Semi-OT: Cleaning your grill

[DJ Spanky]

I mean you're dealing with an animal that is smarter than a dog.

...and those State Penn trolls who sometimes infest our board.

 

[RUforester72]

The Q1200 is what they used to call the Baby Q. I'd spend the extra $40-$60 and get either the Q2000 or the Q2200. You get about 50% more grilling space and also a hotter grill.

Thanks. Weight is an issue and the 1200 is 30 lbs. I’ll check them both out when I get to Lowes.

 

[RU4Real]

True but they don’t keep anything crusted or burnt on it. Big difference. Even with a grill, no one is going out there with dish detergent after each use, but please, brush off dripping, sauces and meat/fish parts that are still on the grill top.

Oh, definitely. I don't think anyone is advocating not cleaning the grates. I think the question is how often / if to clean the inside, under the burners, etc.

 

[DJ Spanky]

Thanks. Weight is an issue and the 1200 is 30 lbs. I’ll check them both out when I get to Lowes.

The 2200 is 42 pounds.

 

[yesrutgers01]

Oh, definitely. I don't think anyone is advocating not cleaning the grates. I think the question is how often / if to clean the inside, under the burners, etc.

Haha there are some, believe me that include the grates for the "not cleaning" Under the burners- I super clean three times a year and any time there was a cookout that happened to have a lot of grease or droppings.

 

[wisr01]

A friend of ours accidentally swallowed a metal grill bristle that broke off and ended up in his burger (not my grill) and it freaked me out. Since then I've cleaned my grill grates with those pumice stones and grill sponges

That is why I use this instead of a grill brush:

 

[RutgersRockies]

I cook on my propane grill at least four times a week. I got some of those grill mats last year, which make cleanup really easy, and I don't notice a difference in flavor (I can even even do grill marks if I get it right).

It saves me a lot of time and effort cleaning the grill. Plus, now I can grill just about any fish.

 

[RW90]

On a related note, for the longest time I always thought our old Weber grill (replaced a couple seasons back) was chipping paint inside the cover. Only recently did I come to realize that's carbonized grease and not actual paint chips. Still stripped these chips anyway, but I always thought it was a crappy paint or sealer job and not normal cooking use.

 

[Postman_1]

Bumping this because its grill related - So I grilled about 4 times this past weekend on my Webber. I went to use it Sunday night and heard it leaking propane from the regulator when I turned it on. I went and ordered a new regulator. It came in yesterday I put it on and still leaking WTF. Did some research on it and watched a video on Youtube a bunch of comments said it's the propane tank (bad O ring) and not the regulator. I took the tank back to Lowes and new tank works fine. No more leaks.
Also looking for a good brush to clean my grill with? I saw a X-Ray of person with a metal bristle lodged in there troat. I may try what Wisr01 suggested.

 

[RU#1fan]

Also scrub the grates after starting it up and letting them heat up…. Every time before cooking

 

[RU4Real]

I set my weber on fire a couple weeks ago. Had to soak it with the garden hose for about 20 minutes before I could open it.

Perfectly clean. Not recommended, however.

 

[Plum Street]

Anyone got a black stone ? Thoughts on it and tips

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

soak em in a heavy solution of Dawn or even oil eater (be careful of your tub.. make it not something an oil eater will go to work on)

Add water until the grates are covered, and then add Oil Eater® Cleaner at a ratio of 10:1. Allow the grates to soak for 5-10 minutes. Scrub the grates with a grill brush to remove all the greasy residue. Use a garden hose to thoroughly rinse the grill grates.​

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[rufan3860]

soak em in a heavy solution of Dawn or even oil eater (be careful of your tub.. make it not something an oil eater will go to work on)

Add water until the grates are covered, and then add Oil Eater® Cleaner at a ratio of 10:1. Allow the grates to soak for 5-10 minutes. Scrub the grates with a grill brush to remove all the greasy residue. Use a garden hose to thoroughly rinse the grill grates.​

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Before the grilling season starts, I buy a giant bottle of distilled vinegar and let the grates and heat deflectors soak in it for hours. Its fun to add some arm and hammer too. This year I replaced the flavorizer bars, they were gross. I use a plastic putty knife to scrape the inside and then I will use the dry vac to suck the loose bits up. I also remove and clean the catch pan and drip pan and put a new foil drip insert in.

For regular cleaning I had bought a bristle less brush. I had heard a story of a perforated intestine due to a bristle brush. It is "woven stainless steel". It's ok. not great.

 

[RU Golfer]

Bumping this because its grill related - So I grilled about 4 times this past weekend on my Webber. I went to use it Sunday night and heard it leaking propane from the regulator when I turned it on. I went and ordered a new regulator. It came in yesterday I put it on and still leaking WTF. Did some research on it and watched a video on Youtube a bunch of comments said it's the propane tank (bad O ring) and not the regulator. I took the tank back to Lowes and new tank works fine. No more leaks.
Also looking for a good brush to clean my grill with? I saw a X-Ray of person with a metal bristle lodged in there troat. I may try what Wisr01 suggested.

I have one of these

 

[Postman_1]

I have one of these

I did see that one. The cleaning part is supposedly made out of some thick canvas type material that’s similar to a fireman’s coat? I think it was developed by a fireman I read. How do you like it, does it require a lot of cleaning?

 

[9scrltknght0]

Anyone got a black stone ? Thoughts on it and tips

Have had a 4 burner for 2 years now and a 1 burner table top model for probably 6 years? They are great. Once you get it seasoned, just go to down. Cheesesteaks, smash burgers, fajitas, fried rice at home have never been better. Beats the clean up and smells of cooking those inside. Lots of recipes online and on youtube. Breakfast is also easy and tasty (eggs, hashbrowns, pork roll, bacon, etc).

Some people complain about the heat loss through the gaps between the burner and the griddle, but there are workarounds if it bothers you at all. There are more competitors than ever now, but I keep my allegiance with Blackstone.

 

[Plum Street]

Have had a 4 burner for 2 years now and a 1 burner table top model for probably 6 years? They are great. Once you get it seasoned, just go to down. Cheesesteaks, smash burgers, fajitas, fried rice at home have never been better. Beats the clean up and smells of cooking those inside. Lots of recipes online and on youtube. Breakfast is also easy and tasty (eggs, hashbrowns, pork roll, bacon, etc).

Some people complain about the heat loss through the gaps between the burner and the griddle, but there are workarounds if it bothers you at all. There are more competitors than ever now, but I keep my allegiance with Blackstone.

Best way to season ? Going to get the blackstone seasoning ?

 

[GoodOl'Rutgers]

That is why I use this instead of a grill brush:

I saw something like that in wood.. wider..

one by cuisinart with a different kind of hand.. might protect knuckles better..

 

[9scrltknght0]

Best way to season ? Going to get the blackstone seasoning ?

The jar of black stone seasoning is easiest no doubt.

 

[RU Golfer]

I did see that one. The cleaning part is supposedly made out of some thick canvas type material that’s similar to a fireman’s coat? I think it was developed by a fireman I read. How do you like it, does it require a lot of cleaning?

You are correct.....you need to crank the grill up real high and then use it with a bowl of water and it cleans pretty good. the heads can be washed in the dishwasher.

 

[rureadyforsomefootball]

No, I'm not talking about brushing your teeth.

So over the weekend, now that I have a new main grill, it was time to put the tailgating grill (Weber Q) away. But after months of use it needed a serious cleaning. So I did a burnoff on Friday night, then on Saturday hard scraped both sides of the grate and in between the grate bars. After that, pulled the grate and scraped the inside of the top, then inside of the main body, scraping down to the pan opening. Emptied the pan twice during this process when it got full, and then at the end. Did a final burnoff, putting the grate in halfway through, them packed it yesterday (Sunday) to wait for tailgating season.

So what periodic cleaning and maintenance do other people do on their grills? What tools do you use?

I use something like this to work on the grates:

For the body of the grill, I use a plastic paint scraper/putty knife as that does not damage the paint on the inside:

I would never use those metal brushes. My nephew got a piece of one on his chicken and stuck in the top of his mouth. I'd be afraid if it happened to one of my Grandkids and they panicked. Go with the replaceable nylon heads Weber sells.

 

[fsg2_rivals]

So far the alternatives to the metal wire brushes suck.

Tried one of those metal coil jobs that looked gnarly enough, but it was useless.

Metal scraper is equally useless, in its own special way.

Prefer something that can work with the heat, which is just intuitive, so haven't bothered with plastic.

Might have to try some of these others. Something's gotta do the job half way+

 

[RU4Real]

So far the alternatives to the metal wire brushes suck.

Tried one of those metal coil jobs that looked gnarly enough, but it was useless.

Metal scraper is equally useless, in its own special way.

Prefer something that can work with the heat, which is just intuitive, so haven't bothered with plastic.

Might have to try some of these others. Something's gotta do the job half way+

I've been using wire grill brushes for half a century and have never punctured anyone.

 

[fsg2_rivals]

I've been using wire grill brushes for half a century and have never punctured anyone.

Yeah, it's become one of those societal obsessive compulsive things. I had a good two decades of metal brushing under my belt before I ever heard a whisper about it.

If it's just for me, I still go wire brush. Try to do something different when cooking for the family, but I agree with your point. Can always just give it a close look over after brushing.

 

[hankee18]

I've been using wire grill brushes for half a century and have never punctured anyone.

Weber Genesis 10 years strong. I grill all year long at least 2x per week. I heat the grill, brush, then cook. I'm assuming most do also

I'm not sure where a rogue bristle would even come into play here

 

[fsg2_rivals]

Weber Genesis 10 years strong. I grill all year long at least 2x per week. I heat the grill, brush, then cook. I'm assuming most do also

I'm not sure where a rogue bristle would even come into play here

Falls off the brush, stuck to the grill, embedded in your burger, stuck in your throat, esophagus, etc.

Some have needed surgery to get it out.

 

[hankee18]

Falls off the brush, stuck to the grill, embedded in your burger, stuck in your throat, esophagus, etc.

Some have needed surgery to get it out.

Yeah. Stuck to the grill, obviously. My question is how?

My grill grates are clean as hell, nothing to stick to if you heat then scrub properly

 

[fsg2_rivals]

Yeah. Stuck to the grill, obviously. My question is how?

My grill grates are clean as hell, nothing to stick to if you heat then scrub properly

The same way anything else gets stuck to the grill.

Obviously.

Do you reckon the bristles are clean as hell, too?

 

[hankee18]

The same way anything else gets stuck to the grill.

Obviously.

Do you reckon the bristles are clean as hell, too?

Amateur hour. Anyone serious about grilling and feeding other people wouldn't stand for this type of nonsense. My grill and brushes are clean as hell, yes

 

[fsg2_rivals]

Amateur hour. Anyone serious about grilling and feeding other people wouldn't stand for this type of nonsense. My grill and brushes are clean as hell, yes

As you're actively using them to clean off the grates?

No, they aren't.

You do you, tho, old school.

 

[RUschool]

I just clean with a wire brush after the grill is heated and afterward wipe with a paper towel. I would assume you would feel any metal piece that was on the grill.

 

[hankee18]

As you're actively using them to clean off the grates?

No, they aren't.

You do you, tho, old school.

If it ever happens you'll be the first one I tell