Grill grate cleaner
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Foil scrubbing, a cast iron paste or a no-scrub soak. Clean grates before the next cookout.
What You’ll Need
- Foil scrub: 1 ½ cup baking soda; ½ cup water; 2-3 ft. aluminum foil; brush or sponge
- Cast iron paste: 1 ½ cups baking soda; ¼ cup dish soap; ¼ cup white vinegar; vegetable oil
- No-scrub soak: 2 cups white vinegar; 1 cup baking soda; large garbage bag; rubber band or string
Equipment
- mixing bowl
Directions
- Foil scrub: stir baking soda and water into a thick paste, coat the grates, wait a few minutes, scrub each wire with a crumpled ball of foil, then rinse and put the grates back.
- Cast iron paste: stir baking soda, dish soap and vinegar into a frothy paste; brush it onto the grates (keep it off gas burners); close the grill (do not turn it on) and leave for 8-12 hours; scrub with a nylon brush, wipe with warm water, dry, and rub with vegetable oil (you can also heat the grill on high to season it).
- No-scrub soak: when the grates are completely cool, put vinegar and baking soda in a large garbage bag (it foams), add the grates, seal the bag, and leave in a cool spot for 8-12 hours; rinse with a hose, rub off anything left, and throw away the bag and liquid.
- Porcelain or enamel grates: wet them, sprinkle on plenty of baking soda, wait 10 minutes, and scrub with a damp scour sponge (no metal tools), then rinse.
Notes
Optional first step: heat the grill on high to loosen food, then let it cool.
Safety: let grills and grates cool first; don’t light the grill during the paste soak; avoid heating elements on gas grills; use nylon tools on coated grates; rinse well. Also: don’t seal the soak bag too soon (foam builds pressure); wear gloves; keep the bag away from kids and pets; inspect for loose wire bristles if a wire brush is used.