A Little Cleaning Goes a Long Way for Safe, Enjoyable Grilling

Now is the time of year when the hearty fare is getting old. We’re all looking forward to the lighter, brighter food of spring and summer!

Many of those mouth-watering meals will be made on propane grills. What’s better? Blue Flame makes propane grilling easy with our Lil’ Hank’s Tank Exchange, located at retail establishments all over our service area of Southern New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania.

But before you throw your first steak or kebab on the grill, you need to do a deep spring cleaning of your propane grill so that it operates safely and grills your food perfectly.

Here’s what you should do:

• Pre-heat the grill for 15 minutes on high heat, then, turn off the grill.  
• Turn the gas off—either on the propane tank or the gas line.   
• Clean the grill using a grill-cleaning brush dipped in water or another grill-cleaning tool. Don’t lean over the grill while cleaning, as this should create plenty of steam.   
• For tough grease spots, add dish soap to the water or a grill cleaner.   
• Once the surface has cooled, wipe the grate with a damp cloth to remove residue or brush bristles. 
• Remove burners from the gas supply line and remove blockages to the burner’s gas ports using a dry wire brush. 
• Clean the burner valve with soapy water and run water through the inside of the valve.   
• Clean the inside of the grill using a wire brush and warm soapy water and rinse with water. Towel-dry the burners and reinstall. 
• When washing the outside of a stainless-steel grill, use a specially formulated stainless steel grill cleaner and micro fiber cloth. Ceramic, porcelain, and painted steel surfaces can be cleaned using soap and water.   
• Always store your propane grill and propane tanks outside. NEVER operate a propane grill indoors. 
• Always try to keep the grill protected with a grill cover. 

Propane Grilling Tips

This shouldn’t be the last time you’ll be cleaning the grill this year. In fact, regular maintenance and cleaning are essential to keeping your grill operating at peak safety and performance.

Did you know that one in five grill fires is caused by leftover grease? Empty and clean the grease trap frequently, ideally after each use. Insects like to make themselves at home in a grill’s burner tubes, creating clogs. Check those and clean as needed.
 
When setting up your propane BBQ grill, make sure it is on level, stable ground to prevent it from tipping. It also needs to be at least five feet away from the house, outdoor furniture, railings, trees, and shrubs.

Make sure you ALWAYS have propane for your grilling by getting a fresh, full propane cylinder at your local Lil’ Hank’s Tank Exchange! Contact us today to find the exchange location nearest you.