\n<\/p>\n
Barbecue season is back\u2014but so is the reality of whatever\u2019s been lurking inside your grill since last summer. If you opened the lid and immediately regretted it, same. Did I let out an audible yelp when I cracked open my Coleman the first time I used it this year? I sure did. So I went straight to the source for grill-cleaning tips: a Texas barbecue pitmaster.<\/p>\n
Barrett Black, fourth-generation pitmaster at Texas\u2019s oldest barbecue joint, The Original Black\u2019s Barbecue, knows how to keep his grill tidy. According to him, it\u2019s not about scrubbing harder\u2014it\u2019s scrubbing smarter (and more often than you think). \u201cCleaning should be a habit, not a chore. Something you do at the end [of your cook] so the next cook is easy,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s about controlling flavor. If your grill is dirty, you\u2019re not tasting your food, you\u2019re tasting your last mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re like me and tired of tasting your last mistakes, you\u2019ve come to the right place. Black breaks down the cleaning routine he uses every time he gets into the pit, so that you can copy at home. Follow a Texas pitmaster\u2019s easy tips below for a better grill session every time.<\/p>\n
For Stubborn Buildup, Grab a Good Scrubber<\/p>\n
Black says you don\u2019t need a ton of gadgets to keep your grates glistening. If they are<\/em> in desperate need of some TLC, he recommends using a chainmail grill brush, ideally with a long, sturdy handle to get in there and safely clean the hard-to-reach places.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s abrasive enough to get the job done without tearing up your grates, holds up to high heat, and it\u2019s easy to clean,\u201d says Black. \u201cWhen it\u2019s backed with something flexible like silicone, it helps it form to the grates and lets you put pressure where you need it.\u201d<\/p>\n It can be tempting to pick up the first bristly grill brush you see at your local hardware store, but Black says to avoid cheap wire or nylon grill brushes at all costs. \u201cThey\u2019re hard to keep clean, the bristles bend, they wear out fast, and they can come loose and end up on your grates,\u201d he says. \u201cThat\u2019s not something you want anywhere near your food, or in it.\u201d You’re actually better off just pushing around some aluminum foil with a pair of tongs to get debris off.<\/p>\n