The grilling season is upon us. Are you ready?
It’s that time of the year again. Soon the tantalizing smells of barbecue will be wafting through the air. Some people, like me, like to grill year-round, while others are fair weather grillers. Regardless of which category you fall into, it’s always a good idea to perform yearly maintenance to keep your equipment in tip-top shape.
We spoke to Leif and Trina Langille, owners of Warmth by Design in Onslow, NS, and asked them for advice to ensure a successful and worry-free grilling season. Here’s their list of steps to guide you through the process.
Start by gathering up the necessary tools to complete your cleaning: a cleaning brush, bucket of hot soapy water, soft cloth, spatula, stainless steel cleaner or grill cleaner, venturi brush (or small nail) to clean the burner holes, replacement grease trays, bbq gloves, and owner’s manual.
Especially if your barbecue has been stored outside all winter, inspect your ignitor, batteries and grill for signs of rust. If it’s been kept covered or stored in a building, check for bugs, cobwebs or pests that may have nested.
Check fuel hoses and connections to make sure there are no leaks or cracks. After your visual inspection, complete the soapy water test. Brush soapy water on the lines and along any connections. If you see bubbles while the gas is running you need to tighten the connections or replace the hose or fittings.
Turn your grill to a high temperature for about 15 minutes or so. This will help burn off any leftover debris on your grates and burners. Use your brush to clean off as much dirt and ash as possible. Let your grill cool down so you don’t burn yourself, and then continue cleaning.
Take out your grill grates and flavour waves and brush off any ash buildup or rust. For grates that have a harder buildup, try soaking them overnight. Brush off, rinse off well and dry completely before putting them back in the grill. Coat the grills with vegetable oil to help prevent food sticking to them.
Check your burners to make sure all of the port holes are open. If they are clogged take them out. Use a venturi brush or small nail to clean the ports. Shake out any dirt you find and replace the burners in your grill.
Make sure the barbecue’s firebox is clear of debris and grease before putting your tubes, flavour waves and grills back into place. (Excess grease buildup is a fire hazard.) Change the drip pan liner to reduce grease buildup.
Wash down the outside of your grill with hot soapy water, or use a grill cleaning spray. If it has a stainless-steel finish, make sure to wipe with the grain of the steel to help prevent scratching the surface.
If you have a charcoal grill, empty out all cold ashes and charcoal from the firebox and ash pan—if it has one. You may have already done this step before putting the grill away for winter. Change gaskets if needed. Clean your grates, top up with new charcoal.
Once everything is put back in place, test-fire your grill to make sure the burners and components are working like they should be.
Now you’re ready to get grilling, and maybe try a few new and delicious recipes. We’ve included several of our favourites for your grilling pleasures. Have fun and enjoy your food!