A clean gas barbecue is the be-all and end-all for successful barbecue evenings. Not only does it ensure the best taste and even heat distribution, it also significantly extends the service life of your barbecue. However, grease, ash and marinade residue can build up on your barbecue, especially after intensive barbecue sessions. In this article, we show you step by step how to restore your gas barbecue to its former glory!
Table of contents
Why is cleaning your gas barbecue essential?
How often should you clean your gas barbecue?
What utensils do you need to clean your barbecue?
How do you clean your gas barbecue properly?
How to keep your barbecue clean for longer
Why is cleaning your gas barbecue essential?
Cleaning your gas barbecue regularly is not just a matter of aesthetics, it is crucial for the longevity and safety of your appliance and the quality of your food. A clean gas barbecue not only ensures an appetizing appearance at your next barbecue, but also prevents serious problems that can arise from neglect. Here are some of the most important reasons why you should clean your gas barbecue regularly:
- Corrosion prevention: grease and marinades that build up in the grill can lead to contaminants that cause corrosion. Corrosion is the destruction of the metal surface through electrochemical reactions. If left untreated, these deposits can significantly shorten the service life of your barbecue.
- Risk of grease fire: Without regular cleaning, a grease fire can occur. Fat, cooking juices and marinade settle on the grill grates and evaporate on the surfaces in the cooking cabinet. In the worst case, accumulated fat can catch fire on the flame guards.
- Formation of bacteria: Bacteria find an ideal breeding ground in burnt-on food residues. These can proliferate until the next grilling session and thus endanger hygiene and health.
- Barbecue performance: Burnt-on fat and food residues impair barbecue performance. The food no longer cooks evenly, which has a negative effect on the grilling result.
- Durability and functionality: Regular cleaning ensures that your grill remains functional for a long time and delivers good grilling results. Thorough care and inspection of wearing parts, such as flame plates, significantly increase the service life of your gas barbecue.
- Ease of maintenance: If you roughly clean your gas barbecue after every use and clean it thoroughly at regular intervals, you will prevent stubborn dirt from building up that is difficult to remove later.
How often should you clean your gas barbecue?
It's worth giving the barbecue a quick clean after the BBQ - preferably while it's still warm - so that you can simply open the lid the next time you barbecue and get started straight away. This only takes 5 minutes and will make your next barbecue much more relaxed! The residual heat helps to remove fat and residue in no time at all. This little routine will quickly become second nature and you can start immediately next time without having to do much cleaning.
Here are some recommendations for cleaning frequency:
- After every barbecue:
- Light basic cleaning: Remove coarse dirt immediately after grilling while the grill is still warm. This quick cleaning prevents residues from building up and makes thorough cleaning easier later on.
- Monthly cleaning:
- Exterior cleaning: Clean the outside of your barbecue once a month. This not only ensures a neat appearance, but also prevents the build-up of dirt and grease that could impair its function.
- Quarterly cleaning:
- Thorough internal cleaning: You should carry out a thorough interior clean every three months. This involves thoroughly cleaning all components such as grill grates, flame plates and burner tray. This ensures that the barbecue remains in perfect condition and functions optimally.
What utensils do you need to clean the barbecue?
Before you start cleaning your gas barbecue, it is important to have the right tools and cleaning agents to hand. Here are some recommendations for the right maintenance accessories:
- Gloves: Rubber gloves protect your hands from grease and dirt.
- Barbecue brushes: Different sizes and bristles (steel, brass, stainless steel) are ideal for cleaning the grill grates and flame guards. Grill brushes with scrapers are suitable for stubborn encrustations.
- Scraper: A plastic or wooden scraper is ideal for removing grease residue from the grill chamber.
- Sponge: A double-sided sponge without abrasive components helps with stubborn stains.
- Cleaning sprays: Special sprays for grill grates, enamel and stainless steel make cleaning easier.
- Microfiber cloth: For polishing and cleaning the outside of the grill, suitable for stainless steel and enamel.
- Drip trays: These trays catch grease and are easy to dispose of, reducing the amount of cleaning required.
How do you clean your gas barbecue properly?
Clean the inside of the gas barbecue
Cleaning the flame guards
The flame guards are an often overlooked but important part of your gas barbecue. They protect the burners from dripping fat and ensure even heat distribution. Regular cleaning is therefore essential.
Cleaning the burner tray
The burner tray, the part underneath your grill grates, often collects grease and marinade residue that ends up there despite the flame guards. To prevent damage from burnt-on dirt, you should regularly check whether cleaning is necessary. For frequent grillers approx. 1-2 times a month, for occasional grillers approx. 1 time per season.
- Preparation
- Remove the grill grates and flame guards.
- Place a bucket of water under the opening of the grease tray.
- Rough cleaning
- Remove coarse residues with a suitable scraper.
- Push the residue through the opening into the bucket.
- Thorough cleaning
- Use a grease cleaner for stubborn incrustations (make sure it is compatible with the material).
- Use a brass brush, a sponge and small scrapers for the fine work.
- Rinse the pan with warm water.
- Leave the grill lid open so that everything can dry thoroughly.
Clean the burner
A clean burner is a prerequisite for perfect grilling results. Over time, grease and food residue can build up on the burners, which can impair performance and negatively affect the taste of the food. Here's how to clean your burners effectively - we differentiate between bar burners and infrared burners:
Cleaning bar burners
- Remove the burner: Remove the fixing screw or retaining clip and take the burner out of the holder.
- Cleaning:
- Cleaning the inside: You can thoroughly clean the inside of the burner using a special burner brush or a bottle brush. A compressed air compressor can also help with stubborn dirt.
- Cleaning the outside: Brush the outside of the burner with a grill brush.
- Check the air supply: Clean the small grille on the air supply through which the burner draws the necessary oxygen. Spider webs or other impurities tend to collect here.
Cleaning the infrared burner
- Self-cleaning: Leave the infrared burner to burn for a few minutes after grilling. Most residues will burn off by themselves.
- Manual cleaning:
- Remove: Remove the burner from the burner tray.
- Cleaning: Carefully brush the burner with a soft brass brush. For stubborn dirt, you can shake out or tap the burner or clean it with a compressor.
Free burning the gas barbecue
Free-burning, also known as pyrolysis, is an effective method for removing stubborn dirt from your gas grill. The high heat completely burns off food residues, grease and other organic residues.
Why free burning?
- Deep cleaning: Removes even stubborn dirt that cannot be removed by normal cleaning.
- Prevents unpleasant odors: Burns off residues that could cause unpleasant odors at the next barbecue.
- Protects the barbecue: Regular cleaning extends the life of your barbecue.
When should you free-burn?
- Before first use: To form a protective layer on the grill grate and prevent unpleasant odors.
- After the barbecue season: To clean the barbecue thoroughly and prepare it for the next season.
- In case of heavy soiling: If the barbecue is heavily soiled, it may be useful to free-burn in between.
This is how free-burning works:
- Preparation: Make sure that the barbecue is at a safe distance from flammable materials.
- Light the burners: Light all internal burners and set them to the highest level.
- Heat up: Close the lid and allow the grill to heat up until a temperature of over 300°C is reached.
- Light the outer burners: Switch the outer burners to the highest level as well.
- Leave to burn: Leave the barbecue burning until there is no more smoke. This usually takes about 20 minutes.
- Allow to cool down: Allow the barbecue to cool down completely before cleaning it.
Free-burning is a simple and effective method to thoroughly clean your gas barbecue. The high heat removes even the most stubborn dirt!
Cleaning the grease drip tray
The grease drip tray is an indispensable element of every gas barbecue. It collects grease, marinades and other liquids that are produced when barbecuing. Regular cleaning of this tray is not only important for hygiene, but also for safety when barbecuing.
Cleaning the grill grate - step by step
Cleaning the grill grate is an important part of grill maintenance. Here we explain how you can clean your grill grate effectively and gently and why cleaning the grill grate is so important:
Why is cleaning the grill grate so important?
- Hygiene: Less bacteria grow on a clean grill.
- Taste: A clean grill rack prevents old food residue from being transferred to the new food.
- Longevity: Regular cleaning extends the service life of your grill grate.
How do I clean my grill grate?
- Burn out:
- Immediately after grilling: Heat the grill to maximum heat.
- Pyrolysis: The high temperatures burn off fat and marinade residues.
- Smoke development: As long as smoke is rising, the process is not yet complete.
- Brushing: As soon as the smoke subsides, brush the grids with a suitable brush.
- Clean according to material:
- Cast iron grates:
- Brass brush: Use a brass brush to avoid damaging the delicate surface.
- Oiling: After cleaning, rub with heat-resistant oil.
- Protective spray: Non-stick sprays protect against rust and make it easier to remove food from the grill.
- Important: Avoid harsh cleaning agents and don't be afraid to oil the grates regularly.
- Stainless steel grates:
- Stainless steel brush: Only use stainless steel brushes to avoid scratches.
- Soaking: For stubborn stains, you can soak the grates in warm water with washing-up liquid.
- Important: Do not use steel wool as this can cause scratches.
Cleaning the outside of the gas barbecue
Cleaning the grill housing - for a brilliant result
Cleaning the grill housing is just as important as cleaning the internal components. A clean housing not only looks better, but also contributes to the longevity of your barbecue.
Why is it important to clean the housing?
- Aesthetics: A clean barbecue looks neat.
- Hygiene: Grease and dirt can be transferred to the food.
- Corrosion protection: Regular cleaning prevents rust formation.
How to clean the grill housing:
- Allow to cool down: Allow the grill to cool down completely before you start cleaning.
- Clean according to material:
- Enameled or powder-coated surfaces: Use a mild household cleaner or a special barbecue cleaner.
- Stainless steel: Clean with a stainless steel cleaner and then polish for a shiny finish.
- Glass panes: Remove grease stains with a damp cloth or glass cleaner.
- Stubborn stains: For stubborn stains, you can use an oven cleaner or stove cleaner.
- Drying: Dry all surfaces thoroughly to avoid water stains.
Cleaning tips:
- Microfiber cloth: A microfiber cloth is ideal for removing dust and light soiling.
- Protective gloves: Always wear protective gloves when cleaning.
- Regularity: Clean the housing after every barbecue or at least once a month.
Keeping your barbecue clean for longer
There are a few simple tricks to keep your barbecue clean for longer. A weather protection cover is a great investment because it protects your barbecue from dirt, leaves, insects and the elements such as rain and sun, which significantly extends its service life.
There are also a few things you can do while grilling to significantly reduce the amount of cleaning required. When indirect cooking, an aluminum tray helps to catch the liquid that escapes so that it does not run into the burners. When grilling directly, you should wipe off any excess marinade from the meat before placing it on the grill rack to avoid dripping. Sure, certain dishes like pulled pork make more of a mess than steaks or sausages, but in the end it's the enjoyment that counts.
