Special thanks to our Barbecues Galore Edmonton team for providing the bones of this article.
There are two kinds of barbecue people in this world. Fairweather grillers who force their barbecues into winter hibernation and those who aspire to be pitmasters of their grill allowing no snow, rain, hail or tornado warnings to get in the way of their grilling time. Whichever side you’re on, it’s important to do a yearly inspection and spring cleaning on your gas barbecue or smoker. After all, we need it to look its best and provide great-tasting results when it matters most… when family and friends are watching.
EXPERT ADVICE: If you're worried about ‘flaking paint chips on the inside of the lid’ then PLEASE click HERE to read our article on CREOSOTE.
Here's how we clean our grills!
Grab a beer (for yourself) and these cleaning supplies
When cooking on the stove, do you use dirty pots and pans? Of course not. No matter what your neighbour says, cooking on dirty grills with a greasy interior does not add flavour. So, grab a good wire barbecue brush, barbecue cleaner/degreaser, a pail of hot water, dish soap, a soft scrubby sponge, paper towel, a venturi brush, replacement grease trays or cups, and a bottle of stainless steel cleaner.
Give your grill parts a good scrubbing and inspect them to see if they need to be replaced
- Burners: Detach and remove to give them a thorough cleaning with soapy water. Pass a venturi brush through the burners to grab any blockages. Brush the tops of the burners with your wire brush. Check that all burner ports are open.
- Sear plates: First, use the flat metal scraper on the end of your barbecue brush to scrape off the majority of the grease and debris. Then use your sponge, hot soapy water, and some elbow grease. TIP: We have a great assortment of barbecue cleaners, degreasers, and polishes that can quickly become your best friends!
- Cooking grills: Use the wire brush to scrape off any burned on grease and carbon residue. Then clean up with a sponge and soapy water. Wipe dry with some paper towel while making sure no stray bristles or debris remain on the grills. Re-season with a little oil.
- Base and sides of grill interior: A spatula can help scrape grease from the sides, the base and down into the drip tray. Hot soapy water works wonders to get rid of any residual grease. And don’t feel awkward calling again on your best friend; barbecue cleaner/degreaser -hey, what are best friends for!
- Porcelain lids: A thorough washing with hot soapy water and a sponge should do the trick.
- Stainless steel lids: Use a proper stainless-steel cleaner for barbecues.
- Drip tray: remove and wash with the sponge and hot soapy water. If things are really bad… well, you know who to call upon! If you use a tin foil grease catch, replace it with a new one.
Inspect all hoses and tubes
QUICKLINK TO FIND HOSES & FITTINGS
The hard part is over once you’ve got the cleaning done. Now, simply look for any crimps, punctures, and detachments. If you detect anything that seems out of sorts, we will help get the parts you need.
Do a complete leak test
We recommend a full leak test whenever a grill has been stored (unused) for a few months, when you’ve replaced any components on the grill, or at least once a year.
Check all ignition parts
The last step is to make sure that this sparkling baby lights up! Replace batteries if your grill uses battery ignition. Check all electrodes to ensure they’re clean and free of grease. If the electrode leads or tips are caked in grease or a bit of rust, you can use fine sandpaper to gently scrape it off.
We know the winter has been long, but spring is almost here. And when those plus temps hit, you will be glad the grill is ready to go.
For parts or advice to get your barbecue set up for another year of grilling, visit the Canadian BBQ experts at your local Barbecues Galore.
