In summer, the barbecues heat up as much as possible. After having prepared your meats and other grilled meats, it is essential to go through the "cleaning" box to preserve your equipment and prevent it from becoming a nest of germs. A few easy tips and tricks can help you do this.
The grates are one of the main elements to clean on your barbecue. There are several techniques to achieve this, the first and simplest being to bring a steel or brass brush and scrub with hot soapy water. In case the grease resists, the combination of vinegar with baking soda is unstoppably effective. Another grandma technique is to use onion. Cut it in half and rub it vigorously on the still hot grates. You will see, your barbecue will find a second youth.
It also happens that your grates are only slightly dirty because you have only prepared a small amount of meat. In this case, the use of newspaper will be useful to you. Rub them with the crumpled paper, it cleans and shines at the same time.
Above all, do not waste aluminum foil by spreading it on the grids, thus avoiding the chore of cleaning. It will interfere with the proper cooking of your meats and vegetables and will inevitably pierce, which will dirty the grids. In addition, on the flavor side, your preparations will lose the little grilled flavor.
The task looks a bit more complicated when it comes to a gas or electric barbecue. The ideal is to systematically carry out the operation after each grilling. Start by heating the grates so that all the fat melts. Then clean the bottom of the cooking tray, removing the remaining grease and residue. Wearing gloves, remove the briquettes then clean them using the mixture of baking soda and water. In the case of lava stones, it will suffice to wipe them with a paper towel. It is not advisable to wash them with soapy water, due to their porosity.
On gas barbecues in particular, pipe cleaning is also necessary. After unplugging them, clean them with soapy water. Make sure they dry before putting them back in place. Before storing your barbecue, remember to install a protective cover to protect it from rain and therefore rust.
Do not skip the cleaning of your accessories so that they are operational from your next barbecue. Spades, knives, tongs… immerse everything in a basin filled with hot soapy water and use a metal sponge to scrub. Each part of the various accessories must be cleaned with care, including the handles which very often have ugly grease stains. The advantage is that unlike grids which are often too big, you can put your accessories in the dishwasher. Opt for a long program. Fat is known to be a tough substance.
