How to Clean a Grill After Cooking Fish

Grilling fish is a quick way to make a delicious, healthy meal. Cleaning the grill afterward can sometimes be a pain, however, as flesh is light and delicate and has a tendency to sear onto the grill. Pieces of the fillet may fall under the grill rack onto the open fire or under the cook top. With common household cleaning supplies, like soap and water, a wire brush and a nylon scrub pad, cleaning up can be a breeze.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spatula
• Wire grill brush
• Nylon scrub pad
• Water
• Soap
• Nylon brush
• Paper towels
• Lint-free towel

1. Leave the grill rack on the grill and scrape off as much of the stuck-on fish as possible using a grill spatula, allowing the pieces to fall into the fire below.

2. Scrub the grill with a wire brush while the grill rack is still warm, because warm pieces will come off easier. Using a pair of tongs, remove the grill rack from the grill and allow the heat source to cool.

3. Flip the grill rack and clean the back of it with a wire brush, scraping any fat and drippings into the trash or a garbage disposal.

4. Wet a nylon scrub pad with water and apply a liberal amount of dish soap. Scrub the grill rack front and back, being sure to get into the joints of the wire rack mesh. Rinse well and dry thoroughly with a lint-free towel.

5. Dump the ashes if cleaning a charcoal grill. Use a soft nylon brush to sweep any fish particles into a pile and remove them from the grill using a damp paper towel.

6. Use a damp, soapy nylon scrub pad to clean the drippings stuck onto the sides of the grill, Avoid scrubbing any area too hard as chipped paint can lead to rust.

7. Wipe any soapy residue off the inside of the grill using a damp sponge.

8. Dry the grill completely using a lint free towel, using care to dry creases and hinges to prevent rust.

Tips & Warnings

• Spray a the grill rack with nonstick cooking spray before lighting the grill. Lay the fish on the rack and cook as usual.
• Use care to prevent excess dampness from getting into the ignition of a gas grill. Clean drippings from the ignition using a dry toothbrush.
• Leaving the grill rack in the grill and closing the lid will help to burn off the stuck on fish. You may wait to remove the grill for cleaning until the coals and ashes have cooled.
• Oven cleaner or ammonia may be used on particularly stubborn foods.
• Dump ashes from a grill only after they've cooled. Allow ashes to cool 24 hours or add water to them before placing them in an appropriate receptacle such as a metal can or in the yard.
• Don't spray non-stick cooking spray on a grill after the grill has been lit. The aerosols in the spray may cause a fire or injury.

References

• Grill Cleaning Information
• Gas Grill Cleaning
• More Cleaning Tips