If you know what to do, routine cleaning of an electric smoker is actually quite easy.  In this post, we’ll go over everything you need to know how to clean an electric smoker.  By the end, you should know how to keep your unit in prime condition for years to come!

We’ll go over a few different extreme scenarios for how to clean an electric smoker in this post, but it’s important to note that the best thing you can do is have a consistent, preventative cleaning routine.  This way, you’ll never get to a point with your smoker where you’re risking irreversible damage!

I’d also like to add that the technique we’re about to go over works universally, so no matter which brand of electric smoker you own, you can use this article as your guide!

Things You’ll Need to Clean Your Smoker

To make things easier, you’ll need a few materials on hand.  Here’s a quick list of items you should round up (plus some of the specific products we like to use) to clean electric smokers.

Trash bag or trash bin

Non-abrasive cleaner (I like to use a mild dish detergent

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap

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Non-abrasive brush (no metal – the bristles should be soft as to not scratch your smoker)

Full Circle Kitchen Dish Scrubber Brush

Check Price on Amazon

Soft cloth or rag

Spray bottle

Bar5F Multi-Purpose Plastic Spray Bottle

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Sponge

Optional: Tarp or sheet to put under the smoker.  If you are cleaning outdoors this is not as big of a deal

How to Clean an Electric Smoker – Routine Cleaning

Take Out All Removable Parts

The first thing you’ll want to do is to remove any removable parts from your smoker.  This will make the cleaning process for both the parts and the smoker itself much easier.

Typically, the racks, drip tray, smoker box, and water pan are all removable.  There might be some additional parts that you can take out depending on which model you own.

Scrub the Smoker’s Cooking Chamber

Now that all of the removable parts are out of the way, take your brush and scrub down the entire inside of your smoker – or the cooking chamber.

I like to work from top to bottom to ensure that I don’t have to redo any areas.  You’ll want to make sure you work extra hard on areas where there’s lots of buildup.

This has a tendency to happen in corners and in areas next to where the racks sit, so spend a little extra time in these areas.

By the time you make it to the bottom, there will be a pile of soot and particles that you just got through scrubbing off.  Transfer these particles to a trash bag or sweep them out onto your tarp under the smoker.

Soap the Cooking Chamber

Scrub down the cooking chamber a second time, this go around spray it down first with your non abrasive cleaner.  I do this by putting mild dish detergent into a spray bottle.  After you spray everything down, scrub from top to bottom again.  Once through, use your sponge and/or rag to wipe everything clean.

Important Note: Never ever use abrasive or harsh chemicals to clean the inside of your smoker!

Clean the Smoker Rack

Now that the main cooking chamber is clean, it’s time to move on to the racks.  To be clear, it’s good practice to at a minimum scrub down your racks after every cook.

The procedure we’re about to outline can be done after every few cooks if you’d like, but doing it after each use won’t hurt.

First we recommend you soak the racks in soapy water for at least 30 minutes to soften up any residue build up.  From there, you’ll want to take a scrub and scrape off any remaining clumps of food or residue.

You can feel free to use a more abrasive scrub than you used for the cooking chamber, but I still would highly recommend using something less abrasive than a metal scrub.

It’s best to use warm soapy water while you scrub to make things as easy as possible.  99% of the time, this will be enough to get the job done!

Pro Tip: Use a light amount of vegetable oil on your smoker and racks when you cook.  A light layer will help prevent rusting and will also make food particles less likely to stick.

Clean the Window

Many people I know overlook this aspect of cleaning your electric smoker, but it’s incredibly important to clean the window.  Mostly because you want to be able to have a clear view of your meat and how the cook is going.  A dirty window won’t allow you to do that!

To do this, mix some light soap with warm water and spray down both sides of the window.  Make sure the cleaning solution covers the entire area of the window.  Let the mixture soak on the window for at least a minute.

From there, take a rag and wipe down the window.  You may need to repeat this process again to make sure there aren’t any streaks.

Pro tip: Get one end of your rag or towel damp and keep another end dry.  On the first wipe down, use the damp end.  On the second wipe down, use the dry end to eliminate any streaks!

Clean the Electric Smoker Exterior

After cleaning the interior and all of the removable pieces, it’s time to give the exterior of your smoker a wash.  Make sure to pay attention to the door seal and give it a wipe after each cook.

For the exterior, use a light soap and warm water solution to spray the outside down.  From there, wipe with a rag or towel until the entire exterior is clean.

At this point, it’s also important to make sure you’ve also cleaned any built in thermostats or temperature probes.

How to Clean an Electric Smoker That Has Mold

It goes without saying that mold growth is the last thing you want on a piece of equipment that you use to cook food.  Unfortunately, electric smokers are actually quite prone to mold growth, especially if you don’t follow the cleaning steps above on a regular basis.

Mold festers in dark places where moisture is present.  If you go through somewhat lengthy periods of time where you don’t use your smoker, odds are you’ll store it in a dark place like a closet or pantry.  There’s also enough moisture in most indoor environments to allow for mold growth.

If you suspect or see mold growth in your electric smoker, follow these steps to deep clean and remove the mold.

Remove Everything From Inside the Electric Smoker

Take out all racks and removable parts.  Take out and wipe down/clean the smoker box.

Turn Up the Heat

Mold can’t withstand scorching heat.  Next, you’ll want to heat up the smoker just like you were about to use it to cook.  I’d recommend having the heat running for at least 30 minutes to burn up the mold spores inside of your unit.

Heating your smoker up will burn almost all of the mold out of your unit.  It also will have the added benefit of loosening up any residue or other particles that may be lodged in your smoker.

Give It a Scrub

After a good burn, turn the heat off and let your unit cool down.  After it’s cooled, put on a mask over your nose and mouth to filter the air, as moldy air is terrible for your health.  Once your safety mask is on, give your electric smoker a deep clean using the exact same process we’ve already outlined above in this post.

Get Back to Cooking

That’s it!  The next time you heat up your smoker to begin a cook, you should be good to go.  Once again, the heat will burn up any minor remaining residue, and you are ready to smoke again!

Seasoning (Curing) Your Electric Smoker

One more important note in this guide to how to clean an electric smoker is that you need to make sure to cure (or season) your electric smoker before its first use.

Curing is crucial because many smokers are mass produced in factories.  Often times, there is still residue or other agents inside of your smoker that are a byproduct of the production process.  It goes without saying, but you want to make sure all of that is completely eliminated before you start cooking food!

Basically, you’ll want to do the exact process you’d use as if you were cooking a piece of meat, just without the meat inside.

Turn Up the Heat

First, turn the heat on to around 300 degrees.  Simply leave the heat on for about 2 hours.  After waiting for 2 hours, add a handful of wood chips to the tray and continue with the heat on for at least another hour, making 3 hours total.  The wood chips will help make the inside a little hotter and burn out any substances that you don’t want in there.

Clean the Inside

After the initial heating of your smoker, let it cool down.  Once it’s completely cooled down, take a cloth or rag and wipe down the inside of your unit.  It’s extremely important that you don’t skip this step to make sure your unit is cured and ready for its first use!

I know the curing process might seem like overkill or unnecessary, but I promise you it is!  The good news is, you only have to do this one time and then you are good to go after that.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clean the heating element in my electric smoker?

Gently wipe down the heating element with a soft cloth or brush to remove any accumulated grease or residue. Be very careful not to get the element wet when cleaning.

What’s the best way to clean the wood chip tray?

The wood chip tray can get caked with ash and debris over time. To clean it, soak the tray in warm soapy water to loosen any built-up residue. Then use a scrub brush to remove any remaining debris.

Should I clean the temperature probe?

Yes, periodically wiping down the temperature probe with a damp cloth and mild detergent will help keep temperature readings accurate. Avoid submerging the probe in water.

How can I prevent rust inside my electric smoker?

Applying a light layer of cooking oil to the interior metal surfaces after cleaning can help prevent rust between uses. Make sure to wipe off any excess oil before smoking foods again.

What if I have really stubborn grease buildup?

For tough grease that won’t come off with regular cleaning, try making a paste of baking soda and vinegar. Apply the paste and let it sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing. Rinse very thoroughly after cleaning.

How do I get rid of odors in my electric smoker?

Placing a bowl filled with charcoal or coffee grounds inside for a few hours can help absorb stubborn odors before your next use. Remove the bowl before smoking food.

Should I check the door seal when cleaning?

Yes, inspect the door seal and make sure it is intact. Replace the seal if it appears cracked or worn to ensure smoke and heat stay inside the smoker.

Final Thoughts

There it is!  That’s everything you need to know for how to clean an electric smoker.  Simply follow these steps and your smoker will last you a decade or more.  Once your electric smoker is sparkly clean you can try out our favorite electric smoker recipes. 

The post How To Clean An Electric Smoker [Step-by-Step Guide & Tips] appeared first on Own The Grill.

If you’ve had your flat top for a while, you may have asked yourself how to clean a Blackstone griddle.

The easy answer to how to clean a Blackstone griddle is to rinse, scrape, wipe then season. Let’s break that down into more detail.

In this post, we’ll go over everything you need to know for how to clean a Blackstone grill.  That includes a step-by-step guide to cleaning before your first use, after each cook session, and for those occasional deep cleans. We will also touch on a few tips for regular upkeep to extend the life of your griddle.

You can also check out everything Flat Top Griddles if you want to learn all the tips and tricks to everything griddle.

How Can I Clean a New Griddle Before Using It?

Before we start talking about how to clean a Blackstone griddle after cooking, let’s quickly touch on how to prep your griddle surface before cooking. It’s important to remove any factory residue, dust, or impurities that might be on the flat top grill when shipped.

1. Wash with Warm Soapy Water

Use mild dish soap like Dawn dish soap and a soft sponge, cloth, or paper towel to gently scrub the griddle. This will help remove any dirt or dust accumulated during shipping and storage.

2. Rinse Thoroughly

After gently scrubbing with a mild soap, you’ll want to fully rinse the flat top down with water. You can use a squeeze bottle and squirt all over and then wipe up with a cloth or paper towel. If you don’t have a squeeze bottle on hand, just use a cup, lightly pour over the griddle, and wipe up.

3. Completely Dry

This step is super important for all cleaning of the Blackstone griddle. You really want to make sure you’re fully drying the flat top to prevent any rust from forming.

4. Season the Griddle

To properly use the Blackstone griddle, you’ll want to season the flat top by applying oil and then turning on the heat so the oil starts to slightly smoke off.

• Use heat oil like vegetable oil, coconut oil, or avocado oil. Apply a thin layer all over the griddle and use a paper towel to evenly spread out so you don’t miss any area.
• Turn on the griddle and allow it to heat up until the oil starts to smoke slightly. This process helps create a non-stick surface and provides a protective layer to prevent rusting.
• Once the oil heats up and starts to smoke, turn the griddle off and allow it to cool completely.

5. Repeat Seasoning

Once the oil cools down, you’ll want to repeat this process again by applying a high heat oil like coconut oil, turning on your Blackstone griddle, and allowing it to heat up and slightly smoke. After this round of seasoning, you can then use a cloth or paper towel to wipe off any excess oil. Your Blackstone griddle is now ready!

How do you clean a Blackstone griddle after each use?

There are a few things you should do after each time you cook that will help you to extend the life of your grill and make deep cleans less frequent.  Here are a few tips for routine cleaning of a flat top grill.

1. Let Griddle Cool

   Before cleaning, make sure the griddle has cooled down to avoid burns or injuries. You can spray down with water and give the surface a good rinse.

2. Scrape Excess Off

   Use a griddle scraper to scrape any leftover grease or food particles. You can push the remaining This helps speed up the process. leftovers into the drip pan to dispose of later.

3. Wipe Down

   Use a paper towel or rag to completely dry.  You don’t need to press too hard here.

4. Season the Griddle

   To maintain the seasoning and to help avoid rust, apply a high heat oil like vegetable oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil to the griddle and heat until the oil starts to slightly smoke. Once you see the oil smoking, you can turn it off. Once the flat top cools down, wipe up any excess oil from the surface.

   Some chefs recommend that you re-season the griddle after use to continually build up the seasoning.  Others choose only to do it after a deep clean is performed.  This comes down to personal preference.

How to Deep Clean a Blackstone Griddle

From time to time, you should take inventory of your grill and assess whether or not it needs a deep clean.  The deep cleaning process will more or less “reset” your cooking surface to its original form.

It’s important to note that after a deep clean, you will most definitely need to re-season your grill before its next use.  That’s because the deep cleaning process is thorough enough that it will take off any seasoning that has built up over time.

Indicators That a Deep Clean Is Needed

Knowing when it’s time for a deep clean of your Blackstone griddle depends on the frequency of use and the level of residue buildup. Here are a few tips to help determine if your Blackstone is in need of a deep clean.

• Reduced Non-Stick Properties

If your griddle is no longer as non-stick as it used to be, it’s a sign that it needs a deep clean and re-seasoning.

• Excessive Smoke or Flaring

If you experience excessive smoke or flaring caused by grease or food particles burning on the griddle.

• Visible Rust

If you see any signs of rust on your Blackstone griddle, it’s crucial to address it promptly.

• Your food is cooking unevenly, or there are hot spots on the griddle top.

If you notice it’s getting harder to cook food evenly or there are clear hot spots on the cooking surface, a deep clean might be the solution.

• You start to see grease buildup on the griddle surface

If you notice a thick layer of grease, oil, and food residue that regular cleaning doesn’t seem to remove entirely.

Pay Attention to Your Griddle’s Surface Material

A Blackstone griddle typically has a flat, smooth, and non-stick surface made of cold-rolled steel. If you are planning to deep clean another brand of griddle, it’s important you look into what the flat top surface material is made from before deep cleaning.

Materials You’ll Need

Here’s a list of equipment and materials that will help you deep clean your Blackstone griddle.

Griddle Scraper

A must have accessory for any flat top grill/griddle owner is a griddle scraper.  These versatile tools are designed to easily remove burnt and caked-on residue that inevitably remains on your surface after cooking.

Best Griddle Scraper

Cuisinart CCB-500 Griddle Scraper

• Easily removes burnt & caked on residue with minimal strokes
• Splash guard keeps oil off of your hands
• Ergonomic design means comfort even with extended use

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High Heat Cooking Oil

Vegetable oil is a common oil choice for griddle cooking and is also used frequently to season a flat top cooking surface.  You can also use canola oil, avocado oil, and other options if you don’t have vegetable oil on hand.

Cleaning Agent

Most griddle surfaces we come across are made of stainless steel, so a solid stainless steel cleaner is the way to go.  If your surface is cast iron, just be sure to grab a cleaner that works with that surface.

Therapy Stainless Steel Cleaner Kit | Plant-Based, Solvent-Free

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Dish Cloths

It’s generally a good idea to have a cloth or rags on hand for your griddle cooking area!  They come in handy in a variety of scenarios and of course, are used for the cleaning process.

Warm Water

Nothing crazy here, warm or if possible hot water is just used at the end of a flat top grill routine cleaning!

Steps to Deep Cleaning a Blackstone Griddle

Here’s a step by step guide for how to clean a stainless steel griddle:

1. Safety Precautions –Just like regular upkeep, make sure the griddle has cooled down before starting the deep cleaning process to avoid burns or injuries

        2. Remove Excess Debris – Using a griddle scraper, remove any large pieces of food, grease, or debris from the surface of the griddle.

3. Apply Cleaning Solution – Apply the cleaning solution onto the griddle’s surface, covering the entire cooking area. Use a soft sponge or scrub brush to spread the solution and scrub the surface thoroughly.

4. Let Soak – Allow the cleaning solution to soak on the griddle for a few minutes. This will help loosen the buildup, making it easier to remove.

5. Scrub – Using the sponge or scrub brush, scrub the surface and remove the residue and stains. Pay attention to corners and edges as well.

6. Rinse Thoroughly – Once you’ve scrubbed the griddle, rinse off the cleaning solution and residue thoroughly with the hot water. Make sure there is no soap or debris left on the surface.

7. Dry the Griddle – Use a clean cloth or paper towel to dry the griddle’s surface completely. Ensure there is no standing water, as it can lead to rusting.

8. Apply Cooking Oil – To protect the griddle from rust and to re-season the cooking surface, apply a thin layer of high-heat cooking oil evenly across the griddle. Use a cloth or paper towel to spread the oil thoroughly.

9. Heat the Griddle Briefly – Turn on the heat source and allow the griddle to heat up until the oil starts to smoke slightly. This helps reinforce the seasoning and provides a protective layer.

10. Cool and Wipe Off Excess Oil – Let the griddle cool down completely. Once cooled, use a clean cloth or paper towel to wipe off any excess oil from the surface.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Do I Clean a Blackstone Griddle Chemicals?

There are a few chemical free methods that you can follow to clean a Blackstone griddle.

1. The first option involves a simple combination of water and steam. Use a grill brush to get rid of any remnants of food that you have recently cooked.
2. Add some water and continue to maneuver the brush along, working it into the surface. It is worth noting that when you add this water, after interacting with the heat of the grill, it is going to turn into steam so you will need to be cautious.
3. Another effective solution involves the use of an onion. You will need to scrub the surface of your grill with an onion whilst it is still hot.
4. Alternatively, you may wish to use carbonation mixed with soda water. The properties of both products will soften any hard food that is clinging to the surface of your grill. After pouring the solution onto your grill you will need to scrub it thoroughly.

How Do I Make My Blackstone Griddle Not Stick?

Failing to prepare your Blackstone griddle ahead of cooking is likely to result in your food sticking to the surface. To avoid this issue, you will need to season your grill beforehand. Pour a small amount of olive oil onto the surface and rub it in using a rag.

The oil will form a shield between your food and the surface and will ultimately prevent your griddle steaks from sticking. A grill that is not sticky is going to be much easier to clean. You must make sure that you do not use too much oil because this can worsen the issue, leaving your grill stickier than it was to begin.

How Do You Clean a Blackstone Griddle That Has Rust?

To restore a rusty blackstone griddle you are going to deep clean the griddle’s surface by using a cleanser and scraper or wire brush to remove all the debris. Then properly preseason season.

1. First, turn your rusty griddle on and allow it to heat up. Doing so will make it easier to remove any food debris. You will then need to turn the grill off to cool after around 20 minutes have passed. Take your scraper and scrape the surface. This will allow you to target the rust.
2. Next, pour some oil onto the grill and use your grill stone to rub it in. You will notice that your grill seems overly oily so you will need to use some paper towels to clean it.

Wrap Up

Deep cleaning your Blackstone griddle regularly will help maintain its performance, non stick properties, and prevent rust. By following these steps, you can ensure your griddle remains in excellent condition, ready to cook up delicious meals for years to come!

The post How to Clean A Blackstone Griddle (Ultimate Guide) appeared first on Own The Grill.

The thing is, without proper care the quality of your cast iron grill grates can go downhill quickly.  In the rest of this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know for how to clean cast iron grill grates and how to care for them the right way.

Routine Cast Iron Grill Grate Cleaning

The best thing you can do to keep your cast iron grill grates clean is to routinely clean them after each time you use them.  I know that advice is really simple, but it’s true.  The mundane task of cleaning your grates after each use will do wonders to help retain their quality and longevity.

Here’s a step by step process to follow to quickly and effectively clean after you cook:

1. Turn the heat up to burn off any leftover food or sauce particles.  If you’re using a gas grill, you can simply crank the knob to high and shut the grill to let it heat up.  For charcoal grills, open your vents and close the lid to let things get hot.
2. Let your grill cool a little bit.  After all excess food has burnt off, you can turn off your heat source or put out your charcoal to let the grill cool down.
3. While your grill is still warm, give your grates a solid work over with a grill brush.  This is the most effective way to remove any leftover food or sticky substances that might still be in there from your cook.
4. Apply a thin coat of vegetable oil.  Do this after you’re sure that your grates have been scrubbed down and aren’t wet.  A thin coat of vegetable oil will fill in the pores of your grates and prevent rusting from taking place.  You don’t need to use a ton of oil, a light filmy coat will do.  A cloth or rag lightly dipped into oil will be more than enough to get the job done.

If you need a brush, here’s a look at one of our favorites – it’s not very pricey yet still gets the job done time after time.

Top Grill Brush

GRILLART Grill Brush and Scraper

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Season Your Grates

After that last step of applying a coat of vegetable oil, you’ve got a nice opportunity to season your cast iron grates.  It’s important here to understand what exactly your grates are made of – are they pure cast iron or porcelain enameled cast iron?

If you’re working with porcelain enameled cast iron grates, it’s not vital that you season your grates as the porcelain enamel finish accomplishes much of the benefits you’d gain with a seasoning.

If your grates are pure cast iron, it’s a good idea to season frequently, as the positive effect of seasoning compounds over time to form an easy release, non-stick, anti-rust cooking surface for you to work with over time.

If your grill is still hot after cleaning, you should be good to go.  If it’s cooled off, to properly season you should run the temperature back up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit or higher to get the heat to a level where it will polymerize the oil.

How to Remove Rust From Cast Iron Grates

Unfortunately, rust can form on your cast iron grates for a variety of reasons.  Maybe you’ve been neglecting care of your grill – leaving the cover off or not cleaning properly after you use it.

You could also see rust form simply if you haven’t used your grill for a long period of time.  Moisture can get inside of the grates and form rust simply over the course of time.

While rust certainly isn’t good, it’s probably not the end of the world.  Unless the rust damage is catastrophic, there are a few different methods you can use to remove rust from cast iron grates.  Here are a few ways we recommend for how to remove rust from cast iron grates:

Vinegar

Get a 1 for 1 mixture of water and vinegar mixed, and place your grates flat in the solution.  If your kitchen sink is large enough that’s a great place to do this.  You can also do it in a heavy duty plastic tub if needed.

Let the grates soak for a little over an hour, then remove and scrub down with a grill brush.  Give special attention to any remaining rust areas.

Be sure to do one final rinse with water to make sure all vinegar is removed from your grates.

Last, make sure the grates are completely dry so that moisture doesn’t begin the rusting process again.

Warm Soapy Water and Steel Wool

Something to keep in mind here is that this process will actually strip down any seasoning you’ve built up over time on your grates.  It’s a necessary evil though, as this process will also strip away all of the rust that’s built up.

Bring your grates indoors and place them in your sink.  Turn the water on to warm, mix with a light soap, and use steel wool alongside the warm soapy mixture to scrape all of the rusty areas off of your grates.

After your grates have been cleaned, rinse them one last time with water.

From there, it’s really important to get your grates completely dry.  Remember, moisture is a big problem child when it comes to rust, and we’ve just scraped off any protective layers that might be on your grates.

You should dry them quickly by placing the grates in an oven set to a low temperature.  Leave them in there for 30 minutes or so, or until all moisture has evaporated from your grates and its pores.

Before your next use it would be a good idea to apply a thin film of oil and bake your grates to season them and restart the process of building up a protective coat.

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Stainless Steel Steel Wool Scrubbers for Kitchens

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• For use on ovens, grills, pots, pans, outdoor furniture, tools, and more

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High Heat

Another method that can most definitely work to clean rust off of your cast iron grates is to crank up the heat on them for an extended period of time.

There are a couple of ways you can do this.

If your grill has the capability, crank up the heat to 600ºF or slightly higher.  Place your grates inside the grill (if they weren’t already before) and leave them in there for about an hour.

You can also do this in your kitchen oven if you don’t want to crank the heat that high on your grill.

The extreme heat will burn off and deep clean your grates.  From there, let the grates cool and check for any excess rust or food particles that didn’t get burnt off.  Scrape any stragglers away with soapy water and steel wool or a firm brush.

The Deepest Clean – Oven Cleaner

If your grates are in serious need of a deep clean and have tons of rust, the above methods might not be enough.

What you need at this point is a surefire way to strip your cast iron grates down to the bare metal, removing all rust and food particles from the equation.

The best way to do this is with an oven cleaner, some trash bags, and a safe place to store them while the cleaner does its magic.

Best Deep Cleaner for Grills

Diversey Breakup Oven and Grill Cleaner

• Cleans ovens and grills quickly and easily, minimizing the need for scrubbing and scouring
• Multipurpose deep cleaner designed for stainless steel, porcelain enamel, cast iron, ceramics, concrete and glass

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Ideally outdoors, spray down your grates with the oven cleaner.  Keep in mind there are some serious chemicals in oven cleaners, so it’s not the kind of thing you want in your eyes or lungs.  Make sure you apply it in a well ventilated area.

After application, put your grates into trash bags and tie them shut.  Make sure there aren’t any holes where air could be escaping.

Now store them for 48 to 72 hours (or whatever your oven cleaner manufacturer recommends) to ensure there’s enough time to break down the rust and carbon build up on your grates.  Store the bags in a safe place where nobody will mess with them.

After a few days, remove the grates from the trash bags, take them to your sink, and wash with warm soapy water.  Be sure to completely dry before storing, and also be sure to re-season your grates before your first use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Restore Cast Iron Grill Grates?

When your grill grates are looking a little worse for wear, there are several ways you can give them a thorough spring cleaning without breaking the bank or calling in a professional:

Steel wool:

Using a big old bowl of soapy water and some good old fashioned steel wool, you can scrub away any surface rust and burnt on food – it’s important to make sure that you thoroughly rinse and completely dry them afterwards, however, as any lingering moisture will cause rust production pretty quickly. Bear in mind that you’ll need to re-season the grates before you use them again.

Self cleaning oven:

If you’re lucky to have an oven with a cleaning cycle, running your grates through it for the entire period, possibly twice, is a surefire way to get them looking good again.

The same effect can be achieved by leaving them in a piping hot grill (at least 600 degrees, if not more) for an hour or two. You might still want to give them a rinse and a scrub with water, just in case there’s any lingering carbon.

Oven/grill cleaner:

Struggling to get the worst of the burnt-on food and rust off? You might need to opt for the store bought oven cleaner/specialized grill cleaner in order to successfully finish the job.

Be aware that unlike your oven which can be cleaned in a few hours, you’ll need to leave your grill grates soaking in the cleaner for a good few days, in a warm dry place, then rinse and wash. This is a lengthy process, but very much worth the effort!

Proper maintenance afterwards:

Now that your grates are back to their former glory, it’s important to keep them clean! After every cooking session, allow the grill to cool down until it’s safe to touch, then give those grates a thorough scraping with your favorite grill brush.

You might also want to season them with a tiny coating of vegetable oil – rubbing them down with a lightly soaked paper towel is easiest – as this will help to prevent future rust formation.

What Do You Soak Grill Grates in to Clean Them?

There are several tried and true methods for grill grate cleaning, but the most common liquids used for soaking are hot soapy water (dish soap is fine), a mixture of vinegar and baking soda, or straight up oven cleaner.

Is It Okay to Grill on Rusted Grates?

If you don’t have any options, then yes, but it’s best not to. Ingesting rust (iron oxide) in small amounts will not harm you, but over time it’s going to have adverse effects on your digestive system and the rest of your body for sure.

Should you find yourself in a pinch, then it’s probably alright to grill on rusty grates just once, even twice at a push, but next time you should make sure everything is cleaned up properly before you break out the grill.

Can I Use Vinegar to Clean My Grill?

Absolutely you can! In fact, it’s one of the most commonly recommended methods of cleaning grill grates – a good long soak in vinegar and baking soda will deoxidize the rust present on a rusty grill and leave everything nice and shiny afterwards.

Most would recommend leaving them overnight or for a couple of days if you have the time to spare, and then you’ll want to rinse them off with some warm water and dish soap before drying thoroughly, just to remove any excess dirt and grime.

Can I Use Steel Wool to Clean Cast Iron?

Yes indeed, but only certain kinds of cast iron products. For instance, if you’ve got yourself a non-stick pan you probably don’t want to use steel wool on it, as you’re more likely to scrape away the protective coating than remove any burnt-on food or rust.

However, if it’s cast iron grill grates you’re looking to scrub, then go right ahead! Steel wool works wonders, and since a couple of cosmetic scratches aren’t going to stop you from grilling, it doesn’t matter if you need to press down hard in order to scrape away the grime.

If you’re worried about using steel wool on a particular kind of cast iron, see manufacturer’s guidelines or do a quick Google search for the exact product, so as to get some more specific guidance on your product of choice.

How Do You Clean Grill Grates with Lemons?

Very easily indeed! The bigger the lemon, the better, too – it gives you more surface area for scrubbing to work with. First things first, you want to heat your grill up until it’s piping, then let it sit for a couple of minutes. Cut your lemon in half and pierce the flesh several times with a fork.

Dip the lemon half into some sea salt (kosher works best) and then get ready to scrub up! Using a bit of pressure, rub the entire surface of the grill grates down thoroughly, replacing your lemon halves as needed until the whole thing is nice and clean.

Be sure to dip the new lemons in salt, as this adds some much-needed abrasion and makes scrubbing a lot easier.

Once cleaned off, wait until your grates are completely cooled before removing them to thoroughly rinse under clean, hot water. That is, unless you want all of your future grilling endeavors to taste like salted lemons!

How to Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates – Wrap Up

If you came into this article not knowing, I hope you now know how to clean cast iron grill grates!  Any of these methods should work for you.  Let us know how it went!

If you happen to have either a griddle or a kamado grill, check out the below guides for how to deep clean your grill:

• How to clean a Big Green Egg
• How to clean a flat top grill

The post How to Clean Cast Iron Grill Grates – Routine Cleaning & Rust Removal appeared first on Own The Grill.

I bet one of the last things you fantasized about before getting your new grill was cleaning it.

It’s a task that nobody particularly likes to do, but it’s one that’s vitally important to extending the life of your grill.  Regular cleaning is also extremely important to ensure that the food cooked on your grates is high quality and tasty.

In this article, we’ll answer the question “how often should I clean my grill?”, and go over a few different methods for keeping your grill in pristine condition.

Note that all of these techniques apply, no matter which type of grill you have.  If you happen to own a griddle or flat top grill, we’ve written a specific guide for how to clean a flat top grill right here.

Steps for Cleaning My Grill After Every Use

Here are a few simple steps to follow for cleaning your grill after each time you cook.  These steps take less than 5 minutes and are well worth the time investment.  The compounding effect of cleaning your grill after each use will add up and pay dividends over time.

• If you’re using a charcoal grill, allow coals to cool and remove your lump charcoal or briquettes and dump out any ash.  If needed, scrape ash to ensure you get all of it so that it doesn’t clog up your vents.
• Using a long handled, stiff wire grill brush, scrub the grill grates.  Pay attention and make sure that you scrape off all food particles from the grates.
• (Optional) Apply a thin layer of vegetable oil to your cleaned grill grates.  This will help to prevent future food build up on your grates and help deter the risk of rust build up.
• Cover your grill.  There are a handful of benefits to covering your grill, and it’s good practice to place your cover securely on after each use.

Steps for Deep Cleaning My Grill (Every 6 to 12 Months)

Once every half year, or at the beginning of your grilling season, here are the steps you should take to deep clean your grill and remove grease spots.  Doing this periodically will also extend the life of your grill and ensure a sanitary cooking area for your food.

• Using soapy water and some towels, clean the outside of your grill, including the outer shell and side tables (if applicable).  Once thoroughly washed, be sure to dry with a towel to ensure no rust can build up.
• Disassemble your grill, remove grates, and clean hard to reach spots with soapy water, including the inside of your lid.
• Check burners, grates, and cooking chamber for rust build up.  If you have rust build up on your grates, follow the steps in our article about how to remove rust from cast iron grates to get a fresh start.
• To deep clean your grill grates, preheat your grill to high heat.  If you have a charcoal grill, you can also preheat your oven to about 400°F and remove your grates from the grill, placing them in the oven.
• Allow your grates to heat for about 15 minutes, then turn the heat off or remove from oven.
• While grates are still hot, dip a stiff wire brush in water then scrape the grates.  Show extra love to areas with tough to remove grease spots.  Be careful to not lean over your grates as the water on your brush will produce steam once it makes contact with the grates.
• Once the grates have cooled, wipe down with a damp cloth.  They should look as good as new.
• Place your grill cover back on the grill.

If you happen to have a kamado grill or a Big Green Egg, check out our guide tailored specifically to cleaning a Big Green Egg.

How Often Should I Clean My Grill?  Final Thoughts

I hope this article has clearly answered the question to how often you should clean your grill, and also provided a little bit of insight about how to do it and why it’s so important.  Remember, the goal here is to extend the life of your grill and help you make delicious food!  Cleaning your grill is a key component to accomplishing both of those things.

So after your next cook don’t view it as a hassle.  Get out your grill brush and view cleaning as a small investment into the quality of your next meal.

Got any other tips or questions for us related to grill cleaning?  Reach out to us in the comments section below.

The post How Often Should I Clean My Grill? appeared first on Own The Grill.

The smokey charcoal flavor that absorbs into your food adds incredible depth to your food and is impossible to replicate with other cooking methods.

The downside of grilling with charcoal?  You have to actively manage your charcoal fire, and when you’re through grilling – you have to put out your charcoal grill safely.

Fully extinguishing your charcoal fire is an important step that can’t be overlooked – and if you don’t know what to do it can be very messy.  In this article, we’ll show you exactly how to put out a charcoal grill safely and effectively.  This way, you can grill with confidence and maximize the efficiency of your grilling operation.

How to Put Out a Charcoal Grill – Overview

When it comes to how to put out a charcoal grill, I’ve found that many beginners think the way to do it quickly is to dump water on your coals until they’re extinguished.

While there are a few situations where you can get away with a method like this (more on that later), dumping water on your coals is NOT the way to get the job done.  If you do this, you’ll end up with a muddy disaster in your grill’s ash pan or worse – you risk permanent cracks and damage to your grill.

In reality, the process to safely put out a charcoal grill takes a little bit of time and patience.  Resisting the urge to cut corners and move quickly will lead to a safer grilling set up and a longer shelf life for your grill.

How to Put Out a Charcoal Grill: Top 3 Methods

There isn’t only one right way for how to put out a charcoal grill, there are a few different methods you can use.  Each different method requires a certain set of equipment to have on hand, and each takes a different amount of time to complete.

Method 1 – The Old Fashioned Way

If time is on your side, the best and most tried and true way to put out your fire is as follows:

Equipment Needed

• Grill tongs – longer tongs are ideal
• Aluminum foil
• Ash scoop
• Grill brush
• Small bucket of water – as a safety precaution
• Heat resistant BBQ gloves – optional but recommended for additional safety

Step by Step

Step 1: Close off all oxygen flow to your grill.  Most charcoal grills will have vents on the top and on the bottom of the cooking chamber.  Close these vents so that no oxygen flow reaches your coals – doing this will help suffocate the fire.  Make sure your grill lid is closed.

Charcoal can take quite a long time to fully cool down.  In many cases, it can take up to 48 hours for charcoal to extinguish – although sometimes it can go quicker depending on how big your fire was.

Step 2: Remove briquettes and ash.  After the 48 hours have passed, it’s time to remove the burnt out charcoal briquettes and ash.  Scoop out your ashes and carefully pour them onto a large sheet of aluminum foil.  With your grill tongs, pick out your leftover briquettes and place them onto your foil.

It’s important to note here that you should be extremely careful when handling the briquettes.  Even if 48 hours has passed, there is a chance they could still be running hot and burn to the touch with bare skin.  Be sure to use grill tongs when handling your briquettes – and if they’re still hot you can individually dip them into your bucket of water to ensure they are fully put out.

If you want to reuse briquettes that still have some life in them, place them to the side on a separate piece of foil for the time being.

Step 3: Dispose of your aluminum packet.  Once all scooped ash and briquettes have been placed onto your aluminum foil, wrap up the foil into a packet.  From there, place the packet into an outdoor trash can so that you don’t stink up the inside of your home.  Avoid plastic trash cans if your charcoals are still warm.

Step 4: Clean your grill.  If you want to set yourself up for success the next time you grill, it’s important to spend a few minutes cleaning out your grill.  Ash build up can lead to clogged vents and other problems too.  With a grill brush, thoroughly scrub and scrape your grill grates and cooking chamber.  After that, give extra attention to your vents to ensure that they are clear and ready to operate smoothly for your next cook.

After your grill has been thoroughly cleaned, place any briquettes that you have set aside for reuse back into your grill.  Then close your lid, and cover your grill.  It’s now ready for the next use!

Method 2 – How to Put Out a Charcoal Grill Quickly

If you want to speed the process up, it’s definitely doable – if a little bit tedious.  The caveat is that you need to take even more care during the process, and you’ll need a little bit more equipment on hand.  The upside of this method is that you’re likely to save a higher proportion of your charcoal for reuse.

Equipment Needed

• Grill tongs – longer tongs are ideal
• Large bucket of water
• Aluminum foil
• Non flammable surface – could be more foil or a cookie sheet
• Ash scoop
• Grill brush
• Heat resistant BBQ gloves – optional but recommended for additional safety

Step by Step

Step 1: Close off all oxygen flow to your grill.  Similarly, the first step here is for you to close off all of your vents to prevent oxygen from feeding your fire.

Step 2: Close your grill lid and wait for about an hour.  During this time, prepare a large bucket of water, and grab your tongs and aluminum foil.

Step 3: One by one, grab each briquette with your grill tongs and submerge them in the bucket of water.  It might sound incredibly tedious, but the safest way to do this is to submerge only one coal at a time.  Submerge each briquette for about a minute, then once it’s fully extinguished remove it from the water bucket and place on foil or a cookie sheet to dry.

Step 4: Once the briquettes have dried, place them in a fireproof container.  These coals are now ready for reuse.  You can also place them back inside of your grill after you’ve completed the rest of the steps.

Step 5: Remove ash and clean your grill.  Scoop ash into an aluminum foil packet and dispose.  Then, clean your grill grates, cooking chamber, and grill vents so that they are ready for the next cookout.

Method 3 – Use Only With an Open Pit

There are a handful of situations where you can get away with dumping water over your charcoal fire to put it out.  I want to reemphasize though that you should never, ever do this on a standalone or built in charcoal grill.

If you have an open pit charcoal fire though (at a campsite for example), you can carefully pour water over your coals to speed up the process.  Pour your water over one section of coals at a time, making sure that you evenly distribute the water flow over the entire bed of coals.

When is It Safe to Put My Grill Cover On?

As soon as you’ve closed your vents and the lid to your charcoal grill, it’s actually safe to put your grill’s cover on – even though the coals will remain hot for about 48 hours.  And we’d recommend doing that right away to prevent the possibility of rusting or damage from the weather.

After the 48 hour period of allowing your coals to cool, you can remove the cover to complete the process of cleaning and extinguishing your coals.  After all of that is done, the cover can go right back on.

Why Can’t You Pour Water Over Your Charcoals?

There are two reasons you shouldn’t ever just pour water over your coals as a method for how to put out a charcoal grill.

The first simply has to do with the fact that it will result in a mess.  Your ash pan will turn into a cake of mud, and the splashage will likely cause a huge mess too.  Even though it might sound counterintuitive, dumping water over your charcoal fire is just going to add to the amount of work you have to do.

The second, and more serious reason, has to do with the health of your grill.  Your grill’s cooking chamber isn’t designed for sudden, drastic changes in temperature.  Pouring cold water over a scorching hot charcoal fire can lead to some serious damage via thermal shock, including cracking, inside of your grill.  Porcelain enameled grill chambers and cooking grates especially will be prone to cracking if you dump water over your coals.

A Quick Note on Vents

Oxygen is the fuel that keeps charcoal grill fires going.  The constant draft of air flow through grill vents is what keeps your charcoal grill hot, and manipulating air vents allow you to control your grill’s ambient temperature.

When it comes to how to put out a charcoal grill, the absolute most important thing you need to make sure you do is close your grill vents.  It’s the only way to safely and effectively extinguish your flames.

How to Put Out a Charcoal Kamado Grill

A type of charcoal grill that has exploded in popularity over recent years is the kamado grill.  These cookers are made with a ceramic, egg shaped cooking chamber, and are known for their spectacular insulation and overall performance.

Kamado grills are fueled by charcoal, but a specific type of it.  They utilize lump charcoal, which is essentially a naturally processed, organic style of coal that burns hot and extremely clean.  Minimal ash is produced when you burn lump charcoal.

The steps for how to put out a kamado grill are for all intents and purposes the same as putting out other charcoal grills.  Simply close your vents to eliminate any airflow to your charcoal.

The big difference with kamado grills is that it only takes about 30 minutes for your coals to extinguish.  Part of the reduced time can be attributed to the nature of lump charcoal, and part of it has to do with the design of the ceramic cooker.  You can read more about the difference between charcoal briquettes and lump charcoal right here.

It’s extremely important with a kamado grill that you don’t suddenly open your vents after you’ve closed them.  Doing so will cause a quick inflow of oxygen that can lead to a dangerous grill flare up.

Final Thoughts

If you came to this article wondering how to put out a charcoal grill, I hope you now feel confident in your ability to do it safely and effectively.

At the end of the day, it’s a process that shouldn’t be rushed and is just part of the nature of cooking on a charcoal grill.  The reward of delicious, traditional smokey flavor on your food is well worth the trouble though.

Did we miss something in this guide to how to put out a charcoal grill?  Have any other methods we don’t know about?  Let us know about it in the comments section below.

The post How to Put Out a Charcoal Grill Safely and Effectively appeared first on Own The Grill.

One of the ways to preserve your Big Green Egg and keep it in great shape is by cleaning it regularly.

Keep reading to find out more about how to clean a Big Green Egg.

6 Easy Steps for How to Clean a Big Green Egg

Use our easy-to-follow cleaning process to keep your Big Green Egg well-maintained and in tip-top condition. It’s always smart to brush the grates with a wire brush before they get a chance to cool down.

A deep clean for all of the inside parts should be done once or twice a year, depending on how much you use your kamado grill.  Here is a step by step guide for how to deep clean a Big Green Egg:

Step 1: Remove the Ash

Stir the charcoal around. This will get any ash to fall into the bottom of the Egg. If the charcoal is damp, throw it away.

Step 2: Light it Up

This step is known as the ‘High Temp Burn’. If you can still use your old charcoal, great! If not, then get some new lump charcoal and fill your grill to its half.

Then, light up your Egg to the hottest temperature. Set the timer and leave it for a full hour. This process should melt away the buildup inside your grill and grate. It’ll be easier to scrape it off later.

It’s important to mention that if your daisy wheel is full of gunk, that can make it hard to open. If you place it on the grill grate during the high temp burn, that should make the process a lot easier.

However, it’s important to note that this trick can leave a bit of discoloration on your wheel, but that can be easily fixed. All you need to do is take it apart by removing the screw. Then, spray its parts with a black grill spray paint. It’ll look brand new!  Spray painting isn’t necessary if you don’t want to – the discoloration is only aesthetic and does not affect the performance of your grill.

Step 3: Let It Cool Off

Shut your grill down and let it cool. This makes it easier to clean off all the buildup that’s been accumulating in your grill.

Now, get your cleaning supplies. For the best results, get a vacuum cleaner that’s specifically designed for ceramic grills.

Step 4: Let the Cleaning Begin

Use a stainless steel brush and scraper to scrape away any residue and buildup. Vacuum everything up and wipe it down with a dry microfiber cloth. Take out any leftover charcoal, along with the fire box and the fire ring.

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The fire box is located at the very bottom of your Big Green Egg, while the fire ring is right above it, with the grate lying between the two. You can also vacuum both the fire box and ring after you remove them from the grill.

After you finish cleaning them, make sure to place the fire box back to the bottom of your Big Green Egg, then the grate, then finally the fire ring.

A pro-tip: avoid using cleaning supplies that contain any harsh chemicals. Since the Big Green Egg is made from ceramic, it’s permeable. This means the chemicals can easily soak into the grill itself and leak back into your food as you’re grilling.

Step 5: Check the Gasket

Take a look at your gasket. Does it look worn out from all that grilling and smoking? If so, then it’s time to replace it with a new one.

First, make sure you remove the old gasket completely. You can use some rubbing alcohol to clean away any remnants of the old gasket and its sticky self-adhesive strip.

Gaskets are typically made of gray or black felt. They come with a self-backing adhesive strip to make replacing them easier.

Step 6: Proper Storage

Keep your Egg covered and safely stored. You can also try using a grill cover if you want the best resistance against weathering.

Do you have a cabinet table for your Big Green Egg? Is it grimy and gunky, and crying out for some attention?

To get your table spick and span before your next grill, you can simply wipe it down with a 1:2 white vinegar and water solution. It’ll clean, disinfect, and keep the cabinet in great shape for longer.

Pro-tip: to get your table looking cleaner and shinier, try this mixture:

• 2 parts vinegar
• 2 parts olive oil
• 1 part lemon juice

Mix the ingredients well. Then, use a microfiber cloth and start wiping away. The olive oil will help preserve the integrity of the table and give it a good polish. Lemon juice is antibacterial thanks to its low pH balance. It’s safe to use for polishing and cleaning all types of materials.

Try to find a large cover to protect both the Egg and the table from the weather elements. It’ll save you money in the long run.

The ‘Magic’ of the Big Green Egg

If you’re already the proud owner of an egg, you know how special these cookers are and why it’s so important to know how to clean a Big Green Egg.

When it first was introduced to the public in 1974, the Big Green Egg was just another innovative outdoor cooker. Now, it’s become a ceramic marvel. It’s a great piece of investment for anyone who enjoys outdoor cooking. The Big Green Egg even has a following who call themselves ‘EGGheads.’

Read ahead to find out what makes the Big Green Egg so great!

The Glazed Ceramic Build

The ceramic body is what makes this outdoor cooker such a big hit. It keeps in the heat and moisture inside. What you get is deliciously succulent foods, dripping in their juices. Nothing comes out dry or tasteless.

Consistent Temperature Control

Regulating the Big Green Egg’s temperature is a piece of cake thanks to its ceramic build. There are vents on both the top and the bottom. You can use them to adjust and control the temperature, smoke concentrations, and humidity.

Using the vents means you can rest assured that your food is cooking to perfection without having to lift the lid to check on your food. Unless you have to baste the meat, you don’t have to open the lid at all.

Another benefit? You save money on charcoal. Since the heat is so well distributed, you don’t need to use as much charcoal as with other types of grills.

Even temperature control also means less chance of food getting charred or burned. So even if you’re not the savviest of outdoor cooks, you’ll get it right every time.

A pro-tip: If you do need to open the lid during the cooking process, make sure you vent or ‘burp’ the Egg first. To do that, carefully open and close the lid just a tad several times.

By venting the Egg, you’re allowing the outside air to enter. This cools down the Egg before you can safely check on your food. This prevents any bursts of hot air or flare-ups from scalding you.

Built With Safety in Mind

The ceramic construction keeps the Egg’s surface cool on the outside, even while it’s cooking at full power. This gives you peace of mind, especially if you have kids and pets running around.

It’s a safety perk that greatly reduces the risk of injuries and accidents. And you won’t find it in metal grills.

How to Clean a Big Green Egg – Final Thoughts

We hope our step-by-step directions have made it clear on how to clean a Big Green Egg. All it takes is a bit of time, a few simple all-natural cleaning products, and your grill will be as clean as new.

You’ll know your hard work paid off in the end when it’s time to grill again. The smell and taste won’t disappoint!

The post How to Clean a Big Green Egg – It’s Easier Than You Think! appeared first on Own The Grill.

It is important to clean your grill grates regularly to prevent them from becoming dirty or damaged. You should take care when cleaning them as the porcelain is prone to chipping. This can expose the metal underneath leading to rusting and eventual breakage. If you take proper care of your grill grates, they can last and perform for many years.

Spot Cleaning

You do not always need to clean the entirety of the grill grates. If you have only used one area, we recommend performing a spot clean.

Grab a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small bottle of white vinegar. Spray the vinegar all over the area that you are cleaning and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Once this time has passed, go in with the toothbrush and scrub vigorously until all of the dirt has been removed.

Alternatively, you can use dish soap and water to perform a spot clean. Make up a small bowl of this solution and grab a toothbrush. Dip it into your cleaning liquid and use it to gently scrub the dirty area of your grill grates.

Soaking

This method takes a little while to complete but is one of the lower-effort methods. You will need a large plastic box that can comfortably fit your grill grates in. You will also need some warm water, dish soap, a soft scrubber, and an old towel. You could opt to use a specially designed porcelain grill cleaning brush too.

Before you use this method, you should turn your grill grates up to the highest heat setting. Leave them like this for 10 minutes to burn any residue that has accumulated on the surface. Allow the grill grates to cool completely before moving on to the next step.

Fill the bottom of your plastic box with warm water and dish soap. Mix well to combine. Add the grill gates to the solution and leave them here to soak for an hour. If your container cannot submerge the grates, you will need to flip them over at the halfway point.

Once this time has passed, remove the grill grates from the plastic box and use a garden hose to rinse off any loose debris. Lie your old towel on the ground and place the grill grates on top. Use your soft scrubbing brush to dislodge and remove any residue remnants.

Use your hose to rinse off the grill grates once again and then set the grates aside to dry.

Scrubbing

This is the classic cleaning method and requires a significant amount of elbow grease. You will need a clean surface to work on. If you do not have this, we recommend laying a sheet of tarpaulin out to act as a workstation.

You will also need a toothbrush or soft-bristled brush, dish soap, warm water, a 2-gallon bucket, and some old rags.

You will need to fill the bucket with water and dish soap. Take the grates off of your grill and give them a thorough rinse with a garden hose to remove any loose debris. Lie it flat on your workstation.

Grab one of your rags and soak it in the dish soap solution. Use this to scrub the entire surface of the grill grates, trying to get it into all of the nooks and crannies. If you come across any areas that are difficult to clean, switch to using your scrubbing brush.

As you are scrubbing the grates, we recommend using a diagonal motion rather than going from the top to the bottom. This helps to dislodge dirt more easily from the surface.

You should rinse off your grill grates with fresh water once you are satisfied with the clean. Allow it to air dry completely before you place it back onto your grill. This prevents rust damage from being incurred.

If you do not have a grill brush, you can use some crumpled up aluminum foil. Compress it into a ball and use this to run across the surface of the grill grates. This should help to dislodge dirt with ease while remaining gentle enough to not damage the porcelain.

Tip: Use Baking Soda

You can use a baking soda paste to remove stubborn dirt and grime. Mix ½ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of warm water to make a thick paste.

Apply this liberally to the grates of your grill using a soft-bristled grill brush or pastry brush.

Allow the paste to sit on the surface for 20 minutes to loosen the grime. Clean off any baking soda residue using a clean brush or rag. Rinse well and allow the grates to dry before the next use.

Some General Notes

Note – we have a guide on how to clean cast iron grates which you should check out if you are unsure of the type of grate on your grill.

You should never use scrapers to clean a porcelain-plated grill. This will damage the delicate porcelain coating and can cause chips, cracks, and splits to appear.

This will then allow moisture and food particles to permeate through the porcelain and come into contact with the metal. This can lead to rust or mold, neither of which you want for your smoker.

Final Thoughts

You should clean your grill grates after every use. This prevents food and grease particles from building up on the surface and creating an unhygienic cooking platform.

Take great care not to drop or bang your porcelain grill grates. This can cause damage to the delicate porcelain coating in the same way as a scraper. Try to avoid using metal utensils on the porcelain surface for the same reason.

We advise adding a light coating of cooking oil to the porcelain grill grates after each clean. This will help to protect the grates from further damage and will mean that the grill is ready to use next time you turn it on.

The post How Do You Clean Porcelain Grill Grates? (Step by Step) appeared first on Own The Grill.

We’re all guilty of letting maintenance schedules slide, but when you hear just how easy it is to keep your grill looking sharp, you’ll never let it fall into rusty disrepair ever again.

So, let’s quit putting it off, bite the bullet, and give our trusty old grills the TLC they both need and deserve. Stick with me, and you’ll be tucking into a delicious meal in no time at all. Let’s get to it!

Why Is My Grill Rusty?

If you’re dealing with rusty grill components, they’re most likely made of cast iron or enamel-coated iron.

While this kind of metal really is amazing in many ways and for many culinary endeavors, even a small amount of moisture or mistreatment can lead to some nasty rust eating through its surface.

So, when the orange scourge does appear, what are you supposed to do… just get rid of your expensive cookware and start from scratch? Of course not! But using it in its current condition isn’t an option, and here’s why.

Why Is A Rusty Grill A Big Deal?

It is recommended that you do not use any utensils or surfaces that are currently rusted when cooking. Rust consumption is warned against by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). 

According to the USDA, rusty utensils should never be used to cook with, and rusted cans should be discarded.

Although food that has had a minimal amount of contact with a rusty surface shouldn’t cause too much harm, it is not technically safe, as rusted surfaces can harbor lots of harmful bacteria.

To make matters worse, rust can compromise your food’s flavor. The smoky or charred flavor your grill imparts on your dinner is something that you really enjoy, so you don’t want anything to stand in the way of that.

Your food can absorb the bitter, metallic flavor from rusted grill grates as well as become speckled with inedible little orange and black flecks, and no amount of seasoning is going to mask their presence in your once hopeful meal.

Items You’ll Need To Clean A Rusty Grill

Salt and vinegar will work well to clean rust off your grill. You’ll also need to use an old dishcloth or rag to wipe down the grates after you’ve cleaned them with salt and vinegar. Don’t forget to wash your hands when you’re done! 

How much vinegar are we talking about and what kind? Well, I find that 2 cups of distilled white vinegar is usually sufficient. Oh, and you’ll need a couple of heavy-duty garbage bags, too.

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Starting Off With Salt And Vinegar

Firstly, you’ll need to blend the salt and vinegar together. With salt added, the vinegar will become more acidic, allowing it to dissolve already oxidized metal.

The metal underneath and around the metal will remain unharmed. In addition, the salt acts as an abrasive to provide more agitation to really destroy the rust.

Soak your old dish towel in the salt and vinegar solution, then give your rusty grill a good once-over, scrubbing away as much of the surface contamination as possible. You can then try sprinkling some salt over the grill separately, and repeating the process.

This will remove any residual grease and no doubt some of the rust, but to get rid of the rest, we’ll have to take things a step further, but before we move on, rinse your grill off with some water and dry it with some fresh towels.

Soaking Overnight

Your rusty grill grates will need to soak overnight, so you should use those durable garbage bags to store them.

You can probably make do with a single high quality garbage bag in a pinch, but you don’t want vinegar, salt, and dissolved rust to leak everywhere, as the mixture will react and cause damage. 

Once bagged, you can pour the vinegar and salt mixture over the grates, making sure it covers them completely.

Find a flat surface where you can lay the bag down flat to soak overnight, so the salt and vinegar mixture will remain in contact with the rusty grill as much as possible.

This is an effective method in getting that rust off those grates and onto the bag. Although it takes time, the results will be worth the effort.

Removing The Grates From The Bag And Wiping Them Down

You should remove the rust from your grill grate by rubbing it down with salt and vinegar mixed together. Use the leftover salt to clean up the grill grate and then wash it off with water.

Further Stains

To remove rust stains from a gas grill, start by cleaning the grates thoroughly with soap and warm water. Then use a stiff-bristled nylon brush to scrub away the stain. You should also clean out the burners before using them again.

Other Alternative Grate Grill Cleaning Methods

Baking soda is a great natural cleaner that can be applied to many surfaces. When using baking soda, start by cleaning the rust from the grill first. Then sprinkle the baking soda generously on the grate and turn the grill on. 

Heat from the grill will cause the baking soda to bubble up. You can then (carefully) clean away the rust from the grill before turning it off to cool down. Once cool, use a soft brush to clean off any leftover baking soda and rust.

Wire brushes are the easiest way to remove rust from charcoal grill grates. You can place the grate on the driveway or patio, after removing it from the grill. Make sure the wire brush gets in between the grates so you can remove the rust.

Before you replace grates, make sure no wires have fallen onto them from the brush.

Grill Grate Maintenance 

Cleaning your BBQ grill after each use is essential to maintaining its appearance. If you have just finished grilling, clean the grates with water and dish soap.

It will be more difficult to clean the grates if burnt food grime remains on them for a long time. Therefore, it’s worthwhile to rinse the grates after use in the long run.

Grill grates can be prevented from rusting by shielding them with a fitted cover, and make sure you lubricate the grates before cooking. You should always oil your BBQ grill before use in order to prevent rusting. Vegetable oil is my go-to for this. 

Cleaning the grill regularly with a steel wool pad or brush will reduce the possibility of rust. Take care to remove any floating or loose debris from the grill surface.

Once the grill has been cleaned, allow it to fully dry, and make sure to keep your grill covered while not in use to ensure maximum protection.

Rust can be removed by commercial rust remover. These cleaners are effective, but they also contain toxic chemicals that you might not want around your food. 

You may wish to buy one that is designed especially for cleaning rusty grill grate grills on barbecues if you take this route. Most local home improvement or major department stores have a grill cover in their barbecue section.

A good way to prevent rust from forming on your grill grate is to prevent it from occurring in the first place. Keeping it away from prolonged exposure to moisture is the best course of action.

Cleaning, scrubbing, and drying should be done routinely after and before you use your grill in order to achieve that.

Benefits Of A Clean Grill

Food tastes better when it is cooked on a clean grill. The smell of smoky, rancid grease is gone from a clean grill. Instead, enjoy the delicious aromas of cooking meat.

Having a clean grill also gets rid of harmful carcinogens and bacteria that can accumulate and be transferred to your food.

A clean grill keeps pests and their droppings at bay. Grills that are dirty can attract insects and other pests, especially in warm climates like Southern California. A clean grill won’t attract insects or other pests. Having a clean grill is beautiful.

Every service includes an exterior panel cleaning, so your grill will look brand new. You can extend the life of your grill by keeping your grill clean, preventing corrosion. Maintaining your grill regularly will help you get the most value out of your purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Use Vinegar And Salt?

Once your grates are in the bag, pour the vinegar and salt mixture into the container and jostle it around to make sure it covers the entirety of your grate.

Should I Use A Professional Cleaner? 

It is of course possible to hire a professional cleaner if you wish to restore your rusty grill to its original state.

However, this can be costly, so you should only use it if you are unable to perform it on your own. If you have money or if your grill is in such a terrible state that you have no choice but to replace it, this is your last resort.

Can You Grill On a Rusty Grill?

You should avoid grilling your food on rusted surfaces. Loose rust particles stick to your cooked food and not only ruin the taste, but can also be harmful to your health if you continue to consume it.

What Happens If You Eat Rust Off Grill Grates?

Despite the fact that rust is not likely to cause harm to the body from ingesting one meal, continuous ingestion may be problematic. The grates need to be cleaned and inspected after being removed from the grill.

Wash them with soap, water, and steel wool, then wipe them down with a damp sponge, and dry them thoroughly.

What causes a barbecue grill to rust?

Grills are subject to all kinds of abuse: high temperatures, grease splatters while cooking, and constant exposure to the elements if left outside, unprotected. All of these factors can contribute to rusting.

Are Rusty Grates That Big Of A Deal?

Cast iron cookware is great because it heats evenly and retains heat well. However, if it gets wet, it can rust. You shouldn’t eat anything cooked on a rusty pan.

A rusty pan may also be unsafe to store food in. Stainless steel grills are better than those made out of iron. Iron can cause food to become bitter and inedible. Grills made of stainless steel won’t impart any bad flavors into food.

Final Thoughts

Following the steps in this guide successfully, you should now be able to remove all the rust from your grill and have yourself a lovely meal — hooray!

Depending on the state in which it was in when you last cleaned it, it might take some extra time and effort to get rid of the rust. If you’re not satisfied with the results after following this method once, try another couple of times. Your grill will then emerge from the bag looking shiny and new!

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