Skipping This Grill Step Ruins Your Next Cook

We've all been there. You’re done with the day’s grilling and all you want to do is relax, so you throw the cover on the grill and leave all that grease and char from your barbecuing to be dealt with during the next grilling session. That’s a mistake. While cleaning your grill may certainly be a chore, it’s worth doing to ensure your grill’s performance doesn’t decline. 

Related: Weber's New Charcoal Grill is a Game Changer

Why Your Should Clean Your Grill Right After Grilling

Spring brings with it the promise of outdoor cooking and backyard barbecue blowouts. Set the tone for a successful grilling season by making sure you do what’s necessary when each grill session is over. Here’s why you should clean right after you’re done grilling:

It’s Easier

The most persuasive reason for cleaning your grill after you’re done is because it's an easier job. Food debris and grease is much easier to scrape off when it’s still warm. It’s a lot harder when it cools into dried-on gunk. 

It's Good Hygiene

Leaving partially cooked food and grease on your grill leads to bacteria growth. Cleaning your grill immediately afterward prevents that happening, making your grill more hygienic for the next round of grilling. 

It Creates a Fire Hazard

Getting the grease off your grill’s heat deflector shields now eliminates the chances of flare ups later, which can burn your food and you. 

Related: Weber’s Smart Ring Changes Charcoal Grilling Forever

How To Clean Your Grill Post Grilling 

• Crank up the heat. Turn your burners on high for about 10 minutes after cooking. This will burn off any food pieces that are left on the grill grates. 
• Scrape it clean. Use a grill brush to remove all of the food bits off the grill grates. You can also use a hard scraper to stubborn food bits off. 
• Clean the deflector shields. Remove the deflector shields that sit over top of the propane burners and clean them using soapy water and a scraper. This is key. You want to remove any grease or food bits on the deflectors to prevent flare ups the next time you grill. 
• Clean the cook box. While you don’t need to tackle the area beneath the burners after each grill session, you should clean it periodically by scraping out any char or food bits. Follow up with a shop vac to suck out the loose bits of char. 

How to Clean A Charcoal Grill

• Clean the grates. As with a gas grill, you’ll want to scrape the grates clean while the grates are still hot.
• Dispose of ash. After the grill cools down, dispose of any ash in the ash catcher. Many grills have a mechanism that will sweep the ash in the bottom of the grill into an ash catcher that sits under the cook box. Getting the ash out of the cook box is important to prevent it from blocking the air vents at the base of the grill during your next grilling session.  

The Bottom Line

While no one enjoys cleaning a grill, there’s good reason to do so. A clean grill cooks more evenly, makes food taste better, and reduces the threat of flare ups that create burn hazards for the food and you.