Are you ready for the thrill of the grill?
Give your barbecue some TLC before the cookout season begins
If you’re not among the diehard barbecue artists who cook outside year-round, your grill will need some attention before you set your first meal to sizzling.
A thorough once-over: Look for signs of rust or cracks in the metal or grill lines. Little critters may have found their way into the grill.
Wipe it down: Amanda Haas, a cookbook author who works with Traeger Grills, says: “Lots of grills are covered in grease, dust and pollen when you lift that cover after a long winter of hibernation, so give the outside a thorough scrub down.
Keeping it clean will extend the life of the grill and help prevent accidents due to sticky or greasy surfaces.”
Clean the inside of the lid: Buildup from the previous year not only looks gross, it can be a fire hazard. Use a strong brush, possibly the same kind you use to clean the grill grates or maybe a nylon brush depending on the grill material. A paint scraper is also handy for cleaning out built-up gunk.
Clean the inside: Do all of the following with the gas off:
Clean the “flame tamers,” right over the gas burners underneath the metal grilling grates. A skewer, toothpick or paper clip are good for making sure all the little holes in the burners are unclogged. There are also tiny wire brushes made for this purpose.
Take out the grate and empty the grill of all ash and debris.
Make sure that grease pan is empty. Check this about once a week if you grill regularly.
Check the fuel line: Brush the outside of the gas tubes with soapy water and then run the gas. If bubbles rise along the tubes, there are leaks and the tubes need to be replaced. If you see bubbles where the tubes connect into the grill or gas tank, these might just need tightening.
Clean the grates: For a gas grill, turn all the burners to high, shut the lid and let the grill heat for 15 minutes. Then, just give it a good scrub with a grill brush or grill scraper. A wadded-up piece of foil held with tongs also does a good job.
Haas advises: “If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your grill grates, remove them and take a nylon sponge or hardbristle brush to them along with some tough cleanser. Make sure to rinse and dry them thoroughly before placing back on the grill.”
Check your tools: A worndown grill brush doesn’t clean well, and a basting brush that wasn’t properly cleaned before the end of the season may need replacing.