As winter comes to an end, we are beginning to approach the best season of the year! Yes, you guessed it, grilling season is upon us! To get the most out of your meals, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to help you prepare your grill, and maintain it throughout the summer.
Psst..if you need some inspiration for the BBQ this summer, check out our recipes!
Start With A Thorough Cleaning
Before the grilling season starts, get ready to roll up your sleeves and show your grill some love with an extensive cleaning.
Start with your grill burners. Remove the cooking grids and sear plates and then detach the burners. Clear any blockages through the burner slots and brush the tops of the burners. Once the burners are cleaned, check all of the burner ports to ensure that they are open.
Next, use a spatula to scrape grease from the inside of the base, all the way down towards the drip pan. Remove the drip pan and use hot water mixed with soap. Finish, and replace the tin foil grease catcher.
Sear plates and cooking grids should be washed with hot soapy water to remove any discoloration or grease splatters. Once everything is dry, Use a soft cloth and, following the grain of the stainless steel, rub in some stainless steel protector.
Lastly, be sure to pull out the grease trap and dump out anything left from the previous year. For an easier clean-up next year, line your grease trap with some sturdy aluminum foil.
Inspect All Hoses and Feed Tubes
Once your cleaning is done, visually inspect all hoses and feed tubes on your grill. It is essential for a grill that has been sitting for many months without being used to have its hoses inspected before the grill is ignited. Taking this step is essential as hoses can catch fire if not inspected properly.
Begin by checking the hose from your propane to your burners, and make sure it’s intact and clean. If there’s any build-up on the hose, be sure to clean it off before starting your grill. Immediately replace your hose if it has any holes or tares.
Look for any scratching and punctures on your feed tubes. If anything is damaged, have it replaced right away.
Test Your Burners
Before you get to cooking, turn on your grill, light it up, and let it burn for a few minutes. Watch to make sure all the burners are firing and there are no leaks.
A leak test should be performed any time your grill has been in storage for a long period of time, or when you are changing any components on your grill. Follow these steps to perform a leak test:
- Make sure all grill burner knobs are in the OFF position and the propane tank is turned to OFF before testing. Testing should always be done outdoors, in a well-ventilated area and away from any ignition sources.
- Mix a 50/50 solution of water and liquid dish detergent. Put the mix in a spray bottle.
- Then turn the propane tank valve ON to pressurize your system.
- Spray the soapy solution onto the gas valve, hose, and regulator. Stand back and visually inspect all the places where the solution was applied. Soap bubbles will instantly form and grow if there’s a gas leak in any of the components. No bubbles means that there are no leaks. If bubbles DO form or you smell gas, turn the propane tank off immediately and contact an LP gas cylinder supplier.
A clean, well maintained grill makes delicious food! Here’s a few hot tips to help you keep that grill in tip top shape throughout the summer!
Summer Grill Maintenance
Every cookout:
- Preheat your grill completely every time you turn it on. This cleans and disinfects your gas grill.
- Brush cooking grates to remove residue and give yourself a clean cooking surface.
- Turn up the heat on your grill to maximum after you remove the last of the food. This burns off all the drippings and grease in your grill.
- Cover your grill as soon as it has cooled down. Protecting your grill from outside elements keeps it from rusting and becoming dirtier than it needs to be.
Every 10 cookouts:
- Clean cooking grates and barriers above the burners and below the grates.
- Brush out the inside of the grill into the drip pan below. Clean out or replace the grease drip pan.
- Put everything back and fire up the grill, letting it heat up for about 10 minutes or until there is little to no smoke coming out of the grill.
You are now ready to get grilling! Try out one of our delicious lamb recipes to start your summer off right!
