How Do I... Clean My Barbecue?
Outdoor entertaining season is almost upon us, which means it's time to get your barbecue back in top shape
Nothing says Aussie summer more than a meal cooked outside on the barbecue. But in order for your burger to taste its best and to prevent dangerous flare-ups, your barbecue needs to be free of grease and grime. Michael Heanue, outdoor living category manager at Bunnings, reveals how to clean and care for your outdoor cooking surface.
Step-by-step cleaning guide
- Turn off and disconnect the gas.
- Remove the tray from the barbecue and scrape off excess fat. Thoroughly wash the tray in hot soapy water. Wear rubber gloves to do this so you can use water that’s hot enough to cut through grease and fat.
- Clean the grills by scraping away any excess fat and baked-on food, and then giving them a good soapy wash. Do both sides to make sure you get rid of any fat that might have dripped underneath.
- Before putting the grills back, give the barbecue body a clean with hot water, soap and a scouring pad.
- Wipe the grill plates dry with a paper towel and spray both sides with canola oil to protect them.
- Add some fresh fat absorber to the drip tray – this highly absorbent mineral minimises flare-ups and odours. It should be changed every 10 or so times you use the barbecue.
Keep wipes handy
Barbecue wipes are a handy way to keep the barbecue looking good between big clean-ups. Just a quick swipe and you can remove grease and grime before it settles in.
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Barbecue wipes are a handy way to keep the barbecue looking good between big clean-ups. Just a quick swipe and you can remove grease and grime before it settles in.
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Know your cooking surface
Cast iron: Cast iron is a great cooking surface as it holds heat well. However, as a porous metal it can absorb water quickly and rust if not cleaned properly. After using your cast iron cooktop, pour a thin layer of cooking oil over the top of it so that it remains oiled at all times.
Tip: Clean a cast-iron cooking surface before rather than after use, so that the grease acts as a surface protector.
Stainless steel: Clean your stainless-steel cooking surface with hot soapy water, just like the exterior.
Cast iron: Cast iron is a great cooking surface as it holds heat well. However, as a porous metal it can absorb water quickly and rust if not cleaned properly. After using your cast iron cooktop, pour a thin layer of cooking oil over the top of it so that it remains oiled at all times.
Tip: Clean a cast-iron cooking surface before rather than after use, so that the grease acts as a surface protector.
Stainless steel: Clean your stainless-steel cooking surface with hot soapy water, just like the exterior.
How to clean a public barbecue
If you’ve decided to enjoy a barbecue at the park, be sure to take the right equipment with you so you can get the cooking surface clean before use. As most public barbecues are stainless steel, barbecue wipes should the job. For tougher grime, use a safe-scrub brush and some cooking oil; wipe down with a paper towel after use.
Image: Bunnings
If you’ve decided to enjoy a barbecue at the park, be sure to take the right equipment with you so you can get the cooking surface clean before use. As most public barbecues are stainless steel, barbecue wipes should the job. For tougher grime, use a safe-scrub brush and some cooking oil; wipe down with a paper towel after use.
Image: Bunnings
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Did you find this story useful? Tell us in the Comments section below. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to like, bookmark or share this story. Join the conversation.
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Browse cleaning stories
The tools you will need include:
- A long barbecue scouring brush (if you have an enamel barbecue, use cleaning brushes with safe-scrub technology that won’t damage the surface)
- A barbecue cleaning scrubber
- Large barbecue wipes
- Rubber gloves
- Fat absorber cleaning agent
- Large aluminium trays
- A storage bin for washing (we recommend 54-litre size)
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