Everyone’s least favorite part after a Sunday afternoon BBQ is cleaning the grill. Well, here at Carnivore Style we also hate this chore, so we decided to put our heads together to bring you a guide on how to clean your gas grill with minimal effort. You can get back to enjoying a beer with the rest of the party much quicker than you thought.
What Is A Gas Grill?
A gas grill is generally the most common type of backyard barbecue grill on the market. It uses a 2 or 3 burner set up. Gas or liquid propane is used to heat up the grill to high temperatures. You can flame grill or turn it into a smoker to cook your food.
Benefits Of Cleaning Your Gas Grill
We recommend spot cleaning your gas grill after every use. You should do a deep clean once every couple of months. Keeping your grill clean will extend the life of the cooking grates and interior components. If you don’t have a clean grill, then grease particles can build up and corrode the grates.
Grease and other old food particles will also affect the taste and texture of your food. Fat residue can become rancid if it sits in the inner chamber for too long. Cleaning a grill can get rid of harmful substances such as carcinogens, paint chips, and ash.
Highlights
- Extend the life of your grill
- No grease residue on food
- Removes harmful substances
How To Clean A Gas Grill With Minimal Effort
Step 1
Gather all the materials that you will need. We recommend a wire grill brush, soapy water, and a sponge or wire scrubber. If you don’t have a brush, you can use a piece of crumpled up aluminum foil.
Turn it up to high for about 15 minutes and close the lid. This method will burn off any of the large deposits of meat or grease. Once the interior chamber has reached maximum temperature, brush the cooking grates with your wire brush or foil. We like to give the grates an extra scrubbing treatment since they are usually the dirtiest.
Step 2
Once it has cooled down for a few hours, make sure that the gas supply is turned off. You should also remove the propane tank hose. If you don't know how to do this be sure to check out our step-by-step guide. The next thing to do is scrub the tops of the cooking grates once more with foil or a scrubber. Once you remove the metal grates, you’ll see the underside is dirty as well. Clean the bottom of the grates with your wire brush and place them aside when you’re done.
We've compiled a simple step-by-step guide on how to clean cast iron grill grates which can probably help you with this step. You can find our guide here.
I just try to get the grill hotter than blazes.
- Howie Velie, chef, Culinary Institute of America
Step 3
The next step is to remove the burners or covers. They are intended to protect the burners from any debris. Remove them and place them in a bucket of soapy water. Use your metal scrubber or sponge to wipe off the char and debris. You may need to let them soak for a few minutes. Once they are cleaned, make sure you set them aside carefully since they are usually thin and fragile.
Step 4
Some grills allow you to remove out the burners themselves, but we recommend leaving them in and giving them a good scrub. The burners are more fragile, and you don’t want to risk messing them up. Using your sponge, scrape the grime off the burners. If they still seem dirty, then you can switch to a wire brush.
Don't forget to clean up your grill brush from time to time. You can find great cleaning tips here.
Read More: How to Clean Gas Grill Burners?
Step 5
Most grills have plates that sit at the bottom to catch food. Take out the metal plates that sit at the bottom and scrape them with a steel wool sponge. There should also be a pan at the base for discarding ash. Push all of the ash and charred pieces into the pan and empty it. You may want to let the pan soak in some water before cleaning it to loosen up some of the difficult spots.
Step 6
You may also want to clean the exterior with some soapy water and a sponge. Turn each knob and get the grime from underneath. Use a safe cleaning liquid like Dawn soap or polish with a soft sponge.
Step 7
Now that everything is cleaned, you’re ready to put it all back together. Once all the components are dry, give them one more good wipe with a dry towel. Replace the pans and grill plates first. Reinsert the burner cover and grilling grates. You can reconnect the gas supply hose when you’re done.
FAQs
How long does it take to clean a gas grill?
Cleaning a gas grill can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 1 hour depending on how much of a deep clean you want to do.
Should I use any special supplies when cleaning grills?
We recommend using the materials that we listed above. You may also want to use a specialty grill cleaner that can make the job a bit easier. They are safe to use, and you can buy them from online stores.
Should I clean my grill every time I use it?
Yes, you should do a quick clean each time you heat up your grill. A deep clean should be done each time you cook for a large party or at least after the summer season. Even if you can’t see all the build-up, your gas grill is still dirty.
Conclusion: Using Less Effort to Clean Gas Grills
Even though we hate cleaning the grill every time we have a party, it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you thought.
The grilling gurus at Carnivore Style have given you a guide on how to clean a gas grill with minimal effort. Once it’s cleaned, you can sit back and relax in the heat of the summer sun with a cold beer.
