How to Care for Ceramic Barbecue Grates

Ditch your rusty grill for a new grill with self-cleaning ceramic grates.

A new barbecue grill is a welcome addition to summer cooking. When the weather warms up, it provides a way to maximize outdoor living and socializing. With a new gourmet grill, gone are the days of steel grates caked with the remnants of last night's meal. Ceramic and porcelain grate options cut your cooking and maintenance time in half. Scraping, burning and sticking are, now, a thing of the past.

Things You'll Need

• Grill brush made for ceramic and porcelain
• Dish soap
• Wash cloth
• Plastic mesh cleaning pad

Instructions

Daily cleaning

1. Finish cooking your dinner.

2. Turn your grill to "high" and leave it there for five minutes.

3. Brush your grates with a grill brush specifically designed for use on ceramic.

4. Turn off your grill and the propane valve.

Deep Cleaning

1. Remove the cooled grates from your grill. Transfer them to a wooden work surface.

2. Scrub the grease and food particles off the grates with your wash cloth and hot, soapy water.

3. Cover the problem areas with a hot towel and leave it on the grate for half an hour.

4. Scrub off the stubborn adhesions with the plastic pad scrubber.

5. Rinse the grates with clean water. Dry them and return them to your grill.

Tips & Warnings

• In the daily cleaning process, residual food will be turned to ash and easily removed. This helps to save you from frequent deep cleaning.

• Ceramic grates are brittle. Avoid banging them around in the cleaning process. Metal utensils and wire brushes should be avoided.

• Never leave your grill unattended for long periods of time. Extreme heat can cause fires and possible explosions.

References

• Smoker Cooking: Cleaning Porcelain Cooking Grates
• Char-Broil: Maintenance and Care

Resources

• The BBQ Depot: Replacement Ceramic Grates