The Right Way To Clean Your Gas Grill, According To An Expert

To get some expert insight into the best way to clean a gas grill, Tasting Table spoke with Scott Thomas, owner of The Grillin' Fools. Thomas said, "The biggest issue with gas grills is the interior metal components (e.g. the burners) rust pretty quickly when grease drips on them. That liquid fat will congeal and hold moisture onto the metal. That's a rust factory right there." Luckily, he offered a couple of methods for dealing with this.

Thomas shared two different ways to clean built-up grease off a grill: "The easy way is to crank up the grill again the next day or even again the same night. Get the grill super hot which should burn the grease off. But if there is some liquid fat that does not burn off, simply blot it with some paper towels." The other method is to "just go with the paper towels from the beginning. This latter option will take a lot longer and is a much dirtier job."

Thomas also offered some step-by-step tips for new gas grill owners who might not be aware of the level of upkeep these cooking appliances require. He said, "The biggest issue is making sure to get the liquid fat or grease off the burners. Generally, the shell of the grill holds together better than the burners, but will rust as well for lower-end gas grills. For higher-end grills, say with cast aluminum outer components, then that's not a problem. If the grill is under $300 and comes from a big box store, make sure to get every ounce of grease or the grill won't last three seasons."

Scott Thomas also advised on tackling the hidden parts of your grill you're probably forgetting to clean — starting with the gas burners. He said that running "a metal brush over the little gas holes on the burner where the fire comes from is a good idea. Those little holes get clogged and drop the heat output. It also creates hotter and colder spots on the grill, making cooking much harder. Imagine a couple bratwursts burnt black next to a couple that are raw because little holes are clogged under the two raw ones while the other two are getting blowtorched."

Clogged burners are a common reason that your grill flame keeps going out. If tackling the dirty burner ports with a metal brush isn't enough, you may need to do a deep cleaning. Turn off the gas to the grill or disconnect the propane tank, and then remove the grates to access the burner tubes. Remove them carefully and use a straightened paperclip to dislodge debris from each hole. Next, brush across the ports with a stainless steel grill brush and shake the burners to get the gunk out. Use a sponge and warm, soapy water to clean the remainder, and let the tube dry completely before reattaching.