Though flat top grill is much popular in commercial kitchens, many barbeque enthusiasts have started using this in their home because of the immense power of this excellent kitchen appliance. It is multi-purpose, easy to install and trouble-free to use. Moreover, it requires a very simple maintenance.
The one thing you need to do is cleaning it on a regular basis. If you know the tricks of how to clean a flat top grill, you can enjoy the cleaning while enhancing the efficiency and lifespan of this tool. The following is the quickest and effective method to clean up your favorite flat top grill.
When Should You Consider Cleaning A Flat Top Grill?
It is recommended to clean the flat top grill after every use. It helps you to stop the bacteria and germs before they take a chance to grow excessively on the grill surface. But if you cannot do this, there are few signs that determine the right time to clean the grill.
If you see visible grease on the surface of the grill, then that requires your extra efforts. This causes worst cooking and can spoil the original taste. The foods can start to pierce to the grill’s surface.
Other signs include grim buildup on the surface and the unevenly cooked foods. You may also discern flakes of burnt oil on the food.
So the common symptoms are:
- Food sticking to the surface
- Food with unexpected flavor
- Food or meat not cooking properly and evenly
- Burnt oil proliferation
- Too much grease build-up
- Rust on the flat-top
Necessary Stuff
Before moving into the cleaning process, make sure to manage the following stuff.
- A flat top grill or griddle pad holder
- A flat-top grill cleaner
- Scrub pad
- Stainless steel cleaner (chemical)
- Vegetable oil
- Palmetto brush
- Grill screen
- Cloth
- Warm water
How to Clean a Flat Top Grill?
Cleaning the grill regularly gives a new look and incredible performance of your flat top grill. Following is perhaps the easiest and the best way to clean a flat top grill.
1. Clean the Grates
Meat and foods sit on the grates when cooking. There is a great possibility to grow up bacteria and grease on that area. After removing the foods from grates, the small remaining can be caked. Therefore, you’ll need to remove them immediately. If you don’t do this right away, you’re possibly going to invest more time and efforts to use the grill again.
It is better to purchase a copper brush that helps to scrub the food remaining or fat off. Make sure to use hot soapy water. Scrub both sides and remove all the visible fat from the grates.
2. Wash the Burner Protector
The burner protector is used to protect the burner against the fat and grease that may come from meat and food when cooking. The protectors become less effective over time and can get clogged.
To maintain exact efficiency, the burner protector should be neat and clean all the time. They are easily detachable and you can clean them with less effort. After detaching them, simply rinse them into warm soapy water. You can wipe away fat and grease easily when they become soft.
3. Clean the Rust from the Grill
Rust is another crux that can be seen on the skillet or the top of your grill. This part is crafted from iron that tends to be rusty. When you cook, the rust can leave chunking marks on the food. So, this part should be clean to get a delicious item cooked in a healthy manner.
The best way is making the rusty area loose before scrubbing with sandpaper or a grill stone. Heating up the grill helps to loosen the rust and it becomes easy to remove them. Don’t forget to use heatproof gloves so that you can be safe when handling the heated surface.
To remove the rust from the top, coat the surface with soapy water and then scrub with a grill stone. After finishing, allow it to dry properly. Before cooking, make sure to apply cooking oil to the grill’s top. 4. Use a Vinegar and Water Solution
4. Use a Vinegar and Water Solution
Cleaning flat top grill with vinegar and water solution is also a popular way. It mostly works for grates where foods are placed to be cooked. The grease contents can grow here with age and it is too disturbing that spoil the taste and texture of the foods. Make a mixture of vinegar and warm water. You’ll need to spread the mixture over the grates and then scrub with a scrubbing pad. Within a few minutes, the grease will start to perish. Then simply wash away the area.
5. Clean the Other Parts
The bottom side of the grill requires extra care because it becomes dirty soon after a few time uses with the grime and grease. Using a sponge to clean the parts may be difficult but it finally works. Spray water and use the sponge to remove grease. Be patient, this step is a bit time consuming.
Important Safety Measures
Check carefully for safety! It is worthy to mention that regular checking is necessary for all of your kitchen tools. For a flat top grill, it is more important.
You will need to check for gas leaks or propane in the grill. The gas leak can be hazardous for you and the surrounding environment. If there is any leak, you can determine that easily.
Spread the soapy water over the pipes transferring methane or propane. Utilize an unused toothbrush to coat the pipes properly. You will notice bubbles rising if there is a leak. To fix the leak, you’ll need to tighten the connection.
Be careful when cleaning chrome grills. You shouldn’t use any type of abrasive or scrub pads. A palmetto brush can do the cleaning job efficiently on chrome. However, scrub pads are fine for stainless steel grills.
Bottom Line
You cannot do your cleaning job suddenly at once and expect the best from your flat top grill. With the knowledge of how to clean a flat top grill, you certainly need to aware of cleaning it regularly, possibly after every use.
A neat and clean grill is the appliance that will change overall cooking environment and offer the best barbeque ever. Additionally, proper cleaning will ensure that the grill will last longer with the highest efficiency.