Warmer days mean grilling season is back! But wait, don’t light those burners just yet. Some of you die-hard grill masters have no doubt been grilling straight through the Winter, but for most of us, the grill has sat un-loved for months now. At Southwest Appliance in Durango, Colorado, we know the importance of a good grill. Here’s what you need to do to get yours ready for the season!
Safety First: You’re Playing With Fire
Cold winter months can crack hoses and weaken connections. Before firing up your grill do a thorough inspection of the hose. Try brushing your gas line with soapy water. When the gas is running, any cracks will produce tiny bubbles. If you find any signs of tearing or cracking it’s worth the few dollars to just replace it. Make sure your connections are tight and be sure to clean your line of any residue. Greasy lines can and will catch fire.
Top to Bottom Inspection
It’s important to give your grill a good once over before you start cooking. An exposed grill can have rusted parts. Even if your grill was covered all season you’ll still want to check for any bugs or pests that may have wintered there.
Get to Cleaning
Your gas grill has a whole lot of parts. Remove the grates and get to cleaning. If you have some serious build up you can try this easy DIY grill cleaning solution: To a clean spray bottle add one part white vinegar to one part water and spray down your grill's interior. Let the solution soak in and do its job for about an hour. Most residue should wipe off easily after this. Clean grill grates with a good wire brush, any tubes, and hoses with a pipe cleaner.
It’s a Trap!
Remember that grease trap under your grill? Yeah… we didn’t think so. Pull it out now. If you forgot to clean out the grossness from last year you can soak this overnight in the same solution you used to clean your grill. Water and vinegar. For extra build up ad in a bit of baking soda. To make this task easier next year wrap your grease trap in heavy duty aluminum foil.
Burn Baby, Burn
Once your grill is as clean as you can get it with scrubbing power, put back together and completely dry, it’s time to turn up the heat. Turn your burners to high and close the lid for about fifteen minutes. The high heat will serve the same function as your oven’s self-clean feature and ensure that anything left after cleaning is burned off. Re-brush if necessary.
Check Your Flame Color
Blue fire with yellow tips. That’s what you’re looking for here. The pro’s at This Old House warn that an all yellow flame won’t cook as effectively. If your flame doesn’t have a multi-colored hue it could mean that there isn’t enough pressure coming from the fuel tank. Turn your burners off, check all the connections and tighten them up. Turn the flame back on slowly. If that doesn’t work, it could be a sign that your burner ports have gotten wider over the years. It might be time to replace them.
Oil Up
Grates and other parts may have gathered some rust over the cold winter months. Give them all a light coating of oil or cooking spray. Not only will it help prevent further rust, but it will also help to prevent your food sticking while cooking.
Looks Matter
The final step. Not to be shallow, but looks do matter. That is when we are talking about the exterior surface of your grill. You can use soapy water to remove any debris or smoke stains. If your grill has stainless steel trays be sure to use stainless steel cleaner and a soft terry rag. Paper towels can scratch your stainless surface. Always clean with the grain.
Now you're ready for the official start of grilling season! Come by Southwest Appliance in Durango, Colorado for all of your appliance needs, and share your favorite grilling recipe in the comments below. Happy cooking!