Updated on Sep. 23, 2024
You need a clean grill for outstanding backyard barbecues. These tips from expert chefs and cleaners will help you keep your gas grill in top shape.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Time 1 - 2 hours
ComplexityBeginner
Cost$20-$40
Maybe you don't bother to keep your grill clean because you like the taste of old gristle on your BBQed steak, but if so, you're in the minority. Most people would agree with expert grill master Leroy Hite: "Dirt, ash and charred debris not only affect your grill's aesthetics, they can affect the flavor of your food."
In other words, the less gristle, the better — and that means you need a clean grill.
Cleaning your grill isn't a job you should only do once or twice during the season. "The biggest mistake people make when cleaning grills is inconsistency," says David "Chef Fig" Figueroa. "You've got to clean those grates after each cook and even give them a quick touch-up before grilling."
Besides chefs like Hite and Figuero, we checked in with a pair of cleaning experts to get grill cleaning tips that everyone can use to make their cookouts that much more tasty and enjoyable. Most agreed on the basics, but chef and social media personality Gary Marandola offered a tip that can make the whole process easier and faster.
“I always start with heating them up as high as the grill allows, and leave the grill shut until it stops smoking. That’ll turn everything organic in that grill into carbon.” Carbon is basically soot, and it’s a whole lot easier to scrape off than hardened grease.
It goes without saying that you need to turn off the gas and let the grill cool down before you do any cleaning. Once it’s cool:
“Pulling out the grates and burner covers is the most difficult part of the job,” cautions cleaning expert Ken Doty. After that, “everything is straightforward.”
The next step, according to the chefs as well as cleaning experts Doty and Ross Pascale, is to spray the inside of the cook box with soapy water.
Now that the soapy water has done its job, you can clean the inside of the cookbox:
Pro tip: If you’re not working in a well-lit area, ensure you get everything by using a headlamp to illuminate the inside of the cook box.
Gas burner tubes are hollow and open-ended, and most are removable, so you’ll want to remove them from the grill to make it easier to clean the inside. But it’s a good idea to remove as much soot and grease as possible while they’re still in place.
With one of the grates placed on a garbage can, you can brush debris off using a wire brush or scrape it off with a putty knife, and everything will fall into the can. Don’t scrape or brush your grill with metal tools if it’s porcelain or enameled, because that could damage it. Use a wooden spatula and non-metal scrubber instead.
“Don’t forget to clean the interior walls and drip pans to prevent grease buildup,” advises Pascale.
“Dirt or grime on the outside of your grill encourages rust to settle in,” warns Hite. He recommends doing the following before you put the grill back together:
Pro tip: If you have cast iron grates, Chef Fig recommends seasoning them, just as you would a cast iron skillet. “I apply oil on both sides of the grates, place them back on the grill, crank up the heat, and season those buggers to perfection.”
