Charcoal grills are arguably one of the most iconic signs of summer. Just the smell of burning charcoal has the power to move your entire neighborhood to get outdoors and grill again. Don’t believe me? Light up a grill early one weekend afternoon and then pay attention as you are rewarded with the aroma of nearby grills lighting up coming back to you.
Charcoal grills are simple, versatile, and don’t have to be a significant investment, which makes them one of the most popular grills on the planet. Despite these traits, they still come with some responsibility.
One aspect that’s often overlooked with charcoal grills is keeping them clean. This goes much deeper than just cleaning the grates and it is far more important than simply a cosmetic issue - it’s a matter of longevity and food safety. Not to mention, your grill will perform better when it’s clean due to improved airflow, meaning your food will cook and taste better too.
In fewer words: Maintain your grill and keep it clean and it will bring you joy for years to come.
Here’s how to clean a charcoal grill:
Necessary Supplies and Preparation:
For cleaning, scraping, and sweeping:
- Gloves
- Small hand broom or scoop, or a shop vacuum
- Stiff wire grill brush
- Putty knife or scraper
- Scouring pad
- Dish soap
- Sponge
You May Also Need:
- Non-combustible container or bag for holding ash.
- Garbage bags
- Bucket of hot water
Here’s The #1 Tip to Make Grill Cleaning Easier
To prepare, first do a clean burn on your grill. This goes for any type of grill before cleaning — in the case of a charcoal grill, ignite and burn the charcoal at as high of a temperature as you can achieve, ideally, this should be 400+ degrees. This will help burn off leftover food residue and grease. This is a good time to scrub the grates with a long handled brush with metal bristles to knock off any residue. Much of the leftover debris will fall off, but even the debris that stays on the grate will be much easier to scrape off once burned.
After the clean burn, let the grill cool until safe to touch. Once it’s cool, remove any leftover charcoal pieces and set them aside to use again on your next cook.
Loose ash on the grates can be brushed into the bottom of the grill. If you’ve got an ash catcher, simply remove it and dispose of the ash into your preferred receptacle. If not, a small scoop or hand broom can collect the ash and sweep it from the bottom of the grill. A vacuum works as well, but make sure the ash is completely cool.
Reminder: Dispose of ash safely. Our team at ATBBQ will often let ashes rest for up to 48 hours inside a galvanized steel trash can just to make sure no burning embers remain.
Once the ash is out, check for any grill parts that might need to be repaired.
Guide to Cleaning the Three Main Areas of a Grill
We’ll break this down by the grates, the interior, and the exterior. We recommend going in that order simply because each of those has a tendency to shed some of its debris onto the next one.
1. Cleaning The Grill Grates
Assuming you started with a clean burn, a wire brush should be able to get rid of any carbonized grill debris, and combined with hot soapy water, you’ll remove most of the stuck-on grease. Depending on how long it’s been since your last cleaning, you may have to repeat this step a couple of times to get as much of the grease off as possible.
Afterward, thoroughly rinse and dry the grates. Drying is especially important if your grates are cast iron as failure to do so can cause them to rust and degrade. Keep in mind that cast iron grates must be seasoned again with a high smoke point oil such as avocado or grapeseed oils. You can either do this at over 400° F in your home oven or you will need to do a one hour seasoning burn in your grill before you cook again.
2. Cleaning The Grill interior
With a brush, putty knife, or scraper, remove any build-up from previous cooking sessions. Once the larger chunks of grease and leftover food are removed, use hot soapy water and a sponge to scrub the interior down. This step should be repeated until as little residue as possible is visible on the grill interior.
3. Cleaning the Grill Exterior
Use a cloth with some dish soap and hot water to wipe down the exterior. Always wipe stainless steel with the grain and not against the grain to prevent scratches. If applicable to your grill model, you can polish any stainless steel parts to help prevent rusting. Wipe the grill with a soft dry cloth and allow the grill to completely dry, make sure there is no standing water inside the grill to prevent mold and rust from starting.
Maintenance Tips for Between Grill Sessions
Properly maintaining your grill between uses can make deep cleanings less frequent and less intensive. How often you need to do a deep clean really depends on how often you use your grill and how well you take care of it.
Tip #1 - Clean as much of the food particles as possible from the grates every time you cook. A few tough scrubs with the grill brush while the grill is still warm should do it.
Tip # 2 – Remove all ash from the grill after every cook. Ash is corrosive to grill parts and should be removed if the grill is not used weekly.
Tip #3 - We recommend doing a brief clean with soapy water and a stiff brush, then wiping down the interior before the buildup becomes too intense. This will help prevent flare-ups and mitigate general grease build-up.
Tip #4 - When not actively using your grill, find a dry, covered space in which to store it, alongside a breathable, waterproof grill cover.
Tip # 5 – Be Proactive! Simple steps when cooking can prevent the headache from messiness building up, cutting down on how much energy you have to dedicate to cleaning over the long run.
Some examples include:
- Oiling the grates to prevent food from sticking
- Lining the drip tray with foil to make cleaning just a matter of removing the foil
- Avoiding placing your meats and vegetables on the grill sopping wet in excessive marinade. This hinders searing and leads to bitter flavors from burned ingredients, but it also drips onto your grill interior, making more mess.
- Trimming excessive tallow and fat
- Using grilling mats or grilling trays for smaller items such as vegetables.
All in all, the occasional deep clean is something all charcoal grill owners need to do — but you can make it an easier job with proper proactive maintenance and regular “mini” cleans.
Not only is a cleaner grill generally more pleasant, but it’s most importantly safer, longer-lasting, and produces better-tasting food. By taking proper care of your grill, you can make delicious food for decades — if not a lifetime.
