You’ve probably heard the age-old advice that the best way to maintain a spotless kitchen is to clean while you cook. Well the same concept applies to your grill. Cleaning as you go saves you time and sanity later. Follow these tips to avoid dreading the cleanup throughout your whole cookout.
Grilling Tips
Use a high-heat cooking spray on your grates to avoid sticking. Just remember that when it comes to oil on the grill, less is more. Avoid flare-ups by opting for lean cuts of meat and less oily marinades or by trimming fat off the meat before cooking. If it’s good for you, it’s good for the grill too.
Grill Accessories
As any fashion guru will say, it’s all in the accessories. And we’ve rounded up some great ones to keep you from splashing barbecue sauce all over the patio. Level up your grill game with the following grill accessories:
- Shelf mats: When cooking with sauces and greases, messes are bound to happen. But mats can offer protection from marinades and sauces dripping off your grill tools. Look for something that is compatible with your grill. The Broil King silicone side shelf is dishwasher-safe and won’t scratch stainless steel.
- Grill brush: No one wants to taste last night’s salmon all over today’s kabobs. Even if you like the flavors together, the mix of old and new is fishy. So what’s the solution? Use a grill brush to remove any stuck on foods or residue after every grilling session. It’s easier to clean a grill when it’s still hot. Bonus: This will prevent flare-ups.
- Grill mat: Prevent oil and sauce stains from tarnishing your patio by investing in a mat to keep under the grill. If you want to cover more area, even a tarp will do.
- Dishwasher-safe supplies: When it comes to cleanup, especially after entertaining guests, the dishwasher is your friend. Look for grill accessories you can throw in the dishwasher and forget about… at least until the following morning. Stainless steel and silicone are good options.
Firing Down
Take some steps after you’re done grilling to prep it for next time.
- Empty the grease tray.
- For charcoal grills, remove the ash.
- Wipe any splatters off the exterior to keep it shining.
Now that you know how to keep your grill clean, there’s only one more thing to do. Fire it up! It’s cookout season!
Do you have any tips for keeping your grill clean as you go? Share them in the comments section below!