Keeping the grill grate clean and sanitary every time
I grill fish outside to avoid the smell in the house. Because fish is so healthy, we do this a lot. I`m beginning to get worried that the grate is not clean enough. My question is: Can I use an "indoor" oven broiler grate, outside, on top of the grill grate, so I can physically bring it in after each use and completely clean it in the sink? That way the food never touches the grill grate.(We have tried several wire "fish baskets" and they are a royal PAIN to clean. Crumbs get stuck between the wires.)
Best Answer
I have a few issues with your goals and current expectations.
Keeping the grill grate clean
Is this really desirable? In my experience, you get a lot of flavour from the burning off of the last meal. It's a delicious ancestor effect. Maybe that doesn't bother you.
But washing a cast-iron grill (my assumption, might not be) is also a bit hard on the material. Cast iron is happiest when it's covered in grease. Deep cleaning it between every use might (citation needed) shorten its lifespan.
Keeping the grill grate sanitary
If you're using it like a grill, it's getting really hot. You've nothing to worry about unless you have commercial food safety standards to uphold. Even those don't require a daily deep clean (I'm sure that varies around the world).
Pictures about "Keeping the grill grate clean and sanitary every time"
Quick Answer about "Keeping the grill grate clean and sanitary every time"
The easiest way to keep your grill clean is to brush it before and after cooking. To clean dirty grill grates, soak in vinegar and baking soda, scrubbing with dish soap if needed. Deep clean your grill once or twice per grilling season, or every few months if you use it often.Should you clean grill grates after every use?
Grill grates and racks\u2014and any other surface that touches food\u2014should be cleaned after each use. For best results, wait until after you've grilled.How do I keep my grill grates clean?
Use Vinegar or a Grill Spray Mix two cups of water with two cups of vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray your grill grates with the mixture. Let sit for 10 minutes. After the 10 minutes is up, brush your grates clean with a grill brush\u2014no rinsing required.How often should you wash your grill grates?
Cleaning your grill grates will help reduce rust buildup and ensure tasty food when you grill. You want to scrape your grates after each use, but you should also do a deep cleanse at least once a year.What is the best way to keep a grill clean?
Brush the grates, and wipe down the exterior with some Windex, and you're good to go. It's also a good idea to turn the grill up to high for 15 minutes once a week or so to burn off some of the excess gunk. Doing this ensures that grime doesn't build up too much, which can happen quicker than you expect it to.How To Clean Your Grill like a PRO
More answers regarding keeping the grill grate clean and sanitary every time
Answer 2
You could follow some simple "best" practice when grilling food.
(disclaimer, I use a Weber Q grill with cast-iron grill)
You want to have your food touch the grill, that is how you get nice grill marks; using a regular oven grill will result in the same issues you have; the only situation I would use a different grill is if wanting to grill smaller ingredients that would drop between the grill.
Pre-heat your grill. When the heat is nicely hot, you a sturdy metal brush to clean the grill.
Use a paper towel dipped in some cooking oil to clean the grill (use a pair of tong)
(re)Heat the grill to proper temperature.
Put fish (or any other food on the grill) and cook.
When the food is ready and served, use the metal brush to clean the grill and let the heat cook down any residue for a few minutes more.
If you want to clean the grill with water and soap, use regular dish-soap and use a plastic brush or scrunge sponge and clean it up and make certain you dry it completely to prevent rust (if using cast iron, you can rub a little bit of oil).
Answer 3
Yes, you can bring an indoor oven broiler and put it on top of the outside grill grate, as the metal of the indoor one will absorb the heat of the outside one...
However, it will take a little bit more time for the indoor grill to have the same temperature as the outside one... ¯\_(?)_/¯
Alternatively, use a copper wire brush to clean the grill after you've used it as in this answer here before and after each use while the grill is still hot.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Max Vakhtbovych, Vladimir Gladkov, MART PRODUCTION, Monstera