4 Steps to Keeping Your Charcoal Barbeque as Clean as a Whistle
Nothing beats having everyone over for a barbeque on a hot summer's day, but you need to make sure that yours is well taken care of if it's going to last as long as possible, especially if you're using charcoal. To keep your grill as clean as can be, just follow these four tips.
1. Heat Her Up
Most people think that you need to clean a grill after you're done with the cooking, but that isn't always the best way. Instead, turn up the heat each time you start your barbeque, putting nothing on the grate for at least five minutes or so.
This will help burn away most of the food stuffs that have become adhered to the grate. Everything else will be softened up, so brush the grate down with a long-handled brush. Brushes with stiff-wire bristles are ideal; if you don't have one, trying use a piece of balled up aluminium foil held between a pair of tongs.
2. Oil Her Up
If you're going to be cooking with anything that has already been oiled, you can skip this step, otherwise, make sure you apply some oil after you brush the grate but before you start cooking. This will help prevent any food from becoming stuck.
Of course, you should never apply the oil directly. Instead, dip a piece of wadded paper towel in a little oil, then, using tongs, wipe that piece of oiled paper towel evenly over the grate. You don't need to use too much; a little will go a long way.
3. Empty Her Out
It's easy to put off removing the ash once you've sat down to enjoy your meal, but leaving it in there can be a big mistake. Ash actually collects moisture, and when those two things come together you're left with a congealed substance that can take a lot of elbow grease to scrub away.
To make the task easier, just keep a large bucket next to the barbeque. You can then simply dump the ash into it when you're done. You should also opt to use lump charcoal instead of briquettes; they create far less ash.
4. Keep Her Covered
This is one of those tips that sounds incredibly obvious but is actually missed by a whole lot of people. Simply put, you need to cover up your grill when it isn't being used, so always opt for the cover accessory if it doesn't come as standard. If you've picked up a barbeque without getting a grill cover, find one.
Leaving your grill uncovered will only leave it exposed, even if you keep it tucked away somewhere. The elements can cause significant rusting, something that might necessitate a whole new barbeque.
The rich, smoky flavour of charcoal can come at a cost if you don't properly maintain the grill, so make sure you keep these tips in mind. For more information, talk to a professional like Outdoor Living.
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