Barbecue season is fast approaching with many Britons already keen to make the most of the sunny weather and dine al-fresco. While some may be put off by the state of their dirty cooking grills, cleaning them is easier than it looks with the right tools. And according to experts, baking soda is one of the best ingredients to use.
An expert at Like Clean Services group said: “Even if your grill is coated in burnt oil and dirt, you don’t have to use harsh chemicals or a specialist grill cleaner to get it clean.
“Baking soda is a cleaning hack that may be used to clean the interior of your grill using various tools, including a nylon-bristled brush, scourer sponges, aluminium foil, and even paper towels or rags.”
While the powerful white substance is effective on even the oldest stains, the scrubbing process is much easier when the grills have been heated up.
For the best results, the cleaning expert recommended warming the grill through before attempting to remove any grime.
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This will help to “loosen” leftover food before the grill cools down again. At this point, the baking soda should be mixed into a thick paste using water.
According to cleaning experts, this is most effective in the ratio of 1.5 cups of baking soda for every half a cup of water.
They noted: “This marinade works best with a thick, sticky fluid that will cling to the grill grate.”
Generously layer the mixture onto the grill rack using a paint brush or sponge, and leave to sit for a few minutes.
The paste can be left for between five and 10 minutes before being scrubbed off, which is best done using tin foil.
To make the cleaning tool, tear off a large piece of the foil (around 60cm long), and scrunch it into a ball.
Use this to wipe away the white paste and reveal the surface of the metal grills.
While it may seem like the scrubbing motion is doing the hard work, the foil provides extra benefits thanks to its oxidising qualities.
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The aluminium helps to remove tarnished residue while also clearing the surface grime to reveal shiny grill racks.
At this point, the racks should appear clean and dirt-free, though there may be some white residue left on the metal.
To remove this, rinse the grill racks with warm water before wiping them down with a hard-bristled brush.
Allow the racks to dry completely before cooking and take care to clean them soon after use to avoid stuck-on food causing issues in the future.
The tin foil method is highly effective on most barbecues, though grates made of enamel or porcelain should be cleaned using a nylon brush instead.
According to cleaning expert, baking soda is guaranteed to leave barbecue grills “gleaming”, though the method is a little different.
Start by spraying the dirty grate with non-stick cooking spray before applying the same soda paste used before. Leave to sit for 15 minutes, then scrub with a damp scouring sponge – or nylon brush.
Get in between each wire with the sponge before rinsing the grill with warm water. The clean grate can then be replaced, and ready for use once dry.