So, you've bought a brand new BBQ and cooked on it and found out after the first time it is dirty & greasy. How can you keep it clean? Well, if your a real clean freak I know of people who remove the grids, after each cooking & soak them in the sink or wash them in the dishwasher! After a period of time this novelty will wear off which means that a build up of grease will occur.

What you should be aware of is that the cooking grids have grease on them but the vapour bars also need to be serviced simply get a wire grid brush down the vapour bars so that the drippings get into the grease tray. Remember to empty & clean out the grease tray so it doesn't build up and catch on fire. Every week or two I like turning all the burners on high and letting the BBQ run at 600° F. At this temperature any grease on the cooking grids quickly will vaporize & burn off resulting in a sterile cooking grid. Remember to turn the grid over upside down and clean off the residual for a really complete job.

The best tool I've ever used to remove or flip the cooking grids of any manufacturer is the Broil King Genius Grid Lifter Item #50750. Once you buy this lifter you'll wonder how you ever got by without it. It makes removing cast iron grids simple & safe. Remember to use a pair of BBQ safety mitts to protect your skin against an accidental burn. Both of these are musts for safety and to ensure that deposits are removed without injury to you!

Other BBQ Maintenance

Remember if you have an electronic ignition system, although a time saver and real convenience, it can be affected by moisture & cold temperatures. If you are going to use your BBQ through the winter months, make sure you use your cover and keep it on during the rainy months of October, November and into December. If you aren't going to use the BBQ during the winter months remove the battery usually located under the push button. This will prevent the BBQ from leaking acid and causing damage to the electronic circuits inside. The electrodes in the oven or cavity could use a cleaning with a wire brush or sand paper and check for a bright blue spark when you depress the button. If the gap is too close or too far away the spark will not be as hot and spark will be orange or weak.

Sometimes the electrodes need to be changed if you have difficulty lighting you grill. If the porcelain coating gets cracked then the spark will try to jump to ground before the electrode where ignition takes place!

Spider and Insect Alert!

Every year we get 1 or 2 people scared to use their grills as they report fire shooting out from under the control panel. While this is a frightening situation to people as it is unnerving it can be explained. This is called a flashback fire which is caused by a blockage in the venturi tubes leaking to the burner. See image below for using a venturi brush to do regular maintenance on your venturies. Some BBQ's use an iron or bronze burner with many small holes. The Grill Pro or Grand Cafe BBQ's are one manufacturer that use these burners. Regular maintenance requires that the burners be removed and the holes cleaned out with a coat hanger or some people use a drill bit on a battery drill. Be careful not to enlarge the holes as this can cause your grill to dangerously over heat.

Consult your BBQ manual for correct maintenance procedures pertinent to the model you bought. Also make sure if you are using propane gas to turn the tank off when you are finished using the grill. On natural gas models a safety shut off valve should be shut off which is near your grill. This will prevent little fingers from playing with your BBQ and accidentally turning the gas on!

Have a safe & fun summer entertaining on your BBQ grill.