How to Prepare and Clean a BBQ Grill

 Before you just fire the grill up and start cooking, it’s a really good idea to give your grill a good deep cleaning, safety check, and preparation a couple of days before the party to ensure a smashing success, and great tasting food.  But do you know how to prepare and clean a BBQ Grill? Read on, to get pro tips!

It’s also a good idea before you start, to have all your food ingredients already at the ready.

Do the Preparation 

The first thing you need is a can of good quality oven cleaner, and a pair of gloves to protect your hands. It’s also a good idea to do this about a day or two before the day of the party, so you have the time to get it really clean and ready to cook.

The process is really straightforward. All you have to do is mix the oven cleaner with water in a large bucket and when you’re ready, give the grill a good scrub with the cleaner, before rinsing it off with water. Make sure you get in all the corners and crevices.

Consider Thorough Cleaning and Safety 

Next, it’s time to go through a thorough cleaning of the grill. This will ensure that there are no dangerous grease fires or flare-ups during your party. You can use a sturdy scraper to get all the grease from the grill. It’s a good idea to use a grill brush to get rid of the caked-up grease.

Check the propane tank also for any damage, and fill it up. Double-check all the gas lines and the connecting to the propane tank, and the electrical wiring. Make sure that all of the burners are off and disconnected from the propane tank.

Next, clean the barbecue grill grate. It’s a good idea to use a bit of cooking spray.  Because this ensures that your food has a good nonstick surface. This is really important for chicken, fish, and anything else you want to be sure you don’t end up with a nasty mess.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to empty the ashes from the grill and give it a good scrub down with a wire brush.

Safety is really important. It’s a good idea to take a look at your grill.  Plus make any necessary repairs such as replacing a broken or damaged part. Or cleaning any deposits or caked-on debris in the grill. This is to ensure that the food comes off easily. If the food sticks, it can be hard to clean the grill and there may be food debris left behind.

Thoroughly Dry It Down 

Once you’ve cleaned the grill, make sure to let it dry for the entire day before you grill for the party. Ideally, you’ll want to leave it outside in the sun. There are also products on the market specifically designed for cleaning and drying a grill.

Re-Assemble Your Grill

Once your grill is thoroughly dry, it’s time to re-assemble, making sure that you reconnect everything back to the propane tank. Replace the grill top, and reconnect the propane regulator.

Now, you’re ready for your party. Just fire the grill up and get the food cooking.

Pro Tip: If you’re planning to use wood charcoal, it’s a good idea to soak the wood in water overnight to prevent flare-ups.

Fire Up the Grill, and Get Cooking

Once everything is set and prepared and you’re ready to begin cooking, fire up the grill. Get your food ready, and turn on the grill.

You’ll want to get your grill up to a good temperature and let it stay there for at least half an hour. This will ensure a good steady temperature.

Always keep in mind that the grills get really hot. It’s a good idea to wear a pair of high-quality oven mitts or grill mitts to protect your hands.

Conclusion

As you can see from how to prepare and clean a BBQ Grill, there are a lot of steps involved in the preparation and cleaning of the barbecue grill for a successful grilling session. But if you do the job right, you can have a great time and good food with family and friends.

Grilling can be a great experience for everyone but if you want to take out all the hassle, you can hire a private chef to do the grilling for you. At Food Fire + Knives, we can provide you with a professional private chef in Chattanooga and surrounding areas. Our private chefs can take care of all the preparation and cooking jobs so you don’t have to worry about it. Let us give you a personal chef for your next BBQ get together. Get in touch with us today!

Published By Kim Gandhi Kim Gandhi began cooking at 8 years old with a love of food driving her to experiment with her Hispanic and German heritage. She gained a BBA in Marketing and turned to the business world for much of her career. Her strong customer service background and her passion for great events that involve chefs, customers, and amazing food allows her to indulge in her love of cooking and enjoying what FFK chefs bring to the table.