BBQ cleaning regime?

ferry

One of my worst jobs this one...
Whats your regime or method for cleaning a charcoal BBQ ready for next time?

Usually use something like Cillit Bang on the grill,scoop up the ashes and just scrape through the oily splashes best I can!

Any tips on best practise for cleaning up a charcoal BBQ?

southernsun

I have only just bought my first bbq (previously lived in a flat) and used it once due to the bad weather but I simply got a big storage box (only cost about £5 i think), filled it up with cold water and washing up liquid, as soon as I was done cooking dropped the racks and tools in there, left them for a few hours before wiping them down a sponge and drying them. Took next to no effort as the food/fat never had time to dry on and soaking them got most of the dirt off before I wiped them clean. For the bbq itself, once cooled I removed the charcoal and ashes into a bag, wiped the inside with with baby wipe and then a wet cloth and again was quick and simple. Hoping that as long as its cleaned after every use it should remain a simple job.

sunshinetours

Yes key to cleaning grill , tools etc is to not let the black stuff dry on for too long

As far as rest, not sure I ever cleaned the inide of the charcoal tray when i had a moveable one (have brick one now). You can buy BBQ cleaner if you wish I guess

Innys

Yup, I agree that the best approach is to clean the grill ASAP after you have finished cooking. No later than a couple of days, otherwise it becomes a pig of a job.

The method I use is simply to scrub it with warm water and some washing up liquid using a plastic scourer. Keep rinsing the scourer and the black residue comes off a treat.

ukjoel

Never cleaned a bbq

Just relight it and let it burn off - takes 30 minutes to an hour to get up to a nice heat anyway.

No germs are surviving those temperatures.

sunshinetours

ukjoel wrote: »

Never cleaned a bbq

Just relight it and let it burn off - takes 30 minutes to an hour to get up to a nice heat anyway.

No germs are surviving those temperatures.

Then once up to heat you should clean off with a long handle brush. Caked on carbonised old chicken/sauce/fat etc stops the metal of the grill heating up fully whch is also partly what cooks your food through

Also if previously cooking fish/strong spices you really don't want a month old version of it embedding itself onto your chicken breast!

Hintza

I'm with the two posts above. Never clean a charcoal BBQ heat and knock/brush off.

vax2002

Buy a table and take the Foreman grill outside...
Job Done