Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
THE BACKYARD — Gas grills can be so simple to use that it's easy to forget they still need a little TLC. If all you do is fire it up, cook your food and then cover it up, you are undoubtedly shortening your grill's lifespan.
A recent barbecue at a friend's house highlighted one of the potential risks that far outweighs diminished grill performance. Because my buddy never cleaned his grill, piles of debris and grease had accumulated down below. Just a few minutes into cooking the burgers for dinner, fire broke out inside the grill. After the chaos died down, he was left with a damaged grill and 20 incinerated burgers.
Don't let this happen to you. With some consistent maintenance — as advised in any owner's manual — your grill will stay cleaner, safer and more effective.
5 quick tips to get started
- Preheat the grill before cooking: It can be tempting to throw food on the grill as it's heating. But allowing it to completely reach cooking temperature can actually disinfect and clean your grill.
- Clean the grates: Most of us brush the cooking grates after each use. But when was the last time you soaked them in hot water or scrubbed them with baking soda? Periodic, deeper cleanings improve the taste of food and keep your grills working beautifully.
- Scrub the burners: Over time, your burners can get clogged with debris. Use an abrasive nylon brush or a wire brush to keep them working properly, being careful not to leave bristles behind.
- Take care of the lid: You should also use a brush to remove any accumulated grease inside your grill's lid. Keeping the lid clean can improve cooking performance and prevent gunk from falling into your food.
- Replace the grease drip pan: Those little pans are often out of sight and out of mind. But they're constantly filling with debris and drippings, increasing the risk of fire. Keep replacements on hand so you can swap them out whenever necessary.
A couple of brands to try
Here are two different options, based on my own research, that you might want to consider if you're in the market for a new gas grill:
Weber Spirit E-310
I've used Weber grills for years and have found that they're among the most reliable and user-friendly on the market. The Spirit E-310 is a top option, with lots of excellent features packed into a relatively small space. It's also quick to assemble, which is worth mentioning because some grills seem to require an engineering degree to figure out.
This grill's porcelain-enameled, cast-iron cooking grates retain even heat and are easy to keep clean.The grease collection system works really well, so there are no hassles as long as you brush out the cook box and replace the pans when necessary. And the fuel gauge is so well designed, you'll always know when it's time to refill the tank.
You get 424 square inches of main grilling space with the Spirit E-310. That's enough to accommodate about 15 big burgers. There's also a warming rack, which is nice for buns, veggies and other food you want to keep away from direct heat.
Monument Grills Mesa 325
This popular grill has some awesome features that make it stand out from similarly priced models. For example, the full-clear window in the lid lets you check on food without lifting the lid and releasing the heat (and flavor). It's so helpful to be able to keep an eye on your food any time you want. Another upgrade is the side burner, which gives you extra space when you're cooking for a crowd.
The Mesa 325 has stainless steel burners that deliver 48,000 BTUs. Fire it up and you can hit 650 degrees in just about 15 minutes. The easy-to-clean porcelain-enameled cast iron grates can hold about 20 burgers at a time. Add in the side burner and you can get some corn or other side going, simultaneously.
With its upgraded features and solid cooking performance, the Mesa 325 is definitely an excellent grill for the price.
