Comments on How to Clean a Barbecue Grill

You simply cut an onion in half and scrub the rack with the onion. Works great!

Here's a method that is very effortless. If you live around sand, then this is a charcoal grill grate cleaning system for you. Just put grill grate(s) on sand and brush off remains by scraping the top(s) with the bottom of your shoes, back and forth. You don't have to apply much pressure rubbing grate(s), then wash dirt off afterward. No, fumes, no chemicals, no mess, environmental friendly. Worried about germs from the dirt? Don't be. The next time you use the grill, the fire will cure that.

Take an 18 inch long piece of aluminum foil and ball it up. Rub it over the cold grates. When you reheat the grill next time, it will take off any remaining residue.

Take an 18 inch long piece of aluminum foil and ball it up. Rub it over the cold grates. When you reheat the grill next time, it will take off any remaining residue.

Wait until grill gets fairly hot. Slice an orange in half.Take the sliced orange and rub on grill racks. Make sure to wear gloves. Works like a charm.

Forget oven cleaners! Here in Texas, we just fire up the grill with mesquite wood or charcoal ( for the less professional grillers) with all the junk left over on the grill from last time, place the grill back on with high heat ( watch your hands - I recommend using welding gloves). The high heat melts off most of the junk in about 5 minutes. Then use a wire brush to remove the fines just before the wood/ charcoal is ALMOST ready for cooking ( about 2 minutes). Once the wood /coal is ready for cooking, finish off the grill cleaning process using a large onion stuck onto a large cooking fork, using medium-high force to push along each square inch of surface to remove the extra fine junk ( about 1 minute). The onion cleans the grill, gives the food flavor, and keeps the food from sticking onto the grill - all for only 3 minutes of actual cleaning effort ! Gabriel

Make sure you clean your barbecue grill outside. If you are using oven cleaner, you need to be in a well ventilated space. The chemicals can damage your lungs, throat, nose and eyes.

Take grates and spray with oven cleaner. Put in plastic bag and tie. Put in sun for a day and take out and rinse with water. They come out looking brand-new.

If you have porcelain grates and/or flavorizer bars (green in color), do not use steel wool or steel wire brush (this will lead to corrosion). Use only a brass-bristled brush. Remember, porcelain flavorizer bars and grates are dishwasher safe.

Spread out several thinknesses of newspaper on the ground, lay your grill grates on top and spray with dish liquid and lots of water. Then add another layer of newspaper and wet that down thoroughly. In about 1/2 hour, wipe it clean.

After cooking, lay a sheet(s) of tinfoil over your grates (this can be done while you are eating). Leave the grill setting on high. When you are done eating, the grates will clean. You can use a wire brush to get rid of the dust. It wastes a little gas, but there's no oven cleaner or abrasives involved (as well as any elbow grease).

No need for a lot of cleaners, chemicals and scrubbing here! After I've cooked something, I leave the clean-up until the next time I use it. When I go to cook again, I turn the flames up high on the empty grill while I'm prepping the food. By the time the patties are pressed and the corn is done soaking in water (that's for another tip), the grate is ready for a quick rub with a wire brush. It's not going to get shiny-clean, but the build-up of actual food material will come off easily.

Tonight before I used my grill for the second time, I used an old toothbrush to loosen some of the ashes that were stuck to the sides of the grill. This did not scratch up my grill like other items have.

Put cast iron grates in your oven and set it to self clean. Afterward, season the cast iron as you would a Lodge pan (Crisco, 400 degree oven for an hour). Grates will stay non-stick and great looking for months.

No need for a lot of cleaners, chemicals and scrubbing here! After I've cooked something, I leave the clean-up until the next time I use it. When I go to cook again, I turn the flames up high on the empty grill while I'm prepping the food. By the time the patties are pressed and the corn is done soaking in water (that's for another tip), the grate is ready for a quick rub with a wire brush. It's not going to get shiny-clean, but the build-up of actual food material will come off easily.

After cooking, lay a sheet(s) of tinfoil over your grates (this can be done while you are eating). Leave the grill setting on high. When you are done eating, the grates will clean. You can use a wire brush to get rid of the dust. It wastes a little gas, but there's no oven cleaner or abrasives involved (as well as any elbow grease).

Spread out several thinknesses of newspaper on the ground, lay your grill grates on top and spray with dish liquid and lots of water. Then add another layer of newspaper and wet that down thoroughly. In about 1/2 hour, wipe it clean.

Forget oven cleaners! Here in Texas, we just fire up the grill with mesquite wood or charcoal ( for the less professional grillers) with all the junk left over on the grill from last time, place the grill back on with high heat ( watch your hands - I recommend using welding gloves). The high heat melts off most of the junk in about 5 minutes. Then use a wire brush to remove the fines just before the wood/ charcoal is ALMOST ready for cooking ( about 2 minutes). Once the wood /coal is ready for cooking, finish off the grill cleaning process using a large onion stuck onto a large cooking fork, using medium-high force to push along each square inch of surface to remove the extra fine junk ( about 1 minute). The onion cleans the grill, gives the food flavor, and keeps the food from sticking onto the grill - all for only 3 minutes of actual cleaning effort ! Gabriel

Tonight before I used my grill for the second time, I used an old toothbrush to loosen some of the ashes that were stuck to the sides of the grill. This did not scratch up my grill like other items have.

Put cast iron grates in your oven and set it to self clean. Afterward, season the cast iron as you would a Lodge pan (Crisco, 400 degree oven for an hour). Grates will stay non-stick and great looking for months.