How to Clean a Gas Grill & Grates

Grilling season is upon us in the Capital Region, and maintaining the life of a new gas grill starts with routine cleaning.

This includes cleaning both the grill and grill grates to ensure leftover grease or food particles won’t lead to performance issues during the season and in seasons to follow.

To keep a quality grill working properly throughout its life, follow these simple tips from our grill experts.

Reasons to Routinely Clean a Gas Grill

To get the best use out of a gas grill, simple grate cleaning should be considered after each use.

A deep cleaning of the entire appliance every six months also helps maintain the life and performance of the grill.

Without proper cleaning, grease begins to build up in the catch pan near the bottom of the grill. The grease can then leak to the surface below, causing stains on the deck or patio.

But there’s more.

It’s even more important to know that a buildup of grease is a fire hazard. To prevent a fire from occurring, it’s ideal to have a grill cleaning routine in place.

Leaving food particles or grease on the grill and grates can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, which can start to grow in dark, hidden places within and around the appliance. Food can also become tainted by odors from the old gunk and leftovers. This is surely something no guest will appreciate.

Best Ways to Clean Grill Grates

There are a couple of different options for cleaning gas grill grates:

• Burn Off: If you are looking to maintain the cleanliness of a gas grill after each use, you can simply burn off the grime and food particles by turning up your burners to high with the lid open. After 15 minutes, turn off the burners, then use a wire grill brush to get the grates clean.
• Soaking: For a more thorough cleaning, consider soaking the grates in hot, soapy water for at least 30 minutes. Afterward, scrub, and rinse. If there is still stuck-on residue, return the grates to the grill and scrub with a grill brush after warming the grates up for a few minutes.

As an alternative to soap, you can use a mixture of 60% vinegar and 40% water for soaking or spraying to get the grates clean as well.

Best Ways to Clean Gas Grills

Deep cleaning the entire grill should be part of every grill owner’s cleaning regimen.

It should be completed every six months with moderate use, and it will make a huge difference if it is.

There is some minor assembly required for this, so it’s always a good idea to have a user manual handy.

Lastly, make sure the gas supply is turned off while cleaning. To ensure safety, detach the gas tank from the grill prior to cleaning.

• Grill Grates: Remove the grill grates before cleaning each grate.
• Burners: Remove the V-shaped burner protectors, and brush clean using a grill brush. You can also soak burner protectors in soapy water. Next, clean the burner tubes by lightly brushing to remove any grease build-up that can clog the ports. You should brush side-to-side rather than up-and-down to avoid pushing debris into the ports. The burners can then be wiped down with a damp sponge to remove additional grime.
• Grill Plates: Remove all of the gunk from the bottom of your grill by removing the plates underneath the burner tubes. These can be scraped to remove the big chunks. Underneath the grill plates will be additional charred chunks that can be scraped onto the removable tray.
• Removable Tray: Clean the grease collection tray with soap and water, making sure to properly dispose of any remaining grease. Pour remaining grease into an empty container, let It harden, then throw away.
• Outside the Grill: Wipe down the outside of the grill, including the hood and side tables, with soap and water. Allow the grill to air dry, or pat it dry with a soft, clean cloth or towel.

Ideally, you should allow the grill to dry completely before reassembling the pieces. This step can help to prevent rust from forming on the grill.

Ask the Grilling Experts

Have a question about your grill or looking to upgrade your equipment this summer? Visit Best Fire’s showroom in Albany, New York, to view a wide selection of grills, including gas, charcoal, pellet, and electric options, as well as smokers.

And explore our selection of outdoor kitchen appliances including Twin Eagles.