Cleaning and Oiling the Grill
Video
Watch VideoContrary to popular belief, leaving grease on the grill isn’t a good thing. You’ll get the best flavor when it’s clean. This video will show you techniques for cleaning and maintaining your grill properly.
Lesson
The best time to clean your grill is right after you’ve finished cooking on it. Well, go ahead and eat your food. Then, while the BBQ is still warm, clean it.
Use a copper grill brush to scrape off the remains of what you just cooked. If you don’t have a brush, take a piece of aluminum foil, say a 12 × 12 inch piece, wad it up loosely into a ball, and, using long tongs, use it to scrape off the warm grill. The foil works wonders on getting the majority of the burned-on food off the grill, and you can discard it after using.
If it’s still not clean after scraping, take the rack off the barbecue, spray it with an oven-cleaning spray, wrap it in newspapers, and put it back in the warm barbecue for 20 minutes. Then unwrap it and wipe it with soap and water on a sponge. Rinse off the rack, dry it, and put it back, and you’re ready to cook again.
The hot fire will take care of any remaining stuck-on food particles while it’s heating up for your next cookout.
Oiling the Grill
Just before using the grill, oil the grill. One good way to do this is to take a paper towel and fold it into a 2 × 2 inch square. Using long tongs, dip the towel into a small bowl of olive oil or another favorite cooking oil, then rub it across the grill surface, covering the entire grill rack. You may have to re-dip the towel several times.
Another way to oil the grill is to use a barbecue basting brush. Dip the brush into the oil and brush the rack. We recommend using a silicone brush that withstands temperatures up to 500°F and 600°F. A brush with natural bristles also works.
Spraying
If you want to use nonstick grillin’ spray, do so before you ignite the coals or light the gas. Otherwise, remove the rack, spray oil on a piece of newspaper and rub that on the rack. Then return the rack to the barbecue.
Do not spray directly on a heated surface. The aerosol spray can easily catch fire and flare up.
Now you’re clean, oiled up, and ready to start grillin’.