One of the great joys in life is sinking your teeth into that first delectable bite of food hot off the barbeque that marks the beginning of the outdoor cooking season. But your enjoyment can be cut short when your grill stops working. This is what makes regularly servicing your equipment so important. Here are some tips for maintaining your backyard grill that will keep your meat cooking all season long.
Beginning of the Season
The start of the season is crucial to keeping your grill in operation. Before firing up the barbeque, you should take the time to clean the burner and tubes before giving the grill a good wash. Next, fire up the grill on high with the lid closed for about 15 minutes to burn off any grease from last year. Finally, clean the cooking grates with a stiff wire brush and warm, soapy water. If you are fortunate enough to keep your grill running all year long, it’s best to perform this beginning of season maintenance once or twice each year.
General Care
During grilling season, there are many ways you can keep your grill looking and running like new. First, use the right tools when cooking and cleaning the grill to ensure peak performance. Tools such as tongs and spatulas designed for use on the grill are necessary. Remember to monitor your supply of the required heating source frequently, be it gas or charcoal.
There are also a few tips for maintaining your backyard grill when using it. One is to preheat the grill before placing the meat on it. Preheating helps keep the meat from sticking to the grate. After cooking is complete, turn up the heat and close the lid to burn off the residue before scrubbing the grate with a wire brush. Covering your grill after using it prevents unnecessary exposure to the elements.
End of the Season
There are also a few things to do at the end of the outdoor cooking season to set yourself up for the next grilling window. Turn to high and close the lid to burn off the grease and scrub the cooking grate one final time each year. Be sure the propane tank is off and fully closed before detaching any gas tubes for cleaning. If storing your grill indoors, leave any propane tanks outside in a shady location away from vents. If leaving outside, protect the grill with a vinyl cover with the tank still attached.
At Vincent’s Meat Market, we are the masters of everything you make on the grill and in the oven. We are the best place in The Bronx to buy sausage, beef, pork, poultry, and many other varieties of meat—all available for your culinary enjoyment.
