Spring and baseball season are here which means grilling season is in full swing. Now that you’ve checked your gas grill for leaks after reading our safe grilling tips blog, here are some maintenance tips to keep your gas grill in proper working order – all year long. There are three phases to gas grill maintenance:
1. Every time you use your gas grill
- Preheat your gas grill completely every time you turn it on – this will clean and disinfect it.
- Spray a high-heat oil such as peanut or avocado oil on the grates to prevent food from sticking.
- Brush the cooking grates to remove food residue and give yourself a clean cooking surface.
- After you’ve removed all food turn up the heat to (max) so it burns off all drippings and grease.
- When the grill is cool, cover it.
Annual gas grill maintenance
- Remove the cooking grates and soak in hot, soapy water.
- Remove the barrier and soak in hot, soapy water.
- Thoroughly brush out the interior of the grill. Leave the greasy accumulation as a protective layer on the metal.
- Now that everything has been removed, turn on the grill just long enough to see how the flame is coming from the burners.
- If the flame is uneven, clean out the burners. To do this remove the affected burners from the grill and with a pipe cleaner or small wire push through the ports (holes along the side). Then gently tap the burners, open end down, on the ground to displace any debris from inside the burner. Once cleaned out replace the burners and fire it up again. If the flame is even, continue. If not, repeat this step.
- Clean (or replace) the drip pan.
- Clean the exterior of the grill while the grates and barrier are still soaking.
- Wash and rinse the grates and barrier.
- Assemble the grill.
- Turn on the grill, allow it to thoroughly heat up so that the internal parts dry.
- If you’re done using your grill for the season, close and disconnect the gas supply. Remove the propane tank and place in a safe, ventilated area. Cover the grill and place in a sheltered location.
“Gas Grill Maintenance.” About.com Food. Web. 05 Apr. 2016.
Thank you for explaining how to safely store your gas grill when you’re not using it. My husband and I just got our first grill and have been wondering how to store it properly with the propane tank. We’ll be sure to try this out as soon as we get home after the holidays.