Should I wash my grill and if so, why? How to clean the grill? Washing a grill with non-removable panels Washing a grill with removable panels What if you didn’t wash it right away? How not to wash your grill? Prevention
A classic grill is essentially a roasting pan. It is used to cook dishes over coals. Electric, gas and wood burning devices are also popular.
Sometimes it is believed that grill, barbecue and barbecue are practically the same thing. It is not right. There are two fundamental differences:
- The grill has a lid so the food is heated on all sides, allowing for more cooking options. In grills and barbecues, heating occurs only from below.
- In the grill, dishes are cooked according to the “high & quick” principle, quickly and over high heat. In other devices - “low & slow”, long and over low heat.
In a grill, unlike a grill and a barbecue, you can use all the main methods of heat transfer: thermal radiation, convection and conduction.
How to clean the grill?
First of all, you need to turn off the electric grill and wait for the surface to cool.
Under the working panels there is a grease tray - a grease receiver. It must be cleaned during the washing process. The mass in it is poured into a garbage bag. Then the tray is washed with water to which detergents have been added. Finally, dry it.
There is a popular way to remove the remaining dirt in the pan: remove it with paper napkins. Then the grease receiver is washed with a soft, soapy cloth made of natural fabric. It turns out quickly and inexpensively, and the result is no worse.
Grill sink with fixed panels
In an electric grill with non-removable panels and a tray, the grease trap is removed and washed first. If there is none, then you must first remove the remaining fat and oil that has accumulated under the grate with a paper towel.
Next, use a sponge with detergent to clean the grill itself. Instead of a ready-made solution from the store, you can use vinegar, salt and soda. Then the working panels are washed. Finally, wipe the device dry with a soft cloth.
Grill sink with removable panels
If the panels in an electric grill are removable, then the washing rules are, in principle, similar to those given above.
The list of operations and their sequence are presented using the Polaris PGP 1802 grill press as an example:
- Turn off the device and wait until it cools down completely.
- Remove the working grids. Wash them in warm water and soap. If desired, place in the dishwasher. The washing procedure is according to the instructions, based on the fact that the panels are made of aluminum alloy.
- To remove food residues stuck to the grates, use the included plastic scraper. It is made in the form of a comb, which makes cleaning the profile surface easier. You cannot use it on hot panels - it will melt. If necessary, you can use a soft brush.
- Remove the pan and drain the fat from it. Wash with soapy water, dry, and put back in.
- Dry the panels and put them in place.
- Wipe the housing with a dry or slightly damp cloth.
Removing the grilles is easy - just press the latches. To return the panel to its place, you need to insert the grooves into the hooks on the body, and then press it until it clicks.
Means for washing barbecue grills
Household chemicals
Barbecue outdoors is a favorite form of recreation for people. When this event is held at the dacha or in a rural house, there are no problems with how to clean the grill grate at home. Usually they use traditional dishwashing detergent, such as “Fairy”, “Gala”. They are in every kitchen. Since sprays and gels perfectly break down fat, this procedure does not take much time. The only condition is not to leave the process for another day, do it quickly. Dried remains of meat and sauce are difficult to wash off.
Coca Cola
Soda is perfect for cleaning equipment in the field.
It’s more difficult when you need to wash the grate from carbon deposits in nature. A reliable way is to use a carbonated drink such as Pepsi or Coca-Cola. Usually they are stocked up for recreation, and one 1.5 liter bottle should be saved for washing the grill or skewers. A barbecue is placed in a plastic whole bag, a drink is poured, tied, placed in a place where no one will step on or tear it, and left overnight. In the morning all you have to do is rinse it, maybe in the nearest body of water.
Incandescent or oven
There are even simpler ways to get your grill in order - heat it over a fire. Any remaining meat and sauce will burn. The problem will be to clean the scale from the rods. This can be done at home using dishwashing detergent. At the dacha or in the village, you can use the oven for the same purpose. If you put the barbecue in the grass overnight, all you have to do in the morning is wipe it down. But the dew must fall, otherwise this technique makes no sense.
Soda and vinegar
It is recommended to leave the lattice in the mixture for several hours.
If it happens that you don’t have any detergent at hand, you can use the available products that are available in every home. Take a wide container to fit the grill, put it there, fill it with water, add baking soda and vinegar. You can pour and sprinkle by eye. Let soak for 1-2 hours, then wash. Wipe with a kitchen towel to prevent rust.
Ammonia solution
Ammonia also perfectly breaks down fat. It is often included in a car first aid kit. Place the grid in cellophane, pour a bottle of product into it, tie tightly, and leave overnight. In the morning, rinse in the nearest body of water. If this is not the case, then lubricate the grill with any available detergent - liquid, laundry soap, give it time to soak, then wash it in the usual way.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=GwEK0Q8ssvU
What if you didn’t wash it right away?
There are no ideal people. Therefore, it happens that the grill is not washed immediately after use. And then - you have to cook something again, but it’s dirty.
Metal grates can be washed with vegetable oil. To do this, you need to heat the panel so that the food remains turn black, and then remove them with a scraper. Then take a special brush and clean the surface. Then saturate a paper towel with vegetable oil, but not too much: if it is oversaturated, the oil will start to drip and smoke will appear. Use this towel to lubricate and clean the grate. Finally, close the grill lid and warm up the device for a few minutes. That's it, you can cook!
If there are residual food odors, to remove them, wipe the work surface with a vinegar solution (2 tablespoons of vinegar per 1 glass of water).
We study the design, choose a method
Structurally, an electric grill can be made in one of two options. The difficulty of cleaning carbon deposits depends on the design.
Based on the degree of difficulty of cleaning, the structures are rated as follows:
- Grill pan;
- a classic grill with a metal grate, in which the grate panels can be removed;
- device with non-removable lattice panels.
In the latter case, it is most difficult to clean all surfaces, since many hard-to-reach places remain. The design may include a fat receiver (as, for example, in Redmond grills), but there are also options without this part. To understand how to quickly clean your grill, read the instructions.
Do not begin cleaning your grill without making sure the appliance is unplugged. Otherwise there is a risk of electric shock.
How not to wash your grill?
To avoid damaging the device and harming yourself, you must not:
- Start the process before the plug is removed from the socket.
- Wash the device while it is hot. Let it cool first.
- Wash the grill with running water. Liquid will leak between the body parts and get inside. Major components and parts will be damaged. Also, do not wash the removed panels with running water to avoid damaging the contacts.
- Place the washed grille in place until it is completely dry.
- Use abrasive detergents. Solid particles destroy the non-stick layer. The same applies to metal jaws; the coating suffers from contact with a more durable material.
- Draining dirt from the grease trap into the sink will quickly clog the siphon. It's better to scrape it into a tight bag, tie it and throw it in the trash.
Well, of course, you cannot neglect cleaning the electric grill every time after you cook something on it.
Types of gas stove grates
Before you understand how to clean the grate on a gas stove and choose one of the proposed methods, you need to carefully study the instructions for the device to find out for sure what material this part is made of. The grate of a gas stove can be metal, cast iron or steel; for each there are at least 5 effective ways to clean carbon deposits.
Cast iron grate
They are distinguished by their strength, heavy weight, and durability. The main advantage of a cast iron grate on a gas stove, which can be cleaned at home, is its reasonable cost. Such a cast iron part retains heat remarkably well, but, most importantly, does not sag under the weight of pots or pans. However, cleaning the cast iron grate on a gas stove will require some effort. Remember that prolonged exposure to water and scraping off fat with sharp objects or strong abrasives will negatively affect cast iron and lead to peeling of the material.
Enameled steel grille
Made of durable metal coated with special enamel. They have a lot of advantages:
- aesthetics;
- ease;
- water resistance.
You can clean such an enameled gas stove grate from grease and carbon deposits using a brush with soft or medium-hard hair. It is also not contraindicated to use household chemicals. Strong abrasive products are not contraindicated for cleaning the gas stove grate from gas deposits at home. Nevertheless, you should not get carried away with them, otherwise the life of the product will be significantly reduced.
Stainless steel grid
Experienced housewives will confirm that this material is the most durable. Such a gas stove grate can be washed without fear under running water or cleaned with a brush using even the most caustic detergent. It is stainless steel that is chosen by manufacturers of modern gas stoves as a material for grates. There are more than 5 best ways to help clean such a grate on a gas stove quickly and efficiently.
We study the design, choose a method
Structurally, an electric grill can be made in one of two options. The difficulty of cleaning carbon deposits depends on the design.
Based on the degree of difficulty of cleaning, the structures are rated as follows:
- Grill pan;
- a classic grill with a metal grate, in which the grate panels can be removed;
- device with non-removable lattice panels.
In the latter case, it is most difficult to clean all surfaces, since many hard-to-reach places remain. The design may include a fat receiver (as, for example, in Redmond grills), but there are also options without this part. To understand how to quickly clean your grill, read the instructions.
Do not begin cleaning your grill without making sure the appliance is unplugged. Otherwise there is a risk of electric shock.
How to clean an electric grill from carbon deposits
For one method of cleaning the device, thick liquid soap . Hardware stores sell special sprays, including Amway and Schumanit. They clean oily surfaces well.
Photo 1. Spray for cleaning surfaces from grease. Suitable for stoves, electric grills, dishes.
The main disadvantage of these products is their chemical composition, which makes it necessary to thoroughly rinse the surface of the electric grill after using them.
Important! The best way to protect against burning is vegetable oil. Lubricate the panel, and then after frying you will not need to scrape off stuck food. Otherwise, you will have to use cleaning products.
In addition to cleaning products, you will need a soft sponge and dry towels.
Basic cleaning requirements
The grill must be cleaned regularly after cooking to remove food residues from the surface of the grates and the product is ready for the next use. It is also necessary to wash the external surfaces of the grill, on which residues of soot and fat also remain.
Along with the use of special cleaning products, it is necessary to use a special metal brush, which will remove product residues from the most inaccessible areas and clean them of carbon deposits. For easier and better cleaning, it is recommended to heat the surfaces to be cleaned, which will melt the fat and make it possible to remove it along with food residues. This is especially true when cleaning electric grills.
At the final stage of cleaning, steam cleaning of surfaces is used to remove residual grease. When cleaning electric grills, it is necessary to take into account that in most cases the surface may be covered with a non-stick layer and when used for cleaning metal brushes and brushes, it may be damaged.
Types
In addition to species diversity, there are types of grills. According to this division, devices come in the form of a zigzag, two circuits and turbo. Let's look at each type in detail.
Regular zigzag
The grill affects the entire grate, and equally on every centimeter. Products can be placed throughout the entire area and not be afraid that they will not be baked. For cooking, you can use both regular baking sheets and frying pans or various forms.
For cooking, you should use the upper levels, and place a baking tray underneath so that fat accumulates there. This method will protect the bottom of the oven from contamination. Large pieces of meat can be roasted on a spit. They will taste like food cooked over coals.
With two circuits
The grill consists of two heat elements: small and large. The small one is located in the center, and the large one is located around the entire perimeter. The heating elements are located at the top of the oven. To prepare a modest dish, only a small grill is used; if the entire grate is occupied by food, both are turned on.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the features of the small grill. When using it, the middle section of the heater turns on. This provides the lower temperature needed just to achieve a crispy finish.
It is important to remember that the dish should be placed exactly under the grill, otherwise it will not cook completely. The small grill is perfect for making toast, hot sandwiches, frying sausages or pizza
Cleaning the inside of the barbecue
To clean the inside of the barbecue, it must be washed with a weak soap solution, after removing the used coals and ash. The entire surface is washed with a foam sponge, and then wiped with a clean, dry cloth and allowed to dry well. To protect the interior and make cleaning easier in the future, you can place heavy-duty foil on the bottom of the barbecue.
If you've ever grilled, you know the feeling: when you try to place food neatly, but it sticks to the grate and breaks. The result is a mess, and the appearance of the dish leaves much to be desired. However, knowing a few little secrets of masterful handling of the grill, you can forget about food sticking to the grill once and for all.
The tips are surprisingly simple. There are only 3 of them. Remember, your grill should be:
- clean
- food sticks to an uncleaned grate. Make it a habit to clean your grill before each use. - greased with oil
- a small layer of vegetable oil will make it easier to remove fried food from the grill. - hot
- the grill grate should be hot before you place food on it.
If you strictly follow the above conditions, then all 3 stages can be completed in a few minutes. With this technique, you can leave the grill uncleaned after grilling and wash it right before using it the next time. Now let's look at the cleaning process in more detail:
