5 Tips To Clean And Prep Your Grill

With the summer season in full swing, many people anxiously anticipate grilling their favorite foods. Few can argue that grilled items taste better. However, grill maintenance is a critical part of ensuring that one’s barbecuing experience is as safe and comfortable as possible.

The Importance Of Proper Grill Maintenance

Grilling and safety experts argue that homeowners, park maintenance overseers, and property managers should adequately maintain individually and publicly used barbecues for several important reasons including:

Food Safety

Arguably, the most crucial concern is food safety. Uncleaned grills often contain old food particles capable of decaying and spreading pathogens into food products, which could result in numerous potentially serious gastrointestinal illnesses.

Food Quality

Dirty, grease-laden, dust-filled grills often threaten food quality. The primary reason most people barbecue is to experience that unique, hot, freshly grilled flavor. Poorly maintained grills often interfere with this process resulting in less than great tasting finished products.

Reduced Fire Hazards

Grills containing lingering amounts of grease could create fire hazards. An unsuspecting cook could be subject to burns from burgeoning flames. Moreover, hot grease can splatter, increasing one’s potential of sustaining serious injuries.

Aesthetics

A sometimes overlooked but notable issue is aesthetics. Dirty grills detract from a residential or commercial property’s visual appeal.

Tips Regarding Proper Grill Prepping And Cleaning

Adhering to the following suggestions increases one’s chances of remaining safe and enjoying better quality food:

Establish A Strong Foundation

The safest grills are those firmly affixed to the supporting ground. Said apparatuses should never be positioned on uneven or loose surfaces like dirt or grass. Grills that tip over not only waste food but pose a major fire hazard leading to significant injuries.

Rather, barbecues should be attached to ultra-solid foundations like cement patios. Furthermore, grilling enthusiasts are strongly urged to utilize additional safeguards like splatter mats. These items placed underneath the grill and atop the supporting surface collects any splattering grease from landing on and causing subsequent damage to said area.

Ensure The Surrounding Environment Is Safe

Barbecues should be set up in well-ventilated, open air locations. Ideally, the cooking device should be no less than 10 feet from a commercial or residential property or any other potentially flammable item. Moreover, any foliage like leaves and trees should not be anywhere near the grill.

Thoroughly Cleanse The Grill’s Interior And Exterior Components

The grill’s lid should be cleansed and kept dirt and dust free. However, this process should not be performed using abrasive chemicals as said materials could damage adjacent surfaces.

Moreover, inside features, such as the grate and the ash tray should be scraped clean of all grease and ash. Lingering ash is known to collect moisture, which could precipitate rusting and other premature deterioration. When cleansing grates, individuals are advised to wait until the grill cools down to avoid burn risk and because lingering warm food particles often accumulate inside maintenance materials like brushes.

Burn Away Leftover Food

Prior to cooking, cooks are urged to clear away charred food remains by burning said byproducts until they turn to ash.

Follow All Necessary Gas Grill Precautions

Those operating gas grills are implored to never force additional propane into liquid cylinders, carefully investigate the cylinder regulator for gas leaks each time the tank is affixed and removed, and cautiously inspect hoses for leaks or other damages. Any problems should be appropriately remediated before using the grill again.

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