One of the classic 4th of July activities is firing up the BBQ.
We're managing to avoid the big grill scrub this year as we just purchased a new Smokey Joe on Sunday (ours was stolen last summer!) but for those doing the cleaning task tomorrow, here is a recipe from Mrs. Meyers for a green way to get the grate ready for the portabellas without resorting to harsh chemicals...
Step 1: Place the grate on the ground, remove any big pieces of cooked on stuff with a grill brush.
Step 2: Make a paste from Surface Scrub and All Purpose Cleaner. Use about 3 parts scrub to one part all purpose cleaner.
Step 3: Use a paintbrush to paint this paste on the grate.
Step 4: Let sit for 15 minutes, then use a strong stream of water to remove the mixture. Follow up with a scrubbing sponge or brush.
(Image : BBQ Art Serigraph by Derek Yaniger available from Mister Retro)
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Once the grill has been seasoned after being used for a while, all it really takes is a good hot fire and a steel brush to get everything off. If it's a charcoal grill that has been sitting for a while and wasn't cleaned off after last year's 4th of July I might actually drop the grate onto the coals and let it heat up until it's almost glowing and then scrub it with a wire brush and finally coat it with a wad of paper towels doused in cooking oil. If you are really a clean freak and want to see silver grates, coat them with the mixture above and put them in a garbage bag, tie it up and let it sit overnight then take them out of the bag the next day, wipe them down with a sponge and rinse in water.
view art's profile
1. get the grill really hot
2. cut a big onion in half
3. vigorously rub the flat part of the onion up and town the length of the grill till the onion is nothing but a nub and your grill is sufficiently clean (you might want to use tongs or a long fork since the grill will be super hot)
ta-daaaah!
view my little apartment's profile