Country holidays can not be imagined without picnics with shish kebabs in a warm friendly company. Only one thing can spoil the carefree fun — a grill covered with dried fat, soot and rust, which has been forgotten to clean since the fall. Small worldly tricks will help to bring him back to life. We offer to test them in action together with the Scotch-Brite trademark.
Reborn from the Ashes
To put the grill in order is more convenient and safer in an open area near the house, because for high-quality cleaning it will need to be properly heated on the fire. The old fat will melt, and it will be much easier to remove it. To enhance the effect, cover the grill with a wide metal baking sheet and leave in this form for 15-20 minutes.
For cleaning, special brushes made of thin copper or steel wire are usually used. But there is a risk of overdoing it and damaging the inside of the grill. Therefore, as an alternative, you can use sponges for intensive cleaning, which will help you quickly and effectively remove dirt from almost any surface. The special material from which they are made is specially designed for baking trays, cast-iron surfaces and grill grates. All you have to do is dilute some liquid dish detergent in a bucket of warm water. Wait until the preheated grill cools slightly, pour in the soap solution and clean the inside surface with a sponge. Then rinse the grill and let it dry completely.
To avoid problems with cleaning the grill in the future, take note of a simple tip. Immediately after cooking, brush the grill inside with vegetable oil. Crumple a thick sheet of foil into a ball and, holding it with tongs, scrape the soft, pliable fat from the surface. If you do not intend to use the grill in the near future, pour out all the coals and clean out the ash.
Passions behind bars
Cleaning the grill grate is the hardest part, as the grease, soot, and dirt are hidden in secret corners between the bars. It will be especially difficult if these contaminants remain from last season.
However, you can always resort to the least energy-consuming method. Place the grill rack in a wide, tight plastic bag, fill generously with the ammonia solution, let out all the air, and tie it tightly. It is best to perform this manipulation in the fresh air, so as not to inhale acrid fumes. For additional precautions, wear a protective mask. Shake the bag well with the grate and leave it alone overnight. In the morning, you will need to wash the grill with warm water and remove any remaining dirt with a molded dish sponge.
For those who are used to scrupulous approach to work, there is another way. First of all, wear high rubber gloves. Fill a wide basin or trough with warm water and dilute a pack of soda in it — you should get a fairly strong solution. Carefully pour in 50-70 ml of acetic acid and stir well. In the resulting cleaning solution, moisten the sponge with the abrasive side and, without squeezing, begin to wash the grate directly in the basin. Due to the violent reaction between the soda and the concentrated acid, the fat will begin to dissolve on its own.
Remember: if there is carbon on the grill, the food will certainly stick to it. And to enhance the repulsive properties of a clean grate, rub it with half a raw potato. You can use another trick. Moisten the “Napkin in a roll” in vegetable oil and go through all the bars — so you will create a non-stick protective layer.
Skewers bare!
Cleaning skewers with burnt last year’s fat is not the most difficult task. Here again, baking soda comes to the rescue. Take a wide metal basin and prepare a cleaning solution in it, based on the proportion of 200 g of soda per 10 liters of water. Put the dirty skewers in the basin and simmer for 30 minutes. When they cool down, you can easily remove the burnt fat with a regular sponge for intensive cleaning.
If the condition of the skewers is not so critical, you can do without heat treatment. Moisten a dish sponge in water, rub it thickly with household soap and distribute the foam along the entire length of the skewers. Put them in this form in the grass and leave them all night. The resulting dew will accumulate on the surface and soften the fat. In the morning, clean the skewers with wet sand. If the ground is sufficiently moist and soft, you can stick the skewers into the soil several times. After that, you will have to rinse them with warm water and dry them thoroughly. To definitely remove the remaining moisture, it is better to use special absorbent wipes. They will reliably absorb every last drop, and at the same time give the skewers an irresistible shine.
All this routine can be safely avoided if you clean the skewers and other accessories for the grill immediately after the picnic. This will require very little time, effort and patience. Moreover, all the necessary funds for this will be found at any dacha.
Summer isn’t going anywhere. You just need to adequately prepare for the upcoming summer season. Be sure to check the condition of your grill with the rest of the inventory, and put them on full alert. We wish you fun picnics and a bright and unforgettable summer!
Scotch-Brite® recommends the following products:
- Scotch-Brite® Intensive classic sponge;
- Scotch-Brite® Intensive sponge, classic molded;
- universal Scotch-Brite®gloves;
- Scotch-Brite ® napkin in a roll;
- Scotch-Brite® Ultra absorbent cloth.