Tess Rose Lampert is a New York City-based writer, beverage educator, and lover of savings. With over a decade in the alcoholic beverage industry, she strives to enhance consumers' everyday experiences with food and beverage through dynamic and interactive writings, educational seminars, and events.
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There's nothing like firing up the grill when the weather starts to sizzle. Since grills are meant to be investments that last for years, knowing how to properly store and maintain a grill is essential for getting top value. Many tips for extending the life of your grill apply to gas and charcoal grills, with a few differences when it comes to cleaning and repairs. Whichever type you have, keep it in top shape by following these guidelines.
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Like any machine or appliance, your grill will stay in best working order if you use it regularly. Firing it up habitually will also provide ample opportunity to test all of the parts and help you spot problems while they are new and easily fixable.
Covering your grill between uses can extend its life considerably. Even though the exterior materials are strong, the natural elements wear them down over time. Keeping grills safely out of the way of rain, pollen, and even wind-blown branches can add years to durability and keep a grill looking sharp.
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During the off season there is no need to have your grill outside and exposed to the elements, even if you live in an area that does not get regular snow and ice. Carving out a small space in the garage or shed will keep a grill in top shape for when grilling season rolls around.
Stuck on buildup can become a permanent messy problem if not dealt with soon after use. Cleaning a grill regularly helps keep all the parts working well and gives you an opportunity to make sure it is safe and functioning optimally. Depending on what kind of grill you have, gas or charcoal, there are easy-to-follow steps for keeping it clean.
Keeping grill grates clean not only extends the life of a grill but also improves the quality of everything it does. Investing in a grill brush to use after each session is essential for grill maintenance. Good options cost around $15 from hardware stores.
If scraping a grill with a brush after each use is too much work, or simply unrealistic, consider using aluminum foil as a barrier. Placing a layer of foil between the grates and food makes for instant, easy cleanup. You won't get the same effect of grill marks, or as much flavor from charcoal, but the basic cooking and flavor remains the same.
Having the right accessories for your style of grilling will allow you to use a grill to its full potential and protect against using it in the wrong way. From thermometers to heat-safe mitts, there are plenty of inexpensive toys to make the experience even better and keep the equipment in good shape.
Especially when it comes to gas grills, regular checks on all of the parts are important. A grill may be able to function even if one or two parts are damaged, but that will lead to potential danger and a quick degrading of the overall unit. Rather than wait until the unit falls apart, spot check routinely for what might need less expensive repairs.
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An old grill master trick is to use an onion cut in half and dipped in oil to lubricate grates before adding food to the hot grill. This helps prevent sticking without burning up a cloth or squirting on too much oil.
Rust is the natural enemy of grills, though for many, an inevitability. Rather than ignore a few spots of rust, eliminate them as soon as you see them to make sure they don't spread. A little bit of time is all you need to successfully keep rust spots off of your grill.
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If grilling is a significant part of your backyard entertainment, it's worth setting up an area dedicated to it. Chemicals from pools, lawns, and even natural elements from trees can all be harsh to the exterior of grills. Setting up a small area of concrete to host it is an easy DIY project that will help the equipment last longer.
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