Grate Cleaning Tips?

[ClayJones]

Hey y'all! So, I've gotten tired of waiting for the weather to turn (seems like the Starks were on to something smh..) and am kicking off BBQ season at my house effective immediately! Thus, I've got a lot of cleaning to do. Any tips on cleaning the grates from my smoker/grill? (Lang/Webber Kettle if it matters) I'm trying to get them as clean as is reasonably possible for a motivated backyard pitmaster! I figure there has to be a better way than what I normally do which is to go out there with a wire brush and some dish soap and scrub like I'm trying to avoid capital punishment. Tried searching but wasn't finding much.. Thanks!

[Attjack]

I find a hot grate and wet wire brush does a good job of steaming the grates clean.

[Rod]

I use Dawn and let them soak over night. Then use some cheap scotch brite pads to basically wipe them down. You still have to scrub a bit depending how clean you want them. The soaking really helps for the majority of gunk to just wipe off.

[Willard]

I stopped in my tracks when you said some cheap Scotch. I was like ‘dang. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you have to abuse it’.

[Rod]

I think you may have a problem...

[Willard]

I know. I don’t even drink scotch.

[adamcoe]

Yeah I just soak in the hottest water I can get from the tap for an hour or so, then use an SOS pad to scrub clean, doesn't take long at all. Or worst case, if they're truly nasty, new grates are only like 25 bucks lol.

[ClayJones]

ha! I'm with you on just getting new grates. Problem is I think I'd need to get the grates for my Lang from the man himself and that doesn't seem quick or cheap! For the Webber though... We'll see. lol

[Steve R.]

I'm with you on the new grate for the Weber. Eventually, it becomes more trouble than it's worth to clean it. As for the smoker, I would take a power washer to that one. Or one of those self-serve car washes, if you have one close by.

[Randy-Phx]

I take mine to the self serve car wash. It takes about $7.50 to clean the smoker grate and jerky racks. I felt it was cheaper than buying a pressure washer.

[Donw]

I do all of the above and some judicious power-washing to start the season off right. I also use wadded up aluminum foil, which for me, does a great job too.

[holehogg]

Learnt the foil trick here and it works. I heat my grates over fire and then rub with foil. Works for me.

[ComfortablyNumb]

Generally I don't sweat the sides and bottom of a grate, I clean the top before use with The Ringer. If you need to do a serious cleaning, hot soapy water and a stainless steel wool pad do a fine job. But even then, it doesn't have to sparkle and be clean enough to perform surgery on. Remember, the grill is going to be subject to high temperature before the food goes on. As Rod said, soaking will help.

[HawkerXP]

so, you bring in a ringer. nice.

[Hulagn1971]

I use the ringer on my CI pieces, never thought about it on the grates.

[ClayJones]

Ooh I need one of these Ringers. Almost got one the other day but I couldn't remember the name and did remember that there was a particular one that was good and a lot that ain't.

[Attjack]

My last step is to wipe it down with oiled paper towels. That never fails to get some residual black gunk off which I prefer to not end up on the food.

[Greatplainsbrewer]

I use a water heater pan with either simple green/water or PBW overnight soak

[Attjack]

Good call on the water heater pan. I'm going to have to get one.

[Spinaker]

I just use a power washer. Blasts it right off!

[surfdog]

Same. It’s quick & painless.

[ClayJones]

Thanks y'all! Lots of great suggestions and I'm probably gonna do em all. Just made a quick call and it looks like I can even borrow a power washer... These grates are gonna be spotless! Will almost be a shame to get food all over em…

[PBCDad]

The expanded metal grates on the big stickburners are a huge pain to clean. I've really wanted to replace mine with stainless steel bar grates, but that is real expensive ($300 for carbon steel). If anyone has a good recommendation for a brush for expanded metal, let me know.

The methods I've used before is the wire brush on hot grates, soak in simple green, and a fire extinguisher. I got a water extinguisher to both clean the grates (cheap power washer) and protect against fire. The one I got is kind of a pain to pressurize though, so I don't use it as much as I hoped.

[ClayJones]

Sure are. Super PITA. That's what I have in my smoker and it's the whole reason I asked to begin with.

[RonB]

For grates that are small enough, turning a plastic trash can lid upside down works for soaking.

[HawkerXP]

I've seen someone mention getting the water heater drain pan to soak your grate.

[Johnny Big Time]

Wow!! Everyone here wants spotless grates. I've never cleaned grates on my grills. Right after your done cooking, hit the grate with a stiff nylon brush to knock the big crap off, done. Washing them in soap, water, other cleaners removes the seasoning and flavor.

[adamcoe]

Johnny Big Time: I feel like "not being dead yet" isn't really a high bar to set as far as food safety...obviously I'm not scrubbing my grills to sparkling every time I use them; the vast majority of the time a good brushing and a rub with half an onion is more than enough...but the post was about busting out a grill for the first time in the season, which is a very good time to clean your grates.

[adamcoe]

And you can't possibly tell me that the amount of grime or residue on the grates of a bbq pit has anything to do with the flavor of the food coming out of it. If you went to a bbq restaurant and saw their pit, there would probably be some level of stuff on it because it gets used every day...but I assure you that at any reputable place, they are cleaned regularly.

[binarypaladin]

That's about the extent of my cleaning. I scrape both sides and then brush. I tend to clean them once the food is off while I still have coals going. I hit the tops with a dry paper towel after particularly greasy cooks. If I can't see grease coming off (which doesn't take a lot of work) I'm pretty comfortable about it not getting on my food next time.

I actually pay more attention to the lid. Letting the flakey stuff fall on food is much worse than the grate.

[Bighorn Dave]

When we purchased our MAK 2 Star directly from the factory in Dallas Oregon, I recall their BBQ Guru Bruce mentioning soaking grates and flame zone in a solution to assist in the cleaning process. I don't recall exactly what that solution is but if anyone here knows, that may be worth a try. I've sent a request to MAK Grills asking if they can jar my memory. If they do I'll share their recommendation here. I think it had something to do with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and hot water but ???? Though I'd mention it in case it jarred someones memory.