Get the Most from Your Grill: Care and Maintenance Tips from the Pros



Posted: Thursday, July 16, 2009

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Whether you use a charcoal grill, gas grill or electric grill, you'll only get the most for your investment if you care for it properly. While the basics will be covered in your owner's manual, grilling enthusiasts around the globe have a few hidden pearls of wisdom up their sleeves which you should know about.

Gas Grill Maintenance
One trick you can use to save yourself a lot of laborious scrubbing is to leave your gas grill on high for about 10 minutes after you've finished cooking. This will burn off or loosen caked-on food particles, and once the grill has cooled down, you can use a metal wire brush to scrub any leftover remnants away.

If your gas grill has heavy deposits of caked-on food, burning off the remnants won't work. Instead, you'll have to soak the cool grill slat in hot, soapy water for a few hours. Don't use oven cleaners or other caustic chemicals – remember, food will be in contact with this surface. Instead, leave it to soak, then use a scouring pad to scrape away the food bits. Repeat as necessary.

Dents, rust and even general signs of wear on the gas line or tank can be very dangerous. Replace these components at the first sign of trouble.

Use a wire to open up any flame holes that appear to be clogged. This will ensure optimal performance.

Applying vegetable oil to the grill rack, while it's cool, can extend it's life and protect it from wear.

Charcoal Grill Maintenance
In addition to using the above tips to care for your charcoal grill's cooking surface, you should also learn when and how to remove the ashes that collect as the charcoal burns. After each use, wait until the coals cool down, then open the grill from the bottom and remove the ashes. This will ensure the coals don't get clogged.

After you're done cooking, you can leave the coals firing to burn off any food particles that fell through the slats. If you do this, you should make regular inspections to ensure that the inside of your grill isn't getting too clogged or dirty. When you notice some buildup, empty the coals and rinse out the inside of the charcoal grill using warm, soapy water. Rinse it clean and let it dry before adding new coals.

Electric Grill Maintenance
Compared to gas and charcoal grills, electric grills are very low-maintenance. Given that simple, everyday electricity – not charcoal or propane – powers the grill, you don't get messy residues to clean up after cooking.

Your main maintenance task when it comes to electric grills is keeping the cooking surfaces clean and free of built-up food grime. The general techniques discussed above are very effective for keeping electric grill surfaces clean, and electric grills are highly recommended for homeowners looking to keep their costs predictable, controlled and low.

Bill Rogers has used many, different, grills but prefers to grill on the charcoal grills for the added flavor they offer. He likes the 'Luma Outdoor Entertaining' brand, the most.
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