How Often Should You Clean Your Outdoor Grill? 

Do you have an outdoor grill that you use to cook delicious meals? If so, you’ll want to keep it in excellent condition so it lasts as long as possible. If you’re new to owning a flat top grill, you’ll need to learn about care and upkeep.

Therefore, here are some tips for cleaning and maintenance to help you maintain an outdoor grill and use it for years to come.

Why It’s Important To Clean Your Outdoor Grill

When was the last time you really cleaned your outdoor grill? If it’s been a while, now is the time to put in a bit of elbow grease and get it back in top-notch condition.

Just like with any cooktop or cookware, cleaning is vital to remove bacteria and prevent illness. Since grills are often places where raw meat is cooked, keeping the grill clean makes sense. And unlike cooking on a stove with pots and pans, an outdoor grill can also accumulate ash and build up from the open flame.

So, if you want to keep your food safe and healthy and keep old ash out of your food, cleaning your outdoor grill is crucial.

How Often Should You Clean The Grill?

Regardless of what kind of outdoor grill you’re using, it’s best to clean the grill after every use. Think of the grill as you would any other cookware. When you make something in a pan, you’re going to clean that pan before using it again.

The same logic applies to grills. So, while it can be a bit of extra work, regular cleaning is the best way to ensure good-tasting food and a long-lasting grill top.

Along with regular cleanings after use, you should also plan for a deep clean every six months to a year to remove extra grease, grime, and fire residue.

Tips For Cleaning Your Outdoor Grill

Now that you know how often to clean your grill, you may wonder how to do the cleaning. Here are some tips for both general cleaning and yearly cleaning.

First up, here’s how to clean your grill after each use:

• Set the grill on the high setting to burn off extra fragments. Then, move on to the next step while the grill top is still hot.
• Use a wire brush made for grill cleaning to remove bits of food that are left.
• Cover a paper towel or clean rag in canola oil and rub down the grill. You can hold the rag or paper towel with tongs.
• Depending on the type of grill you have, you may need to remove charcoal or clean up grease under the grates.

Following these steps will keep your grill clean and ready for the next time you cook.

It’s also a good idea to occasionally deep clean your grill. When deep cleaning, be sure to:

• Follow the steps you would for regular cleaning.
• Then, remove the grates and other removable components and clean them in warm water and dish soap.
• Wash the exterior parts of the grill.
• Make sure there is no debris under the grates. If there is, make sure to scrub everything down.

Keeping A Grill Clean For Better Outdoor Cooking

Some people don’t want to clean their grill often because they worry it will impact the taste of their food. But cleanliness is the best way to ensure your food tastes delicious and not like burnt crumbs. With regular cleaning, you’ll still get the nice, charred flavor of grilled food but without any of the less-than-savory elements.