Particularly when the weather is mild (and even sometimes when it’s not…) many of us are firing up our Weber gas grills almost every day of the week. With all that action going on, it can be easy to forget some of the most important parts of grilling: cleaning and maintenance.
I know it sounds crazy, but I consider all of my Weber grills to be a part of the family. Needless to say, taking great care of them is high on my list of cooking priorities. You see, over time the performance of your grill can diminish if has not been maintained properly.
Low temperatures, uneven heat and food sticking to grates are all possible side effects of poor grill cleaning and conditioning. Luckily, a simple monthly maintenance plan is an easy and inexpensive way to keep your beloved Weber gas grills in tip-top shape.
Wipe the outside of the grill lid with a paper towel and cleaner (glass cleaner for porcelain-coated lids and stainless steel cleaner for stainless steel lids.) If your grill is stainless steel, you’ll get the best results by buffing with the grain, not against, using a microfiber towel.
Clean the side tables with a microfiber towel and stainless steel cleaner. Again, make sure to buff with the grain. If your tables are made of thermoset plastic, use a mild dish detergent and warm water instead.
Cleaning the cook box may seem tricky, but it’s actually extremely simple and can have a big impact on the way your grill performs. When your grill is completely cool, carefully remove your cooking grates and Flavorizer bars. Then, using a stainless steel grill brush, brush all excess grease and debris from inside the cook box into the bottom tray. From here, it will be easy to discard.
Burning off residue left on your grill is always a good practice, just turn on all your burners to high for 15 minutes before grilling. When your grill reaches these high temperatures, food debris will turn to ash, and will then be easy to brush off using a stainless steel bristle brush.
That’s it! Pretty simple, really. Just follow these steps and your grill will be cooking strong for many years to come.