What a wonderful evening! The compliments on your delicious creations are still ringing in your ears when the guests have left. Enjoy the leftovers together and then get to work pronto, because the barbecue needs to be cleaned. Not the nicest job of the evening, but as a culinary BBQ expert, you know that it is best not to wait until tomorrow. With these tips, you will get the job done quickly and thoroughly.

Cleaning the grille

Brush off the burnt bits with a brush and don't forget the underside of the grille. If you have used a baking tray, a spatula is the most practical cleaning tool. You can easily wipe away the last traces of grease and cooking residue with a cloth or kitchen paper. Then lubricate the grille with some vegetable oil to prevent rusting and it should be back in top condition for the next barbecue party.

Cleaning the pit

The housing of your barbecue also needs to be cleaned from time to time. Scouring pads and aggressive cleaners are not recommended as they leave scratches on the metal. So use a tea towel and a mild detergent instead. Wipe off soap residues with a moist cloth, and lastly wipe everything dry. If your barbecue has a grease drip tray, you can clean it in the same way.

At the end of the season

When your barbecue goes into storage for the winter, it is time for the annual big clean-up. This way, you will be able to prevent mould from forming. Wipe all parts with a cloth and a mild detergent and dry everything thoroughly. Rub the grilles with vegetable oil and wrap them in newspaper for extra protection against rust. Hinges, bolts and other moving parts can be sprayed with WD-40 to make sure they work perfectly again in the new season.

Do you have a gas barbecue? Then also clean the burners before you put it away for the winter. Disconnect the gas pressure regulator and the gas bottle, and read the manual to see how to disassemble and reassemble the burner crowns and burner tubes correctly. The burner tubes can be easily cleaned with a brush and a wet cloth.

Storage

If you are not going to use your barbecue for a while, keep it in a dry place, preferably covered with a special BBQ cover. Remove the cover at least once a month to check for possible condensation, rust formation or build-up of dirt. The best place for the gas bottle to spend the winter is outdoors - under a roof or a tarpaulin - to eliminate any risks beforehand.

The new BBQ season

Sooner or later the long-awaited time comes when we can start enjoying the outdoors again. If you have followed the above tips, the start of the BBQ season will be a piece of cake. Make sure that no insects or mould have gotten into the barbecue during the winter months, give it a quick wipe and your barbecue is ready to be lit. You can read about the easiest and safest way to do this in Lighting a BBQ: how do you do that the best way?