Preparing and Cleaning Your BBQ For Use Again

When the weather warms up, it’s time to pull your BBQ out of the shed and get it back to its rightful spot in the garden or on the patio. But before you grab the tongs and fire it up, it’s worth giving the grill a quick freshen-up. A bit of prep will make sure the cooking surface is hygienic, and your food tastes delicious.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through a few easy “how to clean a BBQ” steps, with some handy tips along the way to make sure it’s ready for the new barbecue season.

Tools You’ll Need to Clean Stuck Food off a BBQ

The items you’ll need might vary, but generally, they include:

• Grill brush: This is essential for getting rid of stubborn chunks of food, grease, and residue stuck to the grates (which might have built up before storing the BBQ).
• Scrubber: Sometimes, a brush isn’t enough, and this is where a scrubber comes to the rescue. It’s perfect for more detailed cleaning on the grates, as well as scrubbing the exterior and interior of the grill.
• Gloves: This is optional, but you’ll definitely want a pair if you’re dealing with tougher stains, grease, or cleaning products.
• Cleaning solutions: BBQ cleaners are brilliant for breaking down grease and burnt remnants. If you don’t have those to hand, warm, soapy water works just as well.

Pick a good spot for cleaning, preferably somewhere with easy access to water. If you’ve got a gas BBQ, make sure to disconnect the tank to avoid any accidental leaks. Once you’ve got everything sorted, you’re ready for the next step!

Tackle the Grates to Clean Burns off a BBQ

Sometimes, after it’s been stored away, you might spot a few stubborn bits on the grates. It’s a good idea to give them another clean before firing up the BBQ. After all, dirty grates can mess with the taste of your food and even cause health problems. Here’s a simple way to get them cleaned:

• Preheat the BBQ: Turn the grill on for a few minutes to loosen any stuck-on bits and make cleaning a lot easier.
• Scrub: Use a stiff grill brush to scrub the grates, aiming to remove as much of the debris as possible. Focus on any visible buildup.
• Soak: If there’s still grime left, take the grates off and soak them in warm, soapy water for 15-30 minutes. This helps soften the buildup, making it easier to scrub off.
• Scrub again: After soaking, give the grates another good scrub, especially on any lingering spots.
• Rinse and dry: Rinse off all the soap with clean water, then dry the grates with a cloth or let them air dry.

Tip: For hard-to-shift grime, make a paste of vinegar and baking soda or use a commercial grill cleaner. Let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing again.

Give the Inside and Outside a Once-Over

This step might take a bit of effort, but it’s worth it to get rid of old grease, food, dirt, and even any bacteria or pests that might have accumulated while the BBQ (charcoal or gas) was stored. Let’s start with the interior:

• Drip tray: Take it out and scrape off any solid debris. Give it a wash with warm, soapy water or a grill cleaner to remove the grease. Rinse it off, dry it, and pop it back in.
• Burner protectors: Remove them and give them a good scrub with a brush to clear away grease and debris. If they’re grimy, soak them in warm, soapy water. Rinse, dry, and reinstall them.
• Other parts: Check for removable pieces like grills, flavour bars, or heat plates. Take them out, clean them (just like you did with the grates), rinse them off, dry them, and reattach them.

Now, let’s move on to the exterior parts:

• Hood: Wipe it down with a damp cloth or sponge. For tougher stains, use a mild cleaner designed for your BBQ’s exterior. Just be careful not to use anything too harsh that could scratch the surface. Rinse it off and dry it well.
• Control knobs: Wipe the knobs with a damp cloth. If needed, use a mild cleaner, but don’t soak them too much to avoid any damage.
• Surfaces: Clean the BBQ surfaces with a suitable cleaner and a soft cloth or sponge. Avoid anything too strong that might damage the finish. Rinse and dry everything thoroughly.

How to Clean a Gas BBQ & Charcoal BBQ: The Potato Trick

You’ve probably heard about cleaning your grill with a potato, but does it actually work? Well, it might! The idea is that the starch in potatoes acts as a natural abrasive.

Here’s how it works: Heat your grill, cut a potato in half, and rub it against the dirty grates. The starch helps loosen grime and grease without scratching the surface. For added cleaning power, you can dip the cut side of the potato in baking soda or coarse salt.

While there aren’t any scientific studies confirming this method works, plenty of grillers swear by it. It might not be as strong as a grill brush or wire scrubber, but it’s definitely worth a try, even on your portable BBQ or pizza oven.

Cleaning your BBQ before using it again is usually easier and takes less time than cleaning it after you’ve used it. Hopefully, these steps and tips will help you get your grill ready for your next outdoor cookout and keep it in great shape for many seasons to come!

For more cleaning and maintenance tips, check out our guide, ‘How to Clean a BBQ – BBQ Maintenance Tips’ next.