How to prep your BBQ for Spring!
What better way to get you in the mood for the fast approaching warm weather, than pulling your BBQ out of hiding and getting it ready for BBQ season!
Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as firing it up and cooking up a storm after 6 months of no use. Even if you’ve covered your BBQ well over Winter, it’ll still need a bit of TLC.
Food certainly isn’t the only thing to prep before a barbeque, below we advise how to prepare your grill for sizzling success!
We discuss:
- Deep cleaning of all parts – interior and exterior
- A damage / safety check
Let’s get to it!
A deep clean is essential!
Grill grates
It makes sense to start with the grill grates. We don’t want to risk the grates having food residue, mould, and rust or dust left on them when cooking as this could be unhygienic and compromise flavour. We suggest removing the grates and placing them into a container of hot soapy water. Let them soak for a few minutes before scrubbing them using a wire brush or grill brush to remove any debris or residue.
If this is proving difficult in stubborn areas, we recommend you creating a paste of baking soda and water, applying it to the grates and leaving it to soak for a few minutes. Continue to scrub off.
Interior
Before cooking, the interior of the BBQ should be disinfected. Remove any remnants of food and dust using a brush to scrape. We suggest you remove the flame tamers and also soak and scrub until clear.
Use a soft cloth and Whistler 3in1 spray to clean the inner hood, making sure you follow the grain of the steal to avoid scratches.
Remove the drip tray and use kitchen roll to remove the oily residue. Once most of this has been removed, clean the drip tray with hot soapy water. We suggest using a sponge to do so to avoid scratches.
Exterior
Although the exterior of a BBQ isn’t used for cooking, it’s still important to disinfect and clean. Afterall is has been exposed to the wonders of the outdoors (including bird poop!) that could easily be transferred to the inside of the grill when opening and closing your grill.
We recommend using a damp microfibre cloth and Whistler Grills range of cleaning products to clean the exterior. Once sprayed and clean, we suggest you use a dry cloth or towel to buff your barbecue to prevent water marks and leave a lovely shine! Good as new!
Signs of damage
Whilst cleaning, it’s wise to check over the components for damage such as proper function of the hood, handles, the cart drawers and doors, and wheels.
Further inspections include:
- Inspect the gas lines and gas bottle for signs of damage, wear or leaking (cracks, leaks, loose connections)
- Check the burners (including rear burner) and igniters
- Check all lighting is working – LED lights, cooking surface lights
Many brands offer warranties that may cover any damage you have, so don’t be afraid to get in touch with them.
It’s important to know whether you have a potential gas leak. A leak test should be performed every time the gas is disconnected and reconnected. You can perform a small leak test yourself by placing some soapy water on the gas connections including the quick disconnect coupling, the tank and the connection between the orifice and control valve. If you see bubbles forming, it usually means there’s a gas leak. If this is the case, close the gas supply valve, tighten all connections, and test it again. Of course, do not proceed to use your BBQ, replace or repair it before use. You will have been given a user manual when purchasing the product, we highly recommend you read through it in instances like this.
All set!
Once the cleaning and safety checks are out of the way, it’s time to prep the BBQ for cooking. We suggest you warm the grill up slowly (don’t blast it straight away) when firing it up for the first time in a while. Gradually rewarming the metal is the key. Wipe the inner walls with kitchen roll whilst oiling the grates. Continue to heat the BBQ up until the oil has dried, this burns off any remaining grease and residue allowing for tasty and safe cooking! If you still aren’t happy with the standard of cleanliness, let the BBQ cool completely before cleaning it again.
