Let’s get one thing out of the way first. No, dirty grill grates with leftover grime do not “add flavor”. It is a myth and you should always clean your grill grates for better handling, taste, and longevity of your grill. Especially for something as expensive as a Traeger Grill, please do your due diligence and clean it after every couple of uses. Every product is independently reviewed and selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. But how to clean Traeger grill grates exactly? Worry not as we have brought you the five exclusive methods so that you can use simple household objects to clean that fancy grill. Let’s dive in We understand it is difficult to clean your grill every time you use it. Especially after a long
enjoyable day of flipping burgers with our friends in the backyard, we all want to fall back to our couch. However, with a bit of know-how, it does not really have to be difficult. You most likely already have all the things needed and the basics are mostly the same for all the methods. It’s just a matter of actually getting your hands dirty. This method utilizes a vegetable that everyone
is sure to have in their pantry. Onions are filled with natural compounds that break down fats and grimes to keep your grill grates squeaky. Other than that you don’t need much else except your grilling fork and a clean-dry rug. Here’s how it is done- Onions work so well due to them being filled with acids that cut down the fat and emulsify them. At the same time, the moisture of the onion
will vaporize to give a pseudo steam cleaning effect. The coarse salt just helps in getting a better grip. This method has virtually no downsides and as an added bonus, the used onion you threw in the bag of coals will give extra flavor (unlike grimes) to your next bbq.
You Can Clean Your T. G. Grates With VinegarAlthough not as simple and easy as the onion method, vinegar also works well in cleaning grill grates. You will need a few more things like a spray bottle, and a good quality metal brush but the results will speak for themselves. The method is as follows-
The main advantage vinegar offers over an onion is that it can be done a lot quicker and in a pinch. You can even pre-make the spray mixture before the BBQ for easy cleanup afterward. Having said that, some fancy Traeger grills with porcelain grates will not react well to vinegar. So ensure your grates are made of aluminum or stainless steel before following this method. How To Clean This Grill Grates With LemonThe last two methods work because both Vinegar and onion are filled with mild acids. You know what else is like that and you can find it easily in your pantry? Lemon. So you can easily understand why it works just as well. You can replace vinegar with lemon juice as it does the same thing we did in the last two methods. But where is the fun in that? Here is a different but just as simple process:
This method definitely requires more elbow grease and a bit more time but it is well worth it. Just don’t scrape too hard if your grates are porcelain and they will be shiny new in no time. Not only that, if the other two methods are a bit too “gross” for you, lemon is perfect. It will not only thoroughly clean the grates but leave you with a beautiful citrusy smell. Clean Traeger Grill Grates With Aluminum FoilThis one is for all of you who do not have a nylon, metal, or grill brush around the house. A crumped-up aluminum foil ball will have seventy to eighty percent of the abrasive force necessary to thoroughly clean grill grates clogged up with disgusting fat or grime. You can also just use a ball of aluminum foil in lieu of brushes in any of our other methods. But the following method works best for when you want to quickly get rid of the leftovers from your last bbq before doing another. Here is how to incorporate aluminum foil into cleaning your Traeger Grill Grates:
Fair warning, this method will not get all of the gunk out if you did not clean your grills in a while. Aluminum foil can only be a temporary substitute for nylon brushes and they do not do as good of a job. But in a pinch before a grilling session, you can do much worse. If you have to employ this method we do recommend investing in a good quality grill brush for the future. How to Clean Traeger Grill Grates With Vinegar and Baking SodaAll the methods we discussed previously were based on the assumption that you clean your grill fairly often. If, however, the grates have a cleaning long overdue, you should follow this method. Unlike the others, this is all about deep cleaning the grates to get months old soot and gunk out. As for equipment, you will need a big container or garbage bag and rubber ties, the aforementioned vinegar and baking soda, a grill brush, and a clean washcloth. Here is the process-
Obviously, this method is meant to deep clean your Traeger grill grates and so it requires the most time. But we are willing to argue that it takes less effort as the neutralization reaction from the soda and vinegar takes the hard work off scraping. Either way, you can do this the night before your big BBQ event to have the freshest results. After all, BBQs always taste better from freshly cleaned grill grates.
How To Clean Traeger Grill Grates Before CookingIf you maintain good hygiene after you grill or cook using a grill, 80% of the job is done for you. Even then, it is always good practice to do a quick cleaning session before you grill. It is not difficult at all and you can do the whole process in just 5-10 minutes of time. We will also touch on cleaning other parts of the grill and not just grates here. Here’s what to do-
That’s it! It is all you need to do to prepare for a BBQ or grilling session. We do recommend quickly cleaning the whole grill as it’s not just the grates that can contaminate your meat or veggies with old leftovers and better to be safe than sorry. How Often To Clean Traeger Grill GratesThe answer here solely depends on how often the grill gets used. But either way, you can follow any of the quick cleaning methods after every 2 or 3 cooking sessions. For deep cleaning the grates and the interior as well as the exterior of the grill we recommend once every two to three months depending on your use. Conclusion If grilling regularly is your thing, it does not get any better than Traeger. Their fancy pellet grills are state of the art and will provide you with an experience unlike any. But the more you use your grill the dirtier it gets. So it is always handy to know exactly how to clean Traeger grill grates. Hopefully, after this article, you won’t ever have to deal with dirty grates again!! I love to BBQ and cook other dishes as much as I love to fish I hope you enjoy my cooking content as well as my fishing trips. So If you would like to hang out with us. Pull up a chair and enjoy. How do you clean porcelain grill grates?When cleaning porcelain grill grates, don't use metal or wire brushes. Use a soft bristle or a nylon grill brush. Burn off any food leftover on the grates. Then let the grates cool and scrub them with the nylon cleaning brush.
What are Traeger grill grates made of?WHAT ARE TRAEGER GRILL GRATES MADE OF? Traeger grill grates are either stainless steel or porcelain coated cast iron.
How do you clean the inside of a Traeger grill?HOW TO CLEAN YOUR GRILL. Spray the grill grate and inside the chimney with an all-natural degreaser/cleaner.. Remove and clean both sides of the grill grates. ... . Dispose of old foil or drip tray liners.. Remove and wipe down the drip tray and the heat baffle.. Vacuum the inside of the grill and the firepot thoroughly.. How do you clean the ashes off a Traeger grill?Periodically remove the Porcelain Grill Grate, Grease Drain Pan, and Heat Baffle to clean the ash in and around the Firepot. This step can be fast and easy by using a standard shop vac. Make sure all grill components are cold before vacuuming up the extra ash.
|