How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Clean & Maintain Your Grill
Weekends spent with friends and family are the most awaited throughout the week. One of the best options is always an outdoor BBQ session. But the problem arises when you have to do the cleaning afterward. Everyone wants the kitchen and the equipment to sparkle. It is not as easy as it sounds, thus making you struggle for it.
The grill is an essential piece of equipment for any backyard cook. A gas grill can be a fun way to get outside with your family or friends. When the season’s change and the outside grill is no longer an option, it is time to clean your gas grill! A dirty gas grill can actually be a fire hazard, and it will definitely not provide you with the best cooking experience. It provides a lot of options in terms of cooking and flavor but needs to be taken care of properly. Cleaning the grill with oven cleaner will get it back to looking like new so you can keep grilling all summer long.
Cleaning your gas grill is an important part of regular maintenance. Not only does it keep your grill looking nice, but it also helps to ensure that it operates safely and efficiently. There are different kinds of BBQ grills available in the market. And many types of cleaning products available for them. There are many ways to clean your gas grill, but one that has proven very effective time after time is using oven cleaner on the grate and then scrubbing away with steel wool or other abrasive material.
In this post, we will show you how to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner. You need to be careful with this method though because it could damage metal grates or other parts of the interior. This is a simple process that can be completed in just a few minutes. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
What is a gas grill?
A gas grill is a cooking appliance used to cook food. It is a lot like a normal oven, but the only difference between a gas grill and a regular oven is that a gas grill uses fire or natural gas in order to heat up. The different parts of the gas grill are: pressure regulator, control panel, burners, flavorizer bars, grate, burner tube, hoses.
The pressure regulator is attached to the propane tank or natural gas line in order to control the amount of gas being released into the grill. It also regulates the temperature inside the grill so that you do not have to constantly adjust it. If too much heat is -produced, then turn down your stovetop until you are satisfied with the temperature inside of your grill.
Next is the control panel, this part will have knobs or digital controls that allow you to determine how hot your burners are cooking at. Remember that every time you make a change on these knobs, something else will need to be adjusted in order for all components of your grill to function properly… Please note that some grills come with a rotisserie, the rotisserie is a metal rod that you cook animal meat on so that it can be rotated in order to evenly cook all sides of the meat.
The burners are attached to your grill and they allow for heat to come out from inside, they resemble normal stove burners but they have hoses attached to them. These hoses will lead outside of your grill, allowing natural gas or propane (in most cases) to flow through them. it is vital that every part of the burner system is working properly because if something goes wrong with one or multiple parts of this system then everything else will not function correctly either… it’s like taking apart a puzzle piece by piece, once one goes missing….it throws everything else off balance.
Flavorizer bars are a part of the burner system, they resemble a regular cooking grates but have holes in them that allow more heat to escape and go upwards towards your food… this allows for better tasting food because it is usually with intense heat where you find the best flavor.
The grate is what your food rests on as it cooks, through conduction or by convection (most times both) your meat will come into contact with the heating surfaces which will cook it evenly and give it its delicious taste. This is also where flare-ups occur, when grease from your meats drip down onto the flames below and cause them to increase their rate of burning…. If this begins to happen then simply move your meat to a different area of the grates or close the lid of your grill for a short period of time until the flames die down.
The burner tube is, as i am sure you can guess, where your burners are located… it runs vertically from the bottom to the top on most models and can be easily -recognized because it will have holes going along its side. Every gas grill will come with one of these tubes and there should be no problem installing it unless you got a dud on your hands…. But that’s what warranties are made for!
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Now we look at hoses, one hose goes from each burner “tube” outside of your grill so that natural gas or propane can flow through them and heat your burners. If one of these hoses were to go bad, the flames in your grill will diminish and you will not be able to cook anything… so it is very important that all three parts (hose, tube and burner) are functioning properly or else you might as well just call it a day.
Gas grill is a great way to cook your favorite foods
Gas grill are a great way to cook your favorite foods. They provide more control over the cooking process than charcoal grills and they do not give off as much smoke. There are many different kinds of gas grill, such as gas grill run on propane, natural gas or a combination of both. Here we will explore how each kind works and which you might want to choose according to your needs.
Propane Gas Grill: this type of gas grill runs on propane that is stored in a tank outside the grill. The propane flows into the burners and is lit with an electronic igniter to start cooking. Common features include one or more stainless steel main burners, warming rack, removable tray for easy cleaning and side burner for cooking foods like corn on the cob or sausages away from direct heat. Propane grills are best suited for those who enjoy outdoor entertaining and want the flexibility to cook several dishes at once.
Natural Gas Grill: as its name suggests, this type of gas grill runs on natural gas that is- piped directly into your home. While it costs more than propane to run, many homeowners enjoy the convenience of a natural gas grill. It can be difficult to find a professional to install a natural gas line, so you should check with your local municipality first.
Dual Fuel Gas Grill: if you like the idea of having both propane and natural gas available, this type of grill is for you. You simply choose which fuel source to use depending on your needs at the time. A dual fuel grill typically costs more than both single fuel types combined but will provide maximum flexibility for those who entertain often or have specific tastes when it comes to grilling outdoors.
Grills are a great way to provide your family with healthy foods that are delicious. A gas grill is an excellent addition to any household regardless of whether it includes meat-eaters or vegetarians. A gas grill offers much more control over heat than charcoal or electric models, which means it’s easier to cook perfect meats without having them dry out too much.
The flavor of the meat or vegetables you are cooking on a gas grill will never be -compromised by an unpleasant smoky flavor in the same way that they would if you were using charcoal. Gas grills also produce significantly less ash when compared with their charcoal counterparts, so cleanup is much easier!
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Gas grills are able to provide an even cooking surface with no flare-ups or burning, meaning your meats will be tender and flavorful without any of the added fat that comes from using oil. It is also easier to control temperature on gas grills, which means you can get your meat cooked just right without having to worry about overdoing it.
Why should you clean your grill?
Cleaning your gas grill can be a daunting task. The grease that builds up over time not only makes the food taste bad but also causes your grill to have an unpleasant odor, but what happen if we do not clean your grill?
You will not notice maintenance needs:
Cleaning a grill properly is more than just scraping of leftover grease and food. It has also a chance to take a closer look under the hood (or lid?) and make sure that everything is working properly. By cleaning your grill regularly, you will also be more likely to notice any early signs of wear and tear.
Just like everything else, grills do not last forever. They need maintenance. The burners can get clogged or deteriorate, rust can start to eat away at the metal, and hoses/gas lines can crack and age. If you do not maintain your grill, it will end up looking like an eyesore or worse, malfunctioning. You would not want to cook on a dirty grill that was full of clogged burners – right?
Professional cleaning is a great opportunity for regularly checking to make sure that everything is ship shape. A professional knows how to disassemble the grill without breaking it, and can get in the nooks and crannies that you probably were not even aware of. This, along with inspection and maintenance, can significantly extend the lifespan of your grill!
It makes the food taste better
Most people believe that food cooked over flames tastes better than food cooked in an oven. However, do you think grilling tastes as good when food get stuck to the grate? That burnt stuff does not only affect the appearance but also the flavor. Soap and water is really all it takes to give your food that extra special smoky flavor by giving you a clean grate to cook over.
It is healthier to eat
It is easier for carcinogens to find their way into your food if the grate is dirty. And since you like eating healthy – think about it, grilling can be an easy way to get rid of those toxins!
A dirty grill is a breeding ground for bacteria. By failing to clean your grill regularly, you could be exposing yourself and your family to harmful chemicals that are -released when the grease starts to burn. These chemicals include benzene, acrolein, formaldehyde, propanalol, and many more known carcinogens.
This is why a thorough clean, including some disassembly and degreasing, can go a long way in keeping bacteria away from your food.
Grease stains
Not all the grease burns off. Usually, there will be a grease catch near the bottom of the grill. If this is not properly cleaned and maintained, you could easily have an overflow.
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Aside from being a fire hazard, this can end up leaking melted fat and spilling it around your grill. If your grill is on a patio or a concrete slab, this could leave a nasty stain that has nearly impossible to get out.
Cooking with carcinogens
A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that promotes carcinogenesis, the formation of cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes. Several radioactive substances are-considered carcinogens, but their carcinogenic activity is-attributed to the radiation, for example gamma rays and alpha particles, which they emit. Common examples of non-radioactive carcinogens are inhaled asbestos, certain dioxins, and tobacco smoke. Although the public generally associates carcinogenicity with synthetic chemicals, it is equally likely to arise in both natural and synthetic substances. Carcinogens are not necessarily immediately toxic; thus, their effect can be insidious.
Many studies have shown that incinerating meat, especially meats with a higher fat content, produces carcinogens. In particular, PAHs are- produced when amino acids combined with creatine are burned down to charcoal. Amino acids and creatine are naturally -found in high quantities in red meat, especially in fatty pieces. When these greases are- burnt into charcoal in your grill, the resulting smoke loads up your food with cancer-causing PAHs.
You may be grow a mold farm
If your grill is unused for a while, you might be surprised to find some white fuzzies growing in patches all over. This can be really- dangerous!
Mold loves moisture, dark and stuffy places, and grease. This means that, especially if you use a grill cover, you could be creating just the greenhouse conditions that mold is looking for. The key to cutting out possible mold from taking over your grill is by staying on top of grease buildup. This is mold food.
Rodent’s house
Grills make awesome rodent homes. They are the perfect size, dark and quiet. They are also full of tasty, greasy snacks if you forgot to scrub. If you have not used your grill in a while, you might have had tenants. The really- disgusting thing is that rats, mice and squirrels have not worked out indoor plumbing, and they are not known for using outhouses. That means that they leave feces and urine wherever they have been.
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? This is why it has so critical to give your grill a thorough clean before and after every season. You do not want to be smoking your meat with roasting rat droppings. The shocking thing, rats and mice pretty well eat what we eat. When they smell the greasy deliciousness of an entire season’s worth of grilling, it is too good to ignore.
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner?
The process is simple enough. Cleaning a gas grill can be time-consuming and frustrating if you do not know what you are doing. One of the key ways to accomplish this is by using an oven cleaner, which will allow you to get all of the gunk off of your grill with relative ease and help ensure that it’s completely cleaned and ready for use again the next time that you want to cook some food on it. Follow these steps:
- Get Your Grill Ready For Cleaning
Get all of your cleaning materials together ahead of time so that they are easily accessible when it comes time to actually get- started. This means gathering up the following items: baking soda, dish soap (look for one that is non-toxic), a stiff brush (if possible), and an oven cleaner.
- Prepare Your Grill For Cleaning
If your grill has special instructions for how it should be- cleaned, follow these directions rather than the steps below. Instructions may include leaving burners on or off, moving parts into specific locations, etc. If you do not have any instructions or if they’re unclear, then turn all of the burners on to their highest setting with both the lid and the door closed before continuing to clean your grill. This will ensure that you can get at all of the grimy areas without having anything in your way.
- Apply The Oven Cleaner
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Apply oven cleaner liberally and evenly on all of the parts of your grill that you can not clean (i.e. those areas covered by the burners and metal grates). You should also make sure to spray it directly onto whatever is stuck or caked-on, as this will help loosen it up and make it easier for you to get rid of after leaving it alone for a few minutes to work its magic.
- Allow The Oven Cleaner To Work Its Magic
Now leave the grill alone for at least 6 hours or up to 24 hours depending on the type of oven cleaner that you’re using. This will give it time to do its job and eat through all of the grime, grease, dirt, and other gunk that has built up over the course of your grill’s life. You should even be able to see some bubbles forming, which is a sign that the chemical reaction has started and that it’s working as intended.
- Scrub The Grill Clean
After waiting for the time you chose (always allowing the oven cleaner to fully work for this entire period if possible), scrub away all of the parts that you sprayed with your stiff brush or old toothbrush (keeping in mind where everything goes as you clean) and start to rinse it down. Turn on the water and give each grate, burner, and side a good spray, allowing the water to do its job in removing any of these chemicals that are still clinging to the grates after you scrub them with your brush. Wipe everything dry with some paper towels or another rag when you are- done rinsing.
Do not forget about the sides of your grill that also get dirty over time through regular cooking use! Scrubbing off oven cleaner is hard work so do not be afraid to get out your tough cleaning brush for stubborn spots if needed.
- Reassemble The Grill
Once all of the parts have been cleaned, dried, and are sparkling new looking again, you can put the grill back together by reattaching all of its parts and pieces in their proper places. Now it’s ready for another season of grilling and smoking and will look and work like new again!
- Clean The Surrounding Area
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Finally, clean off your surrounding surfaces that were- splattered with oven cleaner or spray from the hose when you rinsed everything down. Use a bit more of the solution on these areas if needed but make sure to rinse them too before allowing them to dry completely afterward. If some oven cleaner got inside your nearby cabinets or onto your floor, give these a good wipe down while you are at it!
Kinds of oven cleaners for a gas grill from popular brands now
- 2-in 1 oven rack &grill cleaner from Carbona brand
Carbona’s 2 in 1 Oven Rack & Grill Cleaner was the top performer in GHI tests and works overnight for a virtually no-scrub cleaning job. The kit contains a large zip-top plastic bag, a bottle of cleaning solution, and some disposable plastic gloves. Just quickly brush off any big chunks of grime and place your grate in the bag. Pour in the solution, seal the bag, swish it around so the grate is- covered with cleaner -like a marinade- and head to bed. In the morning, remove the grates and wipe or lightly scrub them clean. The cleaner is biodegradable, so the dirty solution can be -poured down the drain and the bag disposed of in the trash.
Make sure to place the soaking bag is a spot that’s away from children and animals.
- Oven and grill cleaner from Zep brand
Originally formulated to clean restaurant grills, Zep Oven and Grill Cleaner was a powerhouse in our tests. We let this foam cleaner sit for the required 10 minutes and it took the fewest number of swipes – after the Carbona brand -with a damp sponge to take our burnt-on messes right off. Because it is a foam, it clings to vertical surfaces better than liquids so it makes a great cleaning option for other parts of the grill, like inside the lid. It is strong, so make sure to protect any surrounding surfaces before spraying it.
- Platium power wash dish spray from Dawn brand
This newest launch from Dawn is not just for dishes. Like it eliminates messy soaking of cookware and casseroles, it makes cleaning indoor grills and grill pans a breeze. For grill pans and appliances with removable hand washable grill plates, simply spray on this new Dawn in a sink, let it set a few minutes, wipe clean and rinse. For non-removable plates, spray them carefully in place and wipe and rinse clean with a cloth.
In our testing, Dawn Power wash Spray dissolved hamburger grease burned onto a skillet with ease. That has why it earned our Good Housekeeping Seal. Though it does not claim to clean outdoor grills, we tried it in our testing and it worked like a charm! And once you have the sprayer, all you need is a refill.
- BBQ grill cleaner from Easy off brand
Whether your grates are stainless steel or porcelain, in our tests, Easy-Off BBQ Grill Cleaner performed well on both dissolving burned-on grease. The spray foam clings to all sides of the grates to better penetrate messes. Just make sure you let the formula sit for the full -recommended 40 minutes before wiping or scrubbing and protect any surrounding floor surfaces with newspaper before spraying.
Something we must do and do not for cleaning a gas grill
Do not assume that all oven components can be –cleaned
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Read your oven manual to determine which components are safe for cleaning and which to avoid in order to prevent an oven malfunction. Generally, steer clear of the heating elements on the roof and floor of the oven; cleaning there could scratch the element or, if it’s still warm, cause it to produce a spark or flame. Similarly, take care of cleaning an oven’s flexible gasket (located on the interior of the oven door) to avoid degrading the oven seal that prevents heat from escaping from the oven.
Do not use chemical-based cleansers in self-cleaning ovens.
If you would rather buy than make an oven cleanser, read your oven manual to identify compatible commercial products. Chemical-based cleansers are safe for use in certain conventional ovens but not in self-cleaning ovens, where they might corrode the special enamel coating. Store-bought oven cleansers made of non-toxic, biodegradable ingredients (e.g., Carbona Biodegradable Oven Cleaner, which is available on Amazon) present a safer, more eco-friendly alternative to more toxic, chemical-laden cleansers.
It is not -recommended to use chemical-based oven cleaners in self-cleaning ovens. The heat can increase their toxicity and produce toxic fumes that may cause death without you even knowing it. This includes the “foaming” type cleaners, so if you have this type of oven, do not use any type of cleaner in there. Also keep small children and pets away from the stove when in self-cleaning mode and for one hour afterwards.
Do not use the self-clean feature when you’re on hosting duty.
If your oven is equipped with a self-clean feature that blasts high heat or steam throughout the oven interior to release hardened food remains, consider running a self-clean cycle instead of manually scrubbing it when your oven is heavily soiled. Keep in mind that a self-clean cycle can put your oven out-of-commission for anywhere from half an hour to six hours depending on the model, release burning odors or fumes into the kitchen, or even short a thermal fuse or burn out a heating element if too much heat builds up. So you want to schedule self-clean cycles well before or after hosting big dinners and use it no more than five times a year. To use the feature, run a self-clean cycle according to the oven manual. When the cycle is complete, use a water-dampened rag to wipe loosened debris from the oven surfaces.
Do not use aluminum foil to protect your oven floor.
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Many unsuspecting homeowners line the bottom of their ovens with a sheet of aluminum foil to help catch food spills and avoid sullying their oven floor. But the truth is that aluminum foil can reflect heat or block heat in both electric and gas ovens, leading to undercooked or overcooked food. Worse, it can melt onto the oven floor and permanently damage your oven.
Do choose gentle DIY oven cleansers particularly if you have young children or pets
Boiling water is a gentle way of removing dirt and grease from your oven
Scrub stubborn burned-on food with coarse salt and add bicarbonate of soda to help break it up. Leave overnight, before wiping away with a damp cloth
When cleaning electric elements, unplug the appliance first and wipe over any removable parts while they are still warm, using a soft brush or cloth. Be careful not to get any moisture in the “bubbler” holes on pop-up trays as this can result in malfunctioning of the control panel. Use a wet sponge for stubborn areas only and avoid using harsh abrasives such as wire or metal pads, which will damage the coating.
Non-stick oven trays are easy to clean – just wipe over with warm soapy water after each use. Make sure you dry them thoroughly before putting them back in the oven, however, or even steam will get trapped between the tray and surface of your oven and cause permanent damage. A quick fix is to place a kitchen towel underneath while cooking anything highly likely to steam, such as pies
Clean spills immediately – let food spill on wooden chopping boards and wash up straight away. Mineral deposits from spilled liquids can cause discolouration if left for too long. To remove stains caused by fruit juices, wipe over with lemon juice or vinegar after washing up, then rub in some salt to lift off any residue
Use a gentle oven cleaner to remove grease and stubborn spillages, particularly on stainless steel ovens. Never use an abrasive scrubber or steel wool pad – these will scratch the surface of your oven. As an alternative, you can use salt or bicarbonate of soda mixed with lemon juice to get rid of any baked-on food
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Burned areas on enamel surfaces are difficult to shift but should come off eventually if left to soak for 5-10 minutes in warm water containing a little dishwashing liquid. Rub over the area gently with a soft cloth but do not try to rub it back into the enamel as this may cause permanent damage after several treatments.
Do start with a cool, empty oven.
Before cleaning an oven, turn it off and completely cool it to avoid burning yourself while you scrub. Remove any pans, pots, and oven racks from the oven so that you can easily access the roof, floor, and walls of the unit while cleaning. Likewise, remove any loose food residue or large chunks of food debris from the oven chamber by gently scraping them off with a spatula.
DO pre-soak individual oven components to cut cleaning time
Save elbow grease by applying your DIY cleanser to each individual oven component in advance of cleaning and letting it soak up the cleanser for a period of time. Doing so will loosen the grime and eliminate the need for heavy-duty scrubbing at the time of cleaning an oven. Donning gloves, follow the pre-soak regimen suited for the oven component you need to clean:
Oven racks: Laying the racks side-by-side in an empty bathtub or a large kitchen sink, sprinkle each rack with a one-eighth-inch-thick layer of baking soda, then spritz with vinegar from a spray bottle. When the baking soda stops foaming, fill the tub or sink with enough hot water to submerge the racks, then let them dwell overnight.
Oven walls, roof, floor: Use a gloved hand to spread your homemade oven cleaner over all visible interior oven surfaces, avoiding only the heating elements on the roof and floor. Let the baking soda paste sit in the oven for six to eight hours.
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Oven window glass: Spread any leftover homemade oven cleaner evenly over the window glass on the interior of the oven door. Allow 15 minutes of dwell time.
D0 tailor your cleaning techniques to each oven component.
After pre-soaking each oven component, you’ll need to use different cleaning implements and wiping motions for each component to get them squeaky-clean. Start with the surface that required the least soaking time (i.e., the oven window glass), then move on to the oven chamber surfaces, and finish with the racks, which required the longest soak.
Oven window glass: Using a damp microfiber cloth, wipe away loosened grime on the glass in a unidirectional motion to leave behind a streak-free shine. To remove residual baking soda paste, rinse the window glass with water and wipe dry.
Oven walls, roof, floor: Using a damp sponge, wipe the oven sidewalls first, from the top down, then repeat this motion on the back wall so that ash chunks fall to the oven floor. Wipe the roof and then the floor of the chamber from back to front. Rinse the sponge with clean water and repeat until no baking soda remains, then wipe dry.
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Oven racks: Drain the tub, and, moving perpendicular to the grates of each oven rack, scrub each rack with a rag to slough off the loosened debris. Rinse and dry the racks before returning them to the oven.
Do use baking soda to stave off smoke from fresh oven spills.
During a broil or bake session in the oven, if you notice liquid or food debris from a pot or pan in the oven spill onto the front area of the oven floor, immediately don an oven mitt, open the oven door, and sprinkle baking soda directly over the spill or debris to prevent it from smoking.
If the spill is not in an accessible location of the oven, or if your oven is already smoking as a result of the spill burning, turn it off and let it cool completely. Then, open the oven door, remove any debris from the oven chamber with tongs, and wipe up the remains with a sponge dampened with soapy water.
>>> See more: How to Clean Your Gas Grill (How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner?)
Conclusion
How to clean a gas grill with oven cleaner? Cleaning your grill is an important step in ensuring that it will work properly and last for years. By using oven cleaner, you can quickly and easily clean the inside and outside of your grill. Be sure to follow all safety precautions when using oven cleaner, and take your time while cleaning the grill to ensure that you remove all of the built-up dirt and grease.
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