With the warmer temperatures come the memories of the smell of charcoal and grilling meat. Spring,summer, and even fall are great times for grilling. Being today is Terrific Tips and Tricks.. I am posting this really good article I found that gives some great tips for cleaning your grill!!
We grill out all the time around here. We have even grilled out in the winter before when we are just craving a steak that is grilled over charcoal. I try to keep everything as long as I can.. and these tips will ensure that you keep your grill going for years!
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Inspect the Grill
There are certain things you should check before firing up that grill. The next thing will be inspecting your grill. Now I am a hard core charcoal griller. If you didn’t before the winter,empty any ashes that may be left over from the fall. Next, make sure that you have no rust in the bottom of your grill. How devastating would that be to fire up the grill only to have the bottom rust out while grilling?! Check all grates and pans that you use. Make sure they have no rust or residue on them. Replace any parts of your grill that do show signs of rust and excessive wear and tear.
Cleaning the Grill
Once you have checked the grill thoroughly and replaced any broken parts your are ready to….clean!! Over the winter dust and grime can accumulate fast! Even if you have your grill and equipment covered all winter still clean everything off. Now do you need to spend money on expensive cleaners? Not really. Dish soap and warm water will do just fine. Use a scratch pad for excessive buildup. For those who want a green solution for those really stuck on parts try lemon juice and salt. Pat a little bit of salt on the stuck particle and spritz with a little lemon juice. Let sit for a few minutes and then wipe off.
Making sure your grill racks are clean and in good condition is key to a successful barbecue. Using a cooking spray or lard helps keep them in good shape. Lard is especially important if you have cast iron grates. After each grill session make sure you use a grill brush to clean off any leftover particles. Doing this regularly can help you shorten the cleaning process next year!
So the grill is clean and ready to go,now what?
Checking the charcoal, lighter fluid, smoke chips, and any grill planks you may have left over. Make sure no critters have gotten into your fluid or charcoal. When in doubt toss it out. If you are like we are you’ll need to head to the store to stock up since you used it all last year!
Now with all that done you are ready to start grilling!! Roll that shiny clean grill into your refreshingly clean patio or deck and get cooking.
If you are using a gas grill everything is pretty much the same as a charcoal grill .. except.. check your gas hoses.. Gas taps can become stiff over winter, causing plastic controls to break. Remove the plastic knobs and spray the mechanisms with a lubricant like WD-40 to free them up. Apply a drop of sewing machine oil to each tap and then cover them with Vaseline to keep the oil in.
If one or more of your burners doesn't seem to generate a flame then it may be because a gas jet has become clogged.
If you lift the burner out of the barbecue you will see the small brass jets - these are like a small covered nut with a tiny hole through them. They can be simply removed with a small spanner. If you can't clear the blockage, buy new ones from a barbecue shop.
Reconnect the gas and check all the connections by coating them with a mix of 50/50 dishwasher liquid and water. If gas is leaking you will detect bubbles forming in the mixture. Try tightening the connections or replacing the seals.
Happy Grilling!
xoxo
K Jaggers
♥
