How to Clean Charcoal Grills

Cleaning a charcoal grill is the least fun part of grilling. However, a clean grill will make your meats, burgers, and kebabs taste better and come off the grill more easily. If you get into the habit of cleaning the grill after you cook, it will be less of a chore to deal with each time you fire up the barbecue.

Read below for the proper way to clean a charcoal grill.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• stainless steel grill brush
• scour pads
• garden hose
• dish soap

1. 
    
   scour pads

   Dump out the coals and pieces of wood from the basin. You can either put them in the garbage or garden. Pour some dish liquid on a scour pad, use the hose to get the grill basin wet, and begin scrubbing the inside. You don't have to get it sparkling, in fact, it's usually not possible.

2. 
    
   garden hose

   After you have cleaned the main part of the grill, set it upside down on the lawn to let it dry. Repeat step one for the lid.

3. 
    
   grill brush

   To clean the grill grate, first use the grill brush to thoroughly scrub the grate until most of the burnt food and grease is gone. The shinier the better. Then with the scour pad and hose, give it a second polish. You may need to repeat if there is a lot of burnt matter to clean.
   
   Make sure to rinse your charcoal grill grate well so there is no soap residue next time you cook out.

4. 
    
   grilled meat

   If the outside of the grill is dirty, you can clean it with the score pads. The important thing is to clean the insides of the grill, because a charcoal grill that is dirty inside will make the grilled meats taste bad.
   
   Do not use the stainless steel grill brush for anything other grate.