Effective Ways to Maintain Your Electric Grill
Maintaining your electric grill will help make the most of your grilling experience. The durability and effectiveness of any home appliance are prolonged with proper maintenance.
If you are using an electric grill at home, you should be careful when reading the user’s manual, especially because you are dealing with wires and electricity.
Aside from this, you should also keep the grills clean to ensure safe and flavorful meals all the time. If you are wondering how to clean an electric grill because you are not familiar with the steps, worry not.
This article lists the easiest ways to maintain your electric grill. One perk of electric grills is that the cleaning process is less tedious compared to that of traditional barbecue grills.
How to Clean an Electric Grill
Unplug the electric grill from the outlet.
Of course, the first thing you should do is to unplug the grill after cooking and before cleaning. Allow the temperature to cool down completely before you start to avoid any kind of accident.
Remove the grease tray or trap
The first part that you should clean is the grease trap where the juices and grease produced during grilling are caught. This part of the grill should always be cleaned every after use.
Remove it according to your manufacturer’s instructions, then empty the contents before you start washing. Use a dishwasher if possible or wash it by hand with warm and soapy water.
Wash the grilling plates (if applicable)
Before doing any of this, make sure to read the user’s manual for written instructions. If your electric grill has removable grilling plates, carefully detach them from the grill.
Use a dishwasher for cleaning them only if they are dishwasher safe. If not, use warm, soapy water instead. For stubborn dirt residue, use a sponge to scrub it off.
It is not advisable to use an overly abrasive scrubber because it can wear off the non-stick feature. If the grilling plates are not removable, just wipe the grease or excess food with a towel every after use.
Wash away the trace of soap
Using a damp dishrag, remove the traces of soap off the washable parts. Then finish by wiping them with dry paper towel or cloth.
Wipe the grill
Never submerge the entire grill into the water, for there are electrical parts that can get damaged in the process. Just wipe the body and lid with a towel that is damp or slightly wet.
This will help remove stubborn dirty or greasy residue that accumulated on the lid or the lower lips of the grill. To make cleaning easier, make sure to clean this area as often as possible or every after use.
Other Tips for Maintaining Your Electric Grill
1. Read the manual carefully and check whether a part is washable or not. If a part is not removable, then you cannot immerse it in water. This is especially true with electric grills that come in one-piece models.
2. Use a plastic or rubber cleaning spatula for removing the excess food that stuck to the cooking surface. Do this whenever you see one and don’t let it stay on the cooking surface for too long. This tool won’t scratch the non-stick feature or surface of the grill.
3. Never use any abrasive cleaners or steel brushes for cleaning grilling plates, for they can easily damage the non-stick features.
4. Use a damp sponge or cloth after scraping off the excess food on the ribbed grilling surface. Put a little dishwashing liquid on the sponge for stubborn dirt.
5. Line the drip tray with aluminum foil or absorbent paper towel to remove the juice or grease more easily. After cooking, simply remove the towel or foil.
6. You may also use a dishwashing liquid and a wet sponge for washing the dip tray.
7. Soak the spatula in warm water for a few minutes if it has collected a thick layer of grease or charred food. Make sure to add a squirt of dishwashing liquid and wipe it clean with a sponge.
Maintaining your electric grill and learning how to clean an electric grill properly is an essential skill both for everyday and occasional use. A little bit of maintenance will have a positive affect on your grilling, especially on your food.