How do you clean your grates?

Davec433 · December 2015

Saw this online and thought I'd try it out. A cheap yellow onion with a fork as a handle.

theyolksonyou · December 2015

Labrador

bgebrent · December 2015

Occasional scrape with some aluminum foil. Mine never look very clean.

westernbbq · December 2015

as said by Beavis: "Fire, Fire, Fire, FIRE!" Hot heat, scrape clean the next day, spray with some PAM cooking oil to prevent rust.

Carolina Q · December 2015

NM

DMW · December 2015

Bring them in the shower with me.

Jupiter Jim · December 2015

I use that secret stuff that comes from lump charcoal burning in close proximity below the grate! Then a wire brush. It's a cooking grid don't over think it. I have read here where some put them in the dishwasher but that is not for me as I'm lazy and take the easy way every time.

Hungry Joe · December 2015

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/a6/z5omh9bjwst9.jpg

NPHuskerFL · December 2015

IPA & Bourbon urine. The crusty's don't stand a chance!

Davec433 · December 2015

westernbbq said:

as said by Beavis: "Fire, Fire, Fire, FIRE!" Hot heat, scrape clean the next day, spray with some PAM cooking oil to prevent rust.

That's how I used to do it on my gasser. This is the first time I've cleaned my grates.

NPHuskerFL · December 2015

All joking aside. Mostly cleaned by heat alone. & occasionally I use the Woody on MM & Woody Paddle on LG.

lousubcap · December 2015

I use the heat from the lump and if I have some deep crud then I will use a paint scraper to remove.
Regarding wire brushes-there have been a few posts of someone ingesting a bristle from a wire brush that found its way on to the grid and then food. Not a pleasant recovery. Just reinforces the paint scraper tool of choice. FWIW-

Biggreenpharmacist · December 2015

I always cook on my cast iron grid and usually just heat it up and scrape it with my ash tool. If its really nasty I use a ball of aluminum foil.

bud812 · December 2015

What is this clean of which you speak?

theyolksonyou · December 2015

bud812 said:

What is this clean of which you speak?

Seriously, what the dog doesn't get, burns or sticks to the next cook.

Thatgrimguy · December 2015

First a ball of tinfoil then an onion. Ditched the wire brush over a year ago.

DoubleEgger · December 2015

I've been using a welders wire brush. I bought this at RD the other day. Works great

Chubbs · December 2015

I have never cleaned mine. Seriously.

SteveWPBFL · December 2015

Golden Retriever, foil ball, and hose gun it off to remove foil flecks. NO wire brush, google for why.

FarmerTom · December 2015

Thanks for this thread. Hadn't considered the possibility of a stray steel bristle. Not a pleasant thought. Will toss my brush and swipe a scraper from the shop or use the ash tool. I only remove the large chunks anyway, if any are left after the dog finds her way into the grilling shed. Always figured a little residue added flavor and the heat took care of sanitation.

DoubleEgger · December 2015

SteveWPBFL said:

NO wire brush, google for why.

That's why I use the heavy wire brushes. You'll definitely see the wire if it happens to come off. They are in a different league than the cheap-o BBQ grill brushes.

JethroVA · December 2015

Clean? I only scrape the big chunks off occasionally. Seriously.

Mickey · December 2015

DaveM · December 2015

I put mine in my Viking Grill and blast it. That way, my Viking can participate in the cooking as opposed to just watching. Then, hit it with oil to protect it.

Anyone have any good ways to clean the top vent? Mine is brutal to open/close.

wbradking · December 2015

@DaveM Put it in the egg as you shut it down and it will take care of that.

Jeepster47 · December 2015

Wooden Scrapstation Grill Scraper and this style of non-bristle brush:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/zt/dd3n257z8xpt.jpg

Skiddymarker · December 2015

Old school, I use a Billy Bar.

4Runner · December 2015

I'm a wire man. Just knock off the chunks and then on the grill it goes.

StillH2OEgger · December 2015

Skiddymarker said:

Old school, I use a Billy Bar.

Two votes for the Billy Bar. Foil also works well.

MaC122 · December 2015

just cook it off? is that bad?

Jeepster47 · December 2015

@MaC122 ... cooking it off is good also. But, after a pork butt low-n-slow, some of the butt is left attached to the grill. If I turn up the temp to burn off the residual, I'll most likely forget to shut it down after 15~20 minutes and the rest of the lump will go up in flames ... literally. Can't wait for the next cook either, 'cuz it might be a low temp cook again.

The wooden scrapper is surprisingly good at removing the big chunks ... kind of a custom formed Billy Bar. The down side is that you need one for each grill rod diameter/spacing. Not too bad if you've only got OEM and CGS grills.

The non-bristle brushes take care of the smaller stuff. Buy the brush with removable pads and the result is a very inexpensive system.

How do you clean your grates?

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