YOUR barbecue is getting more action than it has all year as temperatures soar across the weekend.
And if you’ve opened it up to find last year’s grime on it, or want to prepare for the mess you’ll make after burning the sausages this weekend, here’s a quick cleaning hack.
Burnt food can be a nightmare to get off a BBQ[/caption]
Before you even think about picking up a brush, turn your BBQ on high for 10-15 minutes with the lid firmly closed.
You’ll see smoke rising as the old grime burns away.
“This method completely transforms BBQ cleaning,” a cleaning pro said.
“The intense heat burns off leftover grease and food residue, making everything infinitely easier to remove.”
Once cooled slightly, a quick brush with your usual BBQ cleaning tool will remove everything effortlessly.
How does it work?
The science behind this hack is straightforward – heat breaks down the oils and charred bits that normally require serious elbow grease to shift.
What would typically take you 30 minutes of aggressive scrubbing becomes a quick five-minute job, Lottomart suggests.
Refresh your BBQ
For an extra cleaning boost while the grates are still warm, try this natural trick: halve a fresh lemon, dip it in coarse salt, and rub it over the surface.
The citric acid cuts through any remaining grease naturally while leaving your BBQ smelling wonderfully fresh.
The timing for this cleaning hack is crucial: “Don’t let it cool completely, but make sure it’s safe to handle.
“The residual heat helps with cleaning, but safety always comes first,” the expert adds.
Lemons can be picked up for as little as 30p from a supermarket, making it a super cheap cleaning hack.
Try the onion trick too
Another natural cleaning hack many BBQ owners swear by is using an onion.
Top grilling tips
1. Preheat the grill
For 10-15 minutes, with the lid closed, warm up your grill. It helps cook food evenly and stops it sticking.
2. Oil the grates
Using tongs and a paper towel with some oil on it, wipe the grates. Your meat and veg will get iconic grill marks on and not stick.
3. Use two heat zones
Split your BBQ into two if you can, one side super hot for searing and the other side cooler for slow cooking – essential for burgers, sausages or meat with bones.
4. Don’t press your burgers
It squeezes the juices out and makes them dry – let them cook untouched and flip only once if you can.
5. Let meat rest
After cooking, leave your meat for 10-15 minutes under foil, this will help the juices redistribute to stay juicy, not dry.
6. Keep the lid closed
Not only does it help trap heat, but ensures food is cooked evenly – think of it like an oven.
Turn up the temperature slightly and attach half an onion to a fork for a makeshift handle.
Gently rub it over the hot grill, removing any burnt-on food whilst letting the onion’s natural juices help clean the barbecue.
Make sure that the BBQ has cooled completely before touching it again.
Another more unusual cleaning hack is to use grass on your BBQ.
“Place a cooled BBQ grill on the lawn overnight – the dew helps loosen debris for an easy wipe-down”, the experts explained.
“No grass? Wrap it in a damp newspaper instead.
“Suitable for aluminium and stainless steel grills only.”
