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CartHere’s How to Get Your Outdoor Appliances Ready for the Season
Whether you stored your grill in a shed, under a cover, or left it exposed all winter, you’ll need to do some prepping and cleaning before your first cookout. If you have an outdoor kitchen, you’ll need to give your appliances some TLC before your first patio party. Here’s some tips to get a jump on your backyard entertaining season.
Cleaning Tools & Materials
The cleaning methods may differ for different outdoor appliances, but the tools and materials used will apply to most. Here’s what you’ll need:
How to Clean a Grill
Aside from the fuel source, grill cleaning and prep is much the same for both propane grills and natural gas grills. Charcoal grills don’t have a burner assembly, but the process for cleaning the grates and the outside housing is the same. Here’s how to clean your BBQ for the summer.
Start with the Housing
Fill your bucket with warm, soapy water and sponge down the lid and the outside of the grill. Remove any smoke and food residue from last year and use steel wool to scrub out any tough stains. Remove any carbonized grease from inside the lid with your paint scraper, grill brush, and a strong degreaser, then soap it down and allow to dry. Rinse the outside with a hose and dry it with a cleaning rag. You can use high-heat spray paint to touch up any bare spots, and stainless steel cleaner to buff your grill to a sparkle.
How to Clean Grill Grates
Remove the grill grates and flavourizer bars then use your grill scraper and grill cleaning brush to remove any leftover seared-on food. A fine-edge paint scraper will help with stubborn particles. Once complete, give the grates a good scrubbing with grill cleaner spray and steel wool, then rinse them down with the hose. Eco-friendly grill cleaners are also available.
How to Clean Grill Burners
Inspect your grill burner tubes. If you see a lot of rust or damage you might want to consider replacing them with new burner tubes. Clean the tubes with your grill brush to remove any scaling, taking care not to push any debris inside the burner ports.
Final Clean Up
Inspect the inside of your grill for any rust spots and scrub them out with your grill brush. Empty out the bottom grill tray then scrape off any stuck-on debris. Replace the flavourizer bars and grill grates, shut the lid and turn the grill on high for 15 minutes to burn off any remaining residue. Check your propane hose and regulator for any leaks.
How to Clean Smokers & Pellet Grills
After a summer of heavy use and winter sitting idle, your smoker will benefit from a good deep cleaning. Here’s how to do it:
Do a Clean Burn: Move your smoker away from any fire hazards, then load the basket and light the fuel with the vents wide open for 15 minutes. Once complete allow the smoker to fully cool.
Wash Thoroughly: Use soap and warm water to clean the outside housing, then scrub the inside with grill cleaner and a strong degreaser.
Get Rid of the Rust: Use your grill brush to remove any deep rust or pitting, then finish up with steel wool. Spray over any bare or cracked exterior surfaces with high-temperature paint.
Calibrate Your Thermometer: Insert the stem of your thermometer into boiling water and check if it reads the correct boiling point for your elevation (about 100°C). Adjust the nut at the back of the thermometer until it reads the correct temperature.
Re-Season: Wipe down all interior and exterior surfaces with lard, beef tallow, or another high temperature cooking oil, then build a fire and run your smoker at 175°C for a few hours.
How to Get Your Outdoor Kitchen Ready for Summer
Getting your outdoor kitchen ready ahead of time will help you make the most of the spring season. In addition to sweeping the floor and wiping down the counters, you’ll need to check, prep and clean all of your outdoor appliances. Here’s a quick rundown of tasks.
Power Up: Turn on the breakers that feed your outdoor electrical outlets and test the power supply. Plug in your stove, fridge, range hood and other appliances
Turn on the Water: Turn on your outdoor water valve and inspect the lines to your outdoor kitchen for leaks.
Built-In Grill Check: Scrub off last year’s residue from the grates and burners and test your gas hose and regulator for any leaks. Spray the exposed grill top with degreaser and use a non-scratch scrubbing pad to clean off the stuck-on bits. Fire up the grill and give it a dry run before inviting over guests.
Range Hood: If your range hood has a mesh filter, soak it in soapy water to break down the grease. For a ventless range hood, replace the charcoal or activated carbon filter. Clean the outside and underside of the duct with mild dish soap to remove grease and soot. For models with a centrifugal fan, clean the fan blades in your dishwasher.
Refrigerators & Keg Fridges: Wipe the inner surfaces with a soft cloth and a warm water-baking soda solution. Be sure to rinse out the interior after cleaning. For white or black models use a mild all-purpose cleaner. For steel units, stainless steel wipes offer a quick and easy way to clean the exterior.
Dishwasher: Remove any gunk and food from the drain which can cause clogs and bad odours. Place a bowl of vinegar on the top rack and run a hot water cycle to help loosen up soap scum, stuck food bits and grease from the walls and racks. Use a mild all-purpose cleaner on the exterior.
Preparing your outdoor grill and appliances is part of getting ready for summer. It’s not the most fun part, but with a little time and the right tools and materials soon you’ll be kicking back and enjoying great meals with friends and family.
