Grilling expert Greg Jorgenson offers tips on how to clean a gas grill.
- To keep dust and grime from baking during the grilling process, wipe off anything that has accumulated on the hood before turning on the grill.
- Put peanut oil in a spray bottle, then spray the grates of the grill before turning on the heat. Peanut oil will not burn off the grates as easily as other oils. In addition, it will not only prevent food from sticking to the grates, but it will also make cleanup easier.
- As soon as you pull food off the grill, scrape the grates with a long-handled, brass-wire bristle brush (can be purchased at most hardware stores). Spray the grates again with peanut oil. Brass bristles are important because they are made of a soft material that won't scratch the grates, especially if the grates are coated with a nonstick surface. A metal grate scraper will scratch the grates.
- To keep a grill looking new, wash it once a month with warm soap and water or a non-abrasive household cleanser, then spray a small amount of silicone lubricant on the housing. Wipe off the excess with a cloth. This will keep a shine on the housing. Also, cover it with a grill cover when it is not in use.
- If the grill gets too greasy, use a nontoxic degreaser to clean the grates and housing.
- If the housing of the grill gets scratched, spruce it up with spray paint for grills.
- A good tip for gauging the level of propane in your jug is to pour hot water on it. Because propane is a cold gas, condensation will appear on the bottle and reveal the level of gas in the bottle.
- Barbecue sauce or dipping sauces that contain sugar and tomato should be put on toward the very end of cooking or after the food is removed from the grill.
- When you cook something, let it sear before you flip it over during the cooking process. If you turn it too soon, it will leave a residue on the grill.
