As temperatures warm and the snows subside, it can only mean one thing: Grilling season is upon us. Is your grill ready for spring barbecues? Nothing can spoil an outdoor spring gathering like having a grill that won’t light, cooks unevenly or leaves bitter char marks on your food. Here is what you need to do to make sure that your grill is ready for spring.
Inspect the grill
After sitting unused all winter, especially if it’s been sitting outside, your grill should be inspected for signs of weakness or damage. Check the grill’s interior and exterior for signs of rust, cracks or holes. If you have a gas grill, check all of the connections to make sure that hoses and connections are tight and in good shape.
Clean the grill’s interior
If you have a gas grill, begin by turning the grill on and turning the heat up. Let the grill sit for five minutes. While the grill grates are still warm on your gas grill, use a wire brush or grill cleaning tool to scrub away caked-on food and debris. If you have a charcoal grill, scrubbing can be done to cool grates. After the initial scrub, remove cooking grates and place them in a bucket of sudsy water. While they soak, clean the interior of the grill, removing any debris and inspecting any gas burners to make sure they are clear. Be sure to clean out the grease trap! Scrub the grates, rinse them thoroughly and place them back on the grill.
Clean the grill’s exterior
Cleaning your grill’s exterior is about more than maintaining its appearance. A clean grill exterior won’t degrade as quickly as a grill that’s constantly exposed to grime. For stainless steel grills, use a special stainless steel cleaner. For other grills, use soapy water and rinse the grill’s exterior thoroughly.
Make sure you have adequate fuel and tools
Nothing can bring a barbecue to a screeching halt like running out of grill fuel or struggling to cook without the grill tools you need. For a gas grill, make sure your propane tank is full. For a charcoal grill, make sure you have a mix of high-quality chunk charcoal on hand, as well as wood chips for smoking. If you’re missing grill tools, or if your grill tools are in poor shape, invest in the tools you need to successfully barbecue your favorite foods.
Tri-County Hearth & Patio Center has everything you need to prepare your grill for the spring! Whether you’re in need of new grill accessories, grill tools or an entirely new grill, or if you’d like to upgrade your patio to include a full-on outdoor cooking space, Tri-County can help! Stop by our showroom today to find everything you need to prepare your grill for spring, or to turn your backyard into a barbecue oasis.