Weekend barbecues have always been a tradition, and keeping a grill at home always ready for use is essential. It doesn’t matter if you’ve spent under $200 or more than $1000 on your grill. You want to keep that grill for years so you avoid buying a replacement, which would cost you money.
This is why you need to make sure that they are maintained, kept in good condition, and most definitely protected from rust.
Rust is probably one of the greatest problems grills face. It usually shows up in metallic objects that have been exposed to external environmental conditions such as heat, rain, and more. And since grills are mostly made of steel, they too are susceptible.
It doesn’t matter if your grill claims to be high-quality and rust-proof because if you don’t care for it, chances are high it will get rusty. Rust will then have a corrosive effect on metal, making it unusable, and eventually, it will be a waste of your money.
So, how do you prevent your grill from rusting? Follow these tips below:
Avoid Pouring Directly On Your Grill
Grilling would often involve lots of sauces. However, it’s highly recommended to avoid pouring sauces directly on your grill, as this can go directly on the burners and clog them up. Plus, this will be hard to remove and might cause them to get rusty.
Instead, brush the sauce on the meat to give them the flavor you want. Or, you can already brush the meat or marinate them overnight already before putting them on the grill.
Keep The Grill Clean
It’s always the number one rule when it comes to maintaining any equipment to keep them clean. For grills, you need to clean them every after use. Many people skip this because it takes a lot of work, but if you want to prevent your grill from rusting, it’s needed.
Cleaning a grill can be simple.
For gas grills, make sure to clean only after it has cooled down. Then, simply brush the grates with a steel brush to remove any food residue. If you think the residue is stuck on the grate, you can immerse that first in warm water before brushing it off. If you see some particles clogged on the burners, remove them by using a bristle brush.
As for charcoal grills, you want to clean them while they’re still hot. Sprinkle some water over the grates before scrubbing the grill to remove food residue. After that, wait for it to cool down to remove ashes and leftover fuel.
Do a Deep Clean
Cleaning your grill after every use is essential. However, doing some deep cleaning every once in a while is something your grill will surely appreciate.
It’s almost the same as the cleaning you do every after use. However, it involves a thorough inspection of every part of your grill.
Start by removing the grates and soaking them in hot water with baking soda and mild soap. This will help loosen the residue sticking on the grates, so it’s easier to brush off. Let the grates stay immersed for an hour, brush them, and then wipe with a wet cloth to ensure no residue is left.
Next is the burners. We try to remove every residue falling off the holes of the burners every after use. But, if possible, you can also wipe down the burners. After that, proceed with the drip trays and give them a thorough cleaning, too.
For the grills’ surface, simply use warm water, a sponge or damp cloth, and a gentle soap to get rid of any dirt in the interior and exterior of the grills.
Dry Your Grill
This is a crucial part of the cleaning process. Leaving your grill still wet or with even a bit of moisture left will make it more susceptible to rusting. So, make sure to check every corner where water might retain.
You can use a soft dry cloth, paper towels, or tissues to wipe every inch of the grill’s surface to make sure that there’s no moisture left. Or, to make things easier, if you’re cleaning a gas grill, turn them on for 10-15 minutes so that the water may evaporate.
Oil Your Grill
We season grills before we use them. This is to burn off any manufacturing chemicals left and ensure that it is at best condition before using it. However, that’s not the only moment you should season your grill.
It’s also important to oil or season your grill after cleaning it. Simply brush some vegetable oil on the grates so that it won’t retain moisture; thus, preventing rust from coming through.
This is most important to do for steel grates. However, if you have porcelain-coated grates, then it might not be as necessary.
Cover Your Grill
Throughout the barbecue season, we love to place our grills outside so that it’s ready for use every time we want to grill. However, leaving your grill outdoors will leave them exposed to environmental factors like moisture that may lead to rusting.
So, if you want to leave your grill outdoors, make sure to cover it. You can buy a cover made specifically for your grill on the market. You can also just find any tight-fitting nylon or vinyl cover, but it must be the right size so that no moisture can come in.
Move Your Grill Indoors
We understand if you want to keep your grill outdoors while it’s still barbecue season. However, if you have a portable grill, you might want to consider moving them indoors when summer is over. This way, you can really protect them from seasonal changes like heavy rain or snow. Also, note that even if it’s already moved indoors, keep the grill covered.
Recap
As you can see, cleaning and maintaining grills is not as hard as we think. Yes, it takes time, but the return is worth it, especially if it means that you’ll be enjoying more barbecue weekends with your family for years.
The seven tips above are really helpful when it comes to dealing with rust. But besides that, these steps also ensure that your grill stays on top condition every time you’re going to use it.
Remember, regardless if you spend little or a large amount of money on your grill, it’s still an investment. And you need to make sure that you’re always getting your money’s worth.
