How to Clean an Outdoor BBQ Grill — Toronto Home Guide

A clean BBQ cooks better — residue from previous cooks creates flare-ups, uneven heat, and off-flavours. A quick clean after every use and a thorough clean once or twice per season keeps the grill in good condition for years.

After Every Use — Grate Clean

1. After cooking, while the grill is still hot, use a long-handled wire grill brush to scrub the grates — the heat loosens stuck food and makes it brush off easily
2. Brush in the direction of the grate bars, covering the entire cooking surface
3. Turn off the burners and close the lid for 5 minutes to let residual heat burn off remaining debris
4. Once cooled, wipe the grates with a folded piece of paper towel — this picks up any loose wire bristles (a safety check to ensure no bristles are on the cooking surface)

Alternative to a wire brush: crumple a large piece of aluminum foil into a ball and use tongs to scrub the hot grates — effective and eliminates wire bristle risk.

Seasonal Deep Clean

1. Remove the grates and soak in a large bin of warm soapy water for 30 minutes — scrub with a stiff brush, rinse, and dry
2. Remove the burner guards/flavourizer bars and clean the same way
3. Use a putty knife or grill scraper to remove built-up carbon from the inside of the hood and firebox — scrape into the drip tray
4. Remove and empty the drip tray — rinse with hot soapy water
5. For gas grills: use a soft brush to clean the burner ports (the small holes) of any blocked debris — clogged ports cause uneven heating

Exterior

• Stainless steel exterior: wipe with a cloth dampened in soapy water, then dry in the direction of the grain
• Painted steel: wipe with soapy water and dry immediately — leaving painted steel wet causes rust
• Cover the grill when not in use — a fitted cover protects against weather and significantly reduces cleaning frequency

Seasonal Storage (End of Season)

• Perform a full deep clean before storing for winter
• Coat the grates lightly with cooking oil before storage to prevent rust
• Store with the cover on in a sheltered location, or bring indoors if possible