Question:
Dear Dr. McGrillemup,
I keep getting flare-ups on my grill, and my wife says it’s because I don’t clean the barbecue enough. I told her that the heat burns away all the crud in there and it’s not anything to worry about.
Please tell me I’m right so I don’t have to let her pick on our next movie night (something about a Gatsby, with music and dancing, and a bunch of other lameness).
Sincerely,
Jerry Flamin
Answer:
Dear Mr. Flamin,
I’ll give you the bad news first: you’re wrong.
The good news: The Great Gatsby is actually a pretty good movie. You should clean the grates with a wire brush regularly (every time it’s used), and remove the grates periodically to get rid of bigger food particles or baked-on gunk.
Leaving it on the charcoal, briquettes, or metal plates can cause smoking, flare-ups, or even a disruption in the flow of gas.
Take care,
Dr. McGrillemup