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Grate Cleanliness

Dobie
Dobie Posts: 3,354
edited July 2014 in EggHead Forum
Let me start off saying I'm not judging but more curious how much effort is put into keeping the grates clean? Coming off gassers with CI grates my MO was to scrub well while hot with a couple different brushes until all visible food remnants are gone. Only some grease remained and on CI that's good. Maybe 3 times a year I pull them completely off and scrub with soaped Brillo. Now with the egg and SS grate I don't scrub it much on the grill as the grate slides around and bangs the sides of the egg. Now I clean off before my next cook and if the previous cook left it pretty crusty I give it a good Brillo and soap action. It doesn't have to be spotless but pretty clean. Sooooo I see lots of pics around the web of cooks and see some grates that look terrible with cooks just beginning. Again I'm not judging just curious what the consensus is. It's not like commercial BBQ joints break down their equipment and make it look like new, the little I have seen on those commercial units is quite the opposite. APL preaches to keep the grates super clean and to even use only a clean portion when flipping. I made one of his steak recipes last night and it left the grates heavily soiled (lots of marinade, glazes etc. ) so I can see where he's coming from. Anyway what says you?
Jacksonville FL
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Comments

  • DaveRichardson
    DaveRichardson Posts: 2,324
    Why scrub off flavor?

    LBGE #19 from North GA Eggfest, 2014

    Stockbridge, GA - just south of Atlanta where we are covered up in Zombies!  #TheWalkingDead films practically next door!

  • Wolfpack
    Wolfpack Posts: 3,551
    My WS brush has a wire side for the big stuff and a Brillo type side that gets the smaller stuff. Past that I figure the fire will kill the little nasties
    Greensboro, NC
  • SteveWPBFL
    SteveWPBFL Posts: 1,327
    Brush after every meal, clean burn as needed.
  • Dobie
    Dobie Posts: 3,354
    Why scrub off flavor?

    For those who do not have a cooker dedicated for the same meat, seasoning etc (like say a commercial operation might just have a unit for briskets) I doubt I want last nights high temp steak cook remnants on today's L&S pork butt. The meat, fuel, wood and seasoning are where I expect the flavor to originate. Again if you notice no difference carry on, just trying to see who it matters to or not and why.
    Jacksonville FL
  • Tjcoley
    Tjcoley Posts: 3,551
    I always let the Egg stay hot for 10-15 minutes after taking off the food.  Burns up any left over food.  Scrape the grid before the next cook. 
    __________________________________________
    It's not a science, it's an art. And it's flawed.
    - Camp Hill, PA
  • Scrub hot grid with ball of aluminum foil. Thats about all I do.

    Little Rock, AR

  • mcmac
    mcmac Posts: 496
    I clean off the grate with foil if it is still in fairly good shape. However, after a long low & slow, I pull the grate and give it a good deep cleaning. 
    I have a friend who clean the inside (walls and all) of his Traeger grill after every cook... way too over the top for me, but his grill looked like brand new after years of use.
    XL BGE -  Med BGE - Mini BGE - Traeger Pellet Grills

     Hillsboro OR
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    I haven't poisoned or killed anyone yet. >:D<
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    When someone posts food porn on a grid...I notice grate cleanliness like I notice King Kong. :-\"

    image
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • henapple
    henapple Posts: 16,025
    Aluminum foil. It's been discussed here before but be careful with the wire brush. Google grill brush surgery. Not worth the chance.
    Green egg, dead animal and alcohol. The "Boro".. TN 
  • NPHuskerFL
    NPHuskerFL Posts: 17,629
    My CI grid stays on the egg most of the time. Heat it up, scrap off the crusties w/ scraper/brush tool and roll w/ it. Same on the SS grid. I don't go crazy with it. Heck most of the time the heat alone gets rid of most of it.
    LBGE 2013 & MM 2014
    Die Hard HUSKER & BRONCO FAN
    Flying Low & Slow in "Da Burg" FL
  • bettysnephew
    bettysnephew Posts: 1,188
    I throw the grate on after the coal is burning sufficiently to maintain itself.  Let it sit in there while doing the preheat to desired temp and then give it a thorough going over with a commercial stainless brush.  It has substantial sized bristles and gets discarded when there appears to be a possible issue.  It looks like one of the brushes that is used to remove paint from siding on a house but the bristles are stainless.  It takes a long time to wear one out.  I would not trust the fine gauge brass bristled ones I see in the BBQ stores.
    A poor widows son.
    See der Rabbits, Iowa
  • I leave the grid on while the egg cools, so it gets an hour or more after a cook of heat. That dries out any remnants.

    Then before I put on the next cook, I hit it with a brush or scraper, just to get the pieces of. 


    1 LBGE in Chapel Hill, NC
  • HDumptyEsq
    HDumptyEsq Posts: 1,095
    I continue the heat after the cook for a while to turn everything to carbon. Before the next cook I brush it all into the lump. Seems like a form of recycling to me.

    Tony in Brentwood, TN.

    Medium BGE, New Braunfels off-set smoker, 3-burner Charbroiler gasser, mainly used for Eggcessory  storage, old electric upright now used for Amaz-N-Smoker.

    "I like cooking with wine - sometimes I put it in the food." - W. C. Fields

  • Botch
    Botch Posts: 15,429
    I leave the grid on while the egg cools, so it gets an hour or more after a cook of heat. That dries out any remnants.

    Then before I put on the next cook, I hit it with a brush or scraper, just to get the pieces of. 


     
    That's what I do too.  I do paint the CI grate with oil on a paper towel a few swipes if I'm grilling fish or portobellos.  
    _____________

    "I mean, I don't just kill guys, I'm notorious for doing in houseplants."  - Maggie, Northern Exposure


  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    edited July 2014
    OK - I'll admit I do clean mine from time to time. Mostly before inviting non-egger friends who "in their minds" would be offended in seeing what most of us consider highly acceptable! Once they become eggers themselves then we often have a good belly laugh about clean grills!
    image
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
    RRP said:

    OK - I'll admit I do clean mine from time to time. Mostly before inviting non-egger friends who "in their minds" would be offended in seeing what most of us consider highly acceptable! Once they become eggers themselves then we often have a good belly laugh about clean grills!

    image
    Wow, that looks brand new!
    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    edited July 2014
    That Easy-Off really does the trick - just make sure you wear gloves and spray it outside! BTW I just cleaned this today and I know in this case this was the first cleaning I have done of this one in over 3 years! Did you see my clean up pictures of my SmokeWare cap and what Easy-Off did for it?
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    edited July 2014
    RRP said:
    That Easy-Off really does the trick - just make sure you wear gloves and spray it outside! BTW I just cleaned this today and I know in this case this was the first cleaning I have done of this one in over 3 years! Did you see my clean up pictures of my SmokeWare cap and what Easy-Off did for it?

    imageimage
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
    @RRP Thanks, Amazon needed more of my money... On the way.
    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
  • I dont even bother cleaning my grid for the small. Its cast iron and seems to self clean. image

    Little Rock, AR

  • Dobie
    Dobie Posts: 3,354
    @RRP that easy off is on my list for this weeks stuff I got to get. Less muscle and more chemistry.
    Jacksonville FL
  • RRP
    RRP Posts: 25,880
    DMW said:
    @RRP Thanks, Amazon needed more of my money... On the way.
    ??? Amazon for Easy-Off? I just bought that can at Kroger yesterday for $5. BTW read the warnings and never spray it on aluminum nor galvanized metal either. One of the active ingredients is lye and trust me that stuff burns your skin! Also stay upwind when you spray - it is nasty!
    Re-gasketing America one yard at a time.
  • smbishop
    smbishop Posts: 3,053
    Same as many posters above.  I also have a water spray bottle that I use when brushing once the grid has heated up...  I use CI 99% of the time..
    Southlake, TX and Cowhouse Creek - King, TX.  2 Large, 1 Small and a lot of Eggcessories.
  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
    RRP said:


    DMW said:

    @RRP Thanks, Amazon needed more of my money... On the way.

    ??? Amazon for Easy-Off? I just bought that can at Kroger yesterday for $5. BTW read the warnings and never spray it on aluminum nor galvanized metal either. One of the active ingredients is lye and trust me that stuff burns your skin! Also stay upwind when you spray - it is nasty!

    Thanks for the heads up. Adult beverages and mobile Amazon and this forum = impulse purchases. Not sure what I'll use it for...
    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
  • cazzy
    cazzy Posts: 9,136
    DMW said:

    RRP said:


    DMW said:

    @RRP Thanks, Amazon needed more of my money... On the way.

    ??? Amazon for Easy-Off? I just bought that can at Kroger yesterday for $5. BTW read the warnings and never spray it on aluminum nor galvanized metal either. One of the active ingredients is lye and trust me that stuff burns your skin! Also stay upwind when you spray - it is nasty!
    Thanks for the heads up. Adult beverages and mobile Amazon and this forum = impulse purchases. Not sure what I'll use it for...


    Lol. How much did you pay for it?
    Just a hack that makes some $hitty BBQ....
  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 18,727
    What do you mean clean the grid? I wasn't aware it was necessary to do that. That's like washing the soles of your shoes to me.

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • MaskedMarvel
    MaskedMarvel Posts: 3,136
    .... Different definition of dirty....
    Large BGE and Medium BGE
    36" Blackstone - Greensboro!