What is this white powder on my grill?
I have a ceramic grill that I have only ever cooked organic chicken breast and organic steak on. I have occasionally added spice but not for months as it makes too much mess. After cooking, I drizzle warm water mixed with washing up liquid on it from a soft cloth, whilst the grill is still hot (generating a lot of steam), then wipe it in order to clean it efficiently.
After I have cleaned the grill and it starts to cool, I have noticed white powder on it, as shown below.
I can scratch this off gently with my thumbnail and it comes off cleanly, as shown by the highlighted area below:
This leaves a black substance under my nail that has a slight meaty smell:
Can anyone suggest what this is? My first thought was salt, but I don't add any to the meat (or is there enough in it to cause this?). Or could it be something to do with the washing up liquid I use to clean it?
(This is my first question here, be nice. And yes, I know I could write to the manufacturer, but trust impartial individuals on here just as much :))
Best Answer
These could be proteins precipitated from the meat and denatured resulting in coagulation on the surface of your grill by the heat of cooking. These come out of the juices that run when cooking meat.
Denatured proteins are generally insoluble, and are fairly difficult to remove (think cooked egg when it sticks to a surface). The insolubility accounts for your not removing them effectively when using water and detergent, and they generally only appear white when dried.
Pictures about "What is this white powder on my grill?"
What is the white stuff on my grill?
These could be proteins precipitated from the meat and denatured resulting in coagulation on the surface of your grill by the heat of cooking. These come out of the juices that run when cooking meat.How do I get rid of carbon build up in my grill?
Water, a mild dish detergent (like Dawn), and a clean sponge will help safely clean off any remaining residue and carbon from any components. Just make sure to thoroughly rinse and dry them before cooking again.Can mold on grill make you sick?
But you definitely shouldn't.Grill mold can be harmful to humans at worst and can taint the flavor of your food.How to clean your BBQ grill and metal parts of rust dont for get to subscribe
More answers regarding what is this white powder on my grill?
Answer 2
Not sure anyone would be able to tell you definitively, but, if you add water after each use, my guess would be minerals from your water.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Karolina Grabowska, Andrea Piacquadio, Monstera, Mikhail Nilov