BBQ cleaning - top tips to get your grill ready to go for summer

Everyone knows the frustration of getting ready to fire up the barbecue on the first hot and sunny day of the UK summer only to find that last year’s late night grill session is still cooked onto the wire rack, chargrilled and crispy.

We all know that we should wipe down and clean a barbecue after every use but just understanding that fact doesn’t help much when it comes actually doing it.

So if like us you face scraping the remnants of your last BBQ off your grill before you can enjoy the outdoor cooking delights of this year’s al fresco feasts, then read on for some top cleaning tips from experts to have you flipping burgers in no time.

Top tips for cleaning your BBQ

Elbow grease

Sometimes, the only way to remove stubborn burnt-on food from your grill is to grab yourself a metal scourer or stainless steel pad and give the griddle a good scrub until it’s gleaming.

Use a wire brush to get between the bars of the grill properly and consider getting the pressure washer out to give the outside a good rinse.

Loosening tough stains and spills

For cooked on stains and spills that won’t come off with a good scub, the cleaning experts from Neolith recommend pouring warm water on the area or soaking it if possible (if it’s a tray or similar) in soapy water.

The trick is not to leave anything wet for too long – as this could cause rust or mould to build up.

‘For embedded stains, pour warm water on the stain then wait till it “loosens” and finally rinse or remove with a clean cloth,’ they recommend.

‘Cleaning cloths should be either disposed of or washed after a single use. After cleaning, make sure to clear any excess liquid since germs thrive in damp areas.’

Always empty the ash

On the subject of mould, don’t leave ashes inside your barbecue for days on end after your cook. Ash is brilliant at storing moisture and can soon turn your barbecue into a mouldy mess.

But beware of disposing of your ash too quickly after cooking too. For a while after you’ve finished eating those ashes will still be hot enough to set a wheelie bin on fire hours later – and no one wants that.

So find the balance between disposing of your BBQ ash safely and not letting it sit in the bottom of your grill for weeks on end.

On-going BBQ care

Declan Kingsley-Walsh, gas BBQ expert and MD at Morsø UK, told Metro.co.uk that keeping your grill in good shape is as easy as a quick wash down with soap and warm water after each use – to prevent those tough annual scrubbing sessions:

‘As with all appliances, proper care and maintenance will keep your BBQ in top operating condition and ensure its durability,’ he explained.

‘Once it has cooled down, you should always wash the grill plate and grate in a mild soap and warm water solution after each use.

‘This also applies to the drip tray is it gathers fat and grease from cooking foods like meats.

‘As long as you keep your BBQ clean and in good order, you’ll have delicious meals outdoors for years to come.’

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