Imagine prepping for a barbeque with your friends and family only to notice tons of grime and dust caked onto the grates when you lift the lid of your grill. What would you do in that scenario?
If you don’t know where to begin, don’t worry. This article has all the info about how to clean grill grates to ensure maximum hygiene at your next outdoor event.
4 of the Best Ways to Clean Grill Grates Effectively
No matter what type of grill grates you’re dealing with, cleaning them occasionally is a necessity. To clean dirty grates, it’s crucial that you pick the right methods.
Below are a few that could work perfectly to recover your grill’s original appeal.
Aluminum Foil
A great way to clean your grates would be to use some aluminum foil.
First, grab a 2-3 ft piece of aluminum foil and crumple it up into a ball. Then, let your grates cool and when it’s warm enough for you to touch, take the aluminum foil and start wiping it. Make sure to apply a bit of force with every stroke.
This can help you knock any debris or burnt bits off your grill in an instant. Although it’s not a foolproof and extraordinary way to deep clean your grates, it certainly does the job.
Baking Soda
Aside from being an outstanding and pivotal ingredient in baking, baking soda can also be used for cleaning purposes, depending on the surface.
Combine equal parts of baking soda and water and mix them together to create a paste. To supplement it’s effectiveness, add in some dish soap too.
Once the paste is ready, dunk your brush into the mixture and smear it all over your grates. After you’ve touched every corner of your grill, let it sit for 15 minutes and start scrubbing them with a stainless scouring pad or a brass bristle brush. Your grates should look as good as new.
A Mixture of Vinegar and Baking Soda
Everyone’s familiar with the immense utility of baking soda and vinegar individually. But what if you combine the two of them? Truth be told, it could yield phenomenal results if done correctly.
Mix 2 cups of vinegar and 1 cup of baking soda and pour the solution into a garbage bag. Then, place your grates inside it too and let it soak for 8 hours or overnight.
Once you’re certain it’s been long enough, take out the grates and wipe off the softened up residue with a cloth or sponge and give it a rinse.
A Hot Water Soak
Another remarkable way to lift the grit and grime from your grills is by soaking it in hot water.
Pick an appropriately sized tub and fill it with some water. It should neither be boiling nor lukewarm. Let the grates soak in the tub for as long as you see fit.
A good 15-20 minute soak should suffice to loosen up all the residue, making it so much easier to clean off.
Cleaning Different Types of Grill Grates
Before you do anything, it’s crucial to consider the type of grill grates your dealing with first. This will help you pick the right cleaning method and ensure a smoother process of rejuvenating your grates so that you can return to hosting BBQs in a jiffy.
So, let’s get right into them, shall we?
Cast Iron Grill Grates
After using cast iron grates, it’s imperative that you let it cool a little before brushing off any residue with a clean cloth. Use a mixture of vinegar, water, and baking soda for the best results.
Moreover, it’s also worth noting that cast iron grills need to be seasoned after every cleaning session too. To do so, spritz a bit of cooking oil and watch as it shields it from moisture that would otherwise leave it vulnerable to getting rusted.
Porcelain-Coated Grill Grates
Since porcelain-coated grill grates are covered with glass-like materials, you may need to be a little more mindful of the way you clean them.
For the most favorable results, wait patiently until the grill is cool enough. Then, use a soft-bristle brush or a non-abrasive cleaning pad and wipe down the grates. To tackle tougher stains, use the baking soda paste.
Stainless Steel Grill Grates
Perhaps the most resilient out of all of them, stainless steel grates are where they money is at. You’ll be perfectly fine even if you scrub it aggressively, thus giving you the green light to employ a deep cleansing approach.
Use a grill brush to scrape off the food residue and wash it all off with some warm water and dish soap. Despite being stainless steel, these grills can rust. So make sure to dry the grates completely before reuse.
Two Things You Should ABSOLUTELY Avoid!
It’s also crucial to remember that using oven cleaners and wire brushes isn’t ideal.
Wire brushes can cause immense damage to your grills, while oven cleaners may contain chemicals that could erode the material of your grates. In lieu of these, use soft-bristled brushes and grill cleaners to obtain the best results.
Let’s Wrap Up This Grill Grate Cleaning Guide!
And with that, I can safely say that I’ve imparted to you all the knowledge you need to clean your grill grates in the most suitable ways possible. Keeping your grates spick and span on a regular basis is an essential part of having a grill in the first place. In addition to that, it has hygiene-related implications too. If you don’t wash it regularly, you might inadvertently endanger the well-being of yourself and everybody else who attends your BBQ.
So, be reasonable, consistently clean your grill, and cook up an assortment of delectable veggies and meats for your next outdoor gathering. Soon enough, your grill will become the center of attraction in your neighborhood!
