Keeping Your Grill Clean

•To keep dust and grime from baking during the grillingprocess, wipe off anything that has accumulated on the hoodbefore turning on the grill.

•Put peanut oil in a spray bottle, then spray the grates ofthe grill before turning on the heat. Peanut oil will notburn off the grates as easily as other oils. In addition,it will not only prevent food from sticking to the grates,but it will also make cleanup easier.

•As soon as you pull food off the grill, scrape the grateswith a long-handled, brass-wire bristle brush (can bepurchased at most hardware stores). Spray the grates againwith peanut oil. Brass bristles are important because theyare made of a soft material that won't scratch the grates,especially if the grates are coated with a nonsticksurface. A metal grate scraper will scratch the grates.

•To keep a grill looking new, wash it once a month withwarm soap and water or a non-abrasive household cleanser,then spray a small amount of silicone lubricant on thehousing. Wipe off the excess with a cloth. This will keep ashine on the housing. Also, cover it with a grill coverwhen it is not in use.

•If the grill gets too greasy, use a nontoxic degreaser toclean the grates and housing.

•If the housing of the grill gets scratched, spruce it upwith spray paint for grills.

•A good tip for gauging the level of propane in your jug isto pour hot water on it. Because propane is a cold gas,condensation will appear on the bottle and reveal the levelof gas in the bottle.

•Barbecue sauce or dipping sauces that contain sugar andtomato should be put on toward the very end of cooking orafter the food is removed from the grill.

•When you cook something, let it sear before you flip itover during the cooking process. If you turn it too soon,it will leave a residue on the grill.

Richard Myers
www.TheGrillingCoach.com