Prepare your grill for its time to shine

EENo summer weekend is complete without an outdoor barbecue. But before you fire up the grill this season, you’ll want to give it a thorough cleaning and make sure it’s safe to use. After all, you don’t want a grimy, greasy grill ruining the flavor of your food — or, even worse, a fire hazard in your back yard.

The best way to extend the life span of your grill — and prevent unwanted flare-ups — is to clean your gas or charcoal grill after each use. By being diligent, you’ll save yourself the hassle of having to do another deep clean in the future.

Electric grills

Because electric grills are almost always nonstick, they’re far simpler to clean than gas or charcoal grills. But the grill plates can still accumulate grease. Typically, you just have to wipe them down with a soft sponge full of soapy water and dry with paper towels. To remove burnt-on food or grime, let the water soak on the plates for at least 30 minutes before drying.

Don’t want to get your hands dirty? “A lot of electric grill parts are dishwasher safe,” says Derrick Riches, backyard chef and barbecue expert at TheSpruce.com. Check your owner’s manual if you are unsure.

Cleaning a gas grill

Gas grills usually require more time to clean than charcoal grills, given that they tend to have more parts. For a deep clean, Riches says it’s best to disassemble the grill and clean everything piece by piece.

Most parts can be wiped clean with warm, soapy water. “You’ll want to avoid using cleaning products with corrosive chemicals,” Riches cautions. “Oven cleaners are particularly bad for grills.”

Grates require special attention. To rid them of dirt and grime — and ensure great-tasting food every time you grill — you’ll have to tailor your cleaning method to the type of grate you have.

Robert Hawkins, a gas grills product manager at Char-Broil, recommends these three approaches:

• Porcelain-coated grates: Do not use metal or wire brushes when cleaning porcelain grates, as these can create chips or scrapes in the porcelain. Instead, start by burning off any leftover food. Once the grates have cooled, use a soft-bristle or nylon grill brush.

• Cast iron grates: First, burn off any leftover food. Then use a nylon cleaning brush once the grates have cooled. Finally, lightly coat the grates with cooking oil.

• Stainless-steel grates: Cover the top of stainlesssteel grates with heavy-duty aluminum foil and then heat the grates on high for 10 to 15 minutes. “The aluminum foil redirects the heat to the grates, simply burning off leftover food,” Hawkins says. After, clean the grates with a nylon cleaning brush once they’ve cooled.

If you’re still dealing with stuck-on food, Hawkins advises soaking the grates overnight in a mixture of two cups of vinegar and one cup of baking soda in a large garbage bag tied with a rubber band.

Charcoal grills

Because charcoal grills have fewer parts, they’re generally easier to clean than gas grills, but they still require some TLC.

Although lids on most charcoal grills can’t peel because they’re coated with porcelain enamel, occasionally you may see small pieces of debris on the inside of the lid that look like peeling paint. These pieces are nontoxic, but you should remove them using a soft stainlesssteel brush. “If you don’t clean them, the pieces can flake off and fall onto your food,” Riches says.

If possible, remove the grill grate and clean it with a grill brush or other coarse cleaning brush. This should scrape away any leftover food and grease, Riches says. Next, collect debris from the bottom of the grill; if there’s an ash catcher, empty it. For a shiny finish, wipe down the grill lid with a mild detergent soap or glass cleaner.

Getting rid of rust

Stainless steel is resistant to corrosion, but it can still rust. Hawkins recommends using one of these three cleaning methods:

• Mix lemon juice with a powder detergent and water until it forms a paste. Apply the paste on the rust and let it sit overnight. Scrub it clean with warm water and a soft cloth or sponge.

• If the rust is on a part that can be easily removed, soak the part in soda overnight, rinse with water, and scrub the area clean with a soft cloth or sponge. (Soda contains phosphoric acid that is a main ingredient in many rust-removal products.)

• For stubborn rust stains, use a commercial rust remover and follow the directions on the package. “If you have a serious rust issue, you may have to look at replacing parts,” Riches says.