With warmer weather on the horizon, you might be thinking about all the fun outdoor get-togethers you’re going to be having.
But before you start putting plans in place, there are a few things you need to do to prepare. It’s time to give your BBQ the MOT it needs. Don’t leave it too late; spring is the perfect time to get started on it.
Whether you have a charcoal or gas BBQ, you need to take care of it to get the best food results. And if you haven’t made use of it over the winter, you’ll need to make sure it’s prepped and ready to go when the weather starts to pick up.
There are some important steps to take after taking your BBQ out of storage for the summer months. This helpful guide will explain what steps to take. Time to get your hands dirty!
Start With A Visual Inspection
To start with, do a once-over of your cooker and check for leftover grease, rust, or build-up. You will also want to look for any pests that have made themselves comfy in or around your BBQ whilst it’s been hidden away in the winter.
Another check you need to make is the regulator hose or gas line. This is a great hiding spot for pests and insects.
Time To Get Cleaning
Before you start cooking on your BBQ again, you need to make sure it’s completely clean. It’s best to work from the inside out, cleaning all removable parts individually, including the flame tamers, burner tubes, pans, etc.
After every use of your BBQ, you should do a once-over to keep it clean and make sure your gas BBQ stays healthy and isn’t filthy by the time you come to reuse it in the summer.
Once all parts are clean, you can then wipe down the rest of the interior and then the exterior. All you need is soap and water to give it a good clean.
Finally, take time to dry everything to avoid it rusting. You can visit Organized Work Tips for more info on how to remove rust from cast iron.
Don’t Forget The Exterior
Most people don’t take the time to clean the exterior of their gas BBQ. If yours is left outdoors, it will most definitely need a deep outside clean.
Use a brush to help remove any rust incurred by the weather and think about purchasing a BBQ cover if you don’t have one already to avoid further damage.
Season Your Grill
When you’re ready to start using your BBQ again, you need to season your grill to help prevent it from rusting. Follow these steps:
- Coat your grill surface with high-heat cooking oil, such as canola or peanut oil.
- Wipe excess off with a paper towel.
- Turn your grill on for 15 – 30 minutes.
Make Upgrades Or Replacements
After looking at your BBQ parts individually, you may have spotted a few utensils or parts that need replacing or upgrading. It’s a good idea to purchase utensils from the same make as your BBQ for a better cooking experience and better results.
You can enhance your dishes with certain BBQ accessories, such as a smoker box, multi-surface cooking plates, and briquettes. Adding these to your collection will make for even better dishes that’ll impress your guests.
BBQ accessories can help with getting that authentic BBQ flavor you desire, as well as the cleaning process.
Get A BBQ Cover
To keep your BBQ protected from the weather (because we know what the British weather can be like, even in the summer), a BBQ cover will make sure of that.
This will prevent damage and rust on the exterior of your barbecue. It’ll then be easier to leave your BBQ where it is instead of transporting it in and out of storage.
You’re BBQ Ready!
Once you’ve completed everything on this guide, your barbecue should be ready to go!
To get the most out of your barbecue, take the time to give it a clean after every use to avoid the build-up of grease and fat. Cleaning your BBQ will also help you achieve the perfect barbecue meal. This will cause clogging, unsafe flames, and an unsavory taste to your dishes.