Whether you have a charcoal grill, pellet grill, or gas grill, cleaning the grates after every cook is best. Once you remove your food from the grill, let the coals burn or heat run for another five minutes. Then, use a brush to scrape any food particles from the grate.
If you’re using a charcoal grill, you’ll need to remove the ashes after every cook. Each grill varies. First, wait for the coals to burn out completely. You can speed up this process by closing the vents to suffocate the oxygen.
Most grills have some sort of grease pan that collects the drippings while you’re grilling. Be sure to check it after every few cooks. It’s important to empty it to avoid overflow and fire as it starts to fill up.
Once your grill components have been cleaned, it’s vital to reassemble everything in the proper order. Start by adding the grease collector back. All you have to do for charcoal grills is add the grill grates back inside.
The outside of a grill will get dirty, too. Wipe it down with a rag with warm soap and water if it’s only covered in dust or light debris.
It’s a good idea to double-check the accuracy of the grill temperature and check that all the burner tubes are secured and unclogged.
After all that work, protect your grill by keeping it covered. Covering a grill will protect it from elements like wind, rain, and dust and help it last longer.