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Cleaning Your BBQ/Braai

The backyard BBQ/Braai stand is a major investment, and just because it lives outside, that doesn't mean it can withstand all weather, all the time. 

Spiders and rodents can take shelter inside the head unit in the colder months, while rain, sleet, and snow can significantly deteriorate the quality of your BBQ.  

The new BBQ

From the purchase of a new BBQ to getting it ready for summer after a few months lying dormant, this handy guide will have you outside and grilling in no time.

Buying a new BBQ, grill or smoker is an exciting time - the shiny new grills, the smell of fresh steel and the endless possibilities to create a culinary masterpiece. 

There are a few steps to take to ensure that you can have the same exciting experience every time you step outside and to help protect your investment. 

  • Packaging - Even in the smallest of spaces inside your grill, you may find packaging, plastic or packing foam. As annoying as all this plastic can be, it's actually quite useful in that it protects your grill from scratching and rust from the warehouse to your backyard. So remove it all before you begin. 
  • A good clean - Whether you have cast iron, vitreous-enamel or stainless steel cooking grills and plates, it's always best to give them a good wash prior to first use. Wash them thoroughly with warm soapy water, rinse with clean water and dry.
    The grills may have some oil on them from the warehouse, so cleaning them thoroughly ensures all the by-products from manufacturing are cleaned away. 
  • Seasoning pt.1- This is a term for preparing your grills, plates, firebox and roasting hood for cooking. Simply spray or rub down all grills, plates and inside of the hood and wipe with paper towel. Make sure there is no excess oil or grease to come off and you are set. 
  • Seasoning pt.2 - Once everything is washed and rubbed down with oil, it's time to set the oil in. Turn your BBQ on to medium-high heat and with all the grills and plates in place, close the lid and let run for about 30 minutes. This will complete the seasoning of your new grill and ensure any manufacturing residue has been burnt off. 

 

Preparing for Summer

With winter behind you, the summer grill season is fast approaching. The longer days, the warmer sun and the weekends of entertaining in the backyard are upon you, however, the BBQ has been neglected for a few months.

The dust and dirt have built up, the remaining char of the last few dinners is still stuck on the grates and the birds have made a home inside. 

Here are some quick, easy and very effective tips at cleaning your grill and being ready to entertain family and friends. 

  • Disconnect - The most important thing to do when cleaning the grill thoroughly is to disconnect your fuel or power source. Unplug the grill from the power, disconnect from an LPG bottle or natural gas line or clean out the charcoal basket.
    Not only does this help with pulling apart the grill and cleaning properly, it's also a safety measure especially around gas and electricity. 
  • Soak and rinse - Much like the original clean of the grills when you first purchased your BBQ, cleaning, soaking and rinsing the grills is very important. Scrape down the grills with a wire brush (to get the larger pieces off and then put in a bucket of hot soapy water and leave for about half an hour. Once down, hose down the remove excess bits and pieces left over and dry with a towel or paper towel. 
  • Drip tray - Remove the drip tray / fat tray from your BBQ and give this a good clean and rinse. You can minimise the amount you need to clean this tray next time with a few tricks. Firstly, you could fill the tray with a material called zeolite - available  at hardware stores. It is a naturally occuring mineral and can absorb up to 5 times it's starting weight.
  • Alternatively, you could line the drip tray with foil and this will save the metal underneath. This method does require more maintenance, however is just as effective in keeping your BBQ clean. 
  • Burners - Use a wire brush to clean along the tubes or rails of your BBQ where the gas flows. Sometimes, food can drop down from the grates above and clog up the openings, preventing even and effective gas flow. In the case of a Weber BBQ or similar, you can use a safety pin to clean each individual burner hole. Remember: Always have the gas bottle disconnected when cleaning these parts of the BBQ. 
  • Elbow grease - To get your BBQ into the best shape it has been since the showroom, you'll need to give it a good scrub. Line the BBQ with foil (to catch all the bits and pieces that fall down and make cleaning easier) and using a scrubbing pad or coarse sponge, wipe and scrub down the walls, hood and firebox of your BBQ. The big black pieces aren't the paint of your BBQ, that is actually a layer of carbon and grease from heat and smoke. 

Maintenance

To get the most from your BBQ, like every other appliance and machine it needs to be cleaned and maintained on the regular. Some simple steps to follow will have you protecting your investment for years to come. 

  • Clean (after every use) - To get the most from your grill all year round, its best to clean after every time you use it. Once you are finished cooking, with the grill grates still warm, brush them a wire brush to remove any excess food and oil. Wipe down the exterior of the BBQ (you can use Windex), or if you have a stainless steel BBQ you can use stainless steel cleaner to enhance the look of your grill. 
  • Clean the firebox (once a month) - The firebox is the part of your BBQ under your grills and plates, where your burners are located. As this is in between the grills and drip tray it gets incredibly dirty, so once a month it is best and safest to remove the grills and plates and scrape down the firebox. By cleaning the entire box around the burners and emptying the drip tray your BBQ will not only perform better, it will also be safer and less susceptible to flare-ups and fat fires. 
  • Gas bottle (once a month) - With most backyard BBQs being gas appliances, it is best and safest to check the lines, connections and gas bottle regularly or after long periods of inactivity. With the gas running, run some soapy water over all the gas line and connections and if you see bubbles start to form, you know you have a leak. Tighten any connections or replace the component where the bubbles formed. 
  • Cover it (all the time) - The easiest way to protect your grill from the elements is to purchase a cover. Nearly all covers available on the market are waterproof and all-weather proof allowing you peace of mind year round. 
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