Barbecue grills are an investment and obviously, you want to cater to many guests before you replace it with a new one. If you want to enjoy your grill as long as possible, you have to take good care of it to extend its lifespan. No matter if you have a charcoal BBQ or a gas barbecue, the best way to maintain it depends a lot on the material your grill is made of and how it was built.
Nevertheless, the greatest damage that affects most grills is rust – especially when you live close to water such as a river, seashore or have a pool in the garden. To help you protect your grill from rust, frequent check-ups of the body and grill plate are a must so you can react quickly in the event of it appearing. To make your favourite barbecue grill last many seasons, we have put together some maintenance tips for you to follow.
- After each cooking, clean the grates with a brush to get rid of any food remains and remove ashes in charcoal barbecues. If you use the grill more frequently, carefully clean the entire body both on the inside and outside every so often using a sponge and soapy warm water. Check the holes of the burners if you have a gas barbecue as sometimes they can get clogged with food debris and clean those with a brush and a sponge. Wipe the grill thoroughly dry with a soft cloth or paper towels once you’ve finished cleaning.
- Steel grates should be rubbed with high heat oil after each cooking to prevent them from rusting. In case your grates are coated with porcelain, you don’t need to bother as porcelain protects the grates from corrosion. When owning a grill with porcelain-coated grates, food remains should be cleaned with a nylon brush, which is gentle to the surface material. Never use a steel brush, as it would damage the coating. Store the grates in a dry place after you tend to them.
- Most grills are kept in the backyard despite the risk of it being exposed to the elements. To keep your favourite summer gadget in perfect condition for a long time, you should protect it from humidity and buy a custom sized cover. Best way to protect your grill and limit the influence of weather factors such as rain, snow and direct sunlight, is to keep it under the cover every time you have cleaned it up after using.
- Especially when you live in an area with heavy rainfalls or high humidity and you are lucky enough to have purchased a portable barbecue, move it to the garage or a similar storage room to protect it from unfavourable weather conditions. It is never a good idea to leave a grill outside during winter no matter how high the quality of its material.
