates looking like new after every use Martin suggests turning the grill up to high as soon as food comes off to rest. After five or so minutes, brush the grill grates with a grill brush to clear away any debris and turn the grill off. This should be done after every grilling session.
Because grill brush bristles can be harmful if swallowed, you should replace your brush as soon as it starts to shed bristles. Use the appropriate grill brush for the job.
A brass grill brush should be used to clean cast-iron cooking grids. Stainless steel cooking grids can also be used with them. To use stainless steel grill brushes, you must only use stainless steel cooking grills.
Should You Clean Grill Grates After Every Use?
Whether you have a built-in BBQ or a freestanding design, cleaning the grill grates doesn’t have to be a weekly chore. Contrary to popular belief, cleaning your BBQ grill grates isn’t really necessary very frequently. The best trick is simply to use a stiff wire brush straight after the food comes off the grates so nothing sticks and sets on it.
If you open your BBQ after not using it for a while and you notice any mold has developed, all you need to do is start a fire in the grill, place all the grates on top to burn off any mold, and then clean with a stiff brush.
According to Martin Sobey, you should clean your grill thoroughly at least twice while it’s grilling season. Follow your preferred method for cleaning grill grates every two months if you use your grill frequently. The burners, sear plates, and firebox are all cleaned as part of this.
You can avoid stuck-on burnt food on the BBQ by using sunflower oil each time you cook a BBQ recipe. Once you’ve finished cooking, rub vegetable oil on the grills to prevent them from going rusty.
FAQs
What Do You Soak Grill Grates in to Clean Them?
Mix 2 cups of vinegar and 1 cup of baking soda in a garbage bag. Seal the grates in the garbage bag with a rubber band. In the morning, soak the grates. Grate removal and water rinsing are required.
Will Baking Soda and Vinegar Clean Grill Grates?
If you have an extremely dirty grill with stubborn, caked-on grease or grime that doesn’t loosen right away soaking the grimy grates overnight in baking soda and white vinegar can save the labor of scrubbing.
What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Grill?
A dirty grill attracts germs and bacteria—all of which can get onto your food and potentially make you sick. In actuality, the char that is left on grill grates creates carbon deposits that dirt and bacteria readily adhere to. Although the flames help kill some bacteria, they won’t get rid of all of it; only cleaning can do that.
Should I Oil Grill Grates After Cleaning?
After cleaning the grate, the question is: “To oil or not to oil?” Oiling your grill grate helps prevent food from sticking when cooking. To achieve this, lightly coat the grate with oil using tongs after dipping a wadded paper towel in it.
Summary: How to Clean Grill Grates?
Your work is not finished just yet. Don’t forget to consistently clean the rest of your grill and your grill tools and accessories. They require just as much maintenance to keep them spotless. To make sure you haven’t missed anything while thoroughly cleaning your grill, consult our grill cleaning guide. Oh, and in between bbqs, cover your grill with a high-quality grill cover to keep it dry and free of debris.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment. My Prime Home tries to give you the best furniture information. Thank you for reading.
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