If you invest in a high quality barbecue you want to be able to use it and keep it operational for as long as possible. In order to achieve this it isn’t just essential to carry out regular cleaning during the barbecue season, but also to ensure you do the right preparations for the cold season. Experience shows that the barbecue then actually remains unused for longer periods of time. That’s why it is recommended to carry out another thorough clean of the barbecue at the end of autumn and then store it away carefully. We compile the most important tips for careful winter storage of your gas barbecue.

 

Initial pyrolysis

The key to any bigger barbecue cleaning project is pyrolysis – i.e. burning off the fat residues that stick to the plate and onto the structural elements of the gas barbecue. The fat makes the barbecue dirty, is unavoidable and over the year increasingly more fat residues will build up that you really shouldn’t take with you into the winter period. To carry out an initial pyrolysis the lid of the gas barbecue is closed and the barbecue is fired up to maximum heat. The gas barbecue should run at its limit for approximately 15 minutes in order to burn off all of the fat particles. This doesn’t make them disappear but they are then easier to remove and don’t stick to the grill quite so stubbornly any more.

 

Brush off the dirt

After the pyrolysis the dirt, which has built up over months becomes unstuck and hangs onto the plate and to the interior of the barbecue in its charcoaled state. Now you need to get on the case with a barbecue brush. Rub down the grate and the funnel vigorously so that the soft particles fall into the fat tray. It takes a bit of time, but it is the basis for the next steps and really cleans up the barbecue. A high quality gas barbecue desperately needs this wellness treatment before the winter.

 

Give it a high gloss shine – with the right cleaning materials

Inside the barbecue, particularly on the funnel, there are still some small dirt particles attached, which can be easily wiped off with a gentle cleaning material and a cloth. Important: do not use any abrasive cleaning materials or scouring agents – they could damage the materials of the gas barbecue. Ideally you should spray the barbecue with a suitable cleaning agent (e.g. with the Outdoorchef Chef Cleaner) leave the cleaning agent to take effect for approximately 10 minutes and then thoroughly wipe out the inner parts of the barbecue and the plate with a cloth. A brief final pyrolysis process burns off the final cleaning agent residues and concludes the thorough cleaning process.

 

 

Remove the fat/emptying the fat tray

If you don’t make the effort to empty the fat tray beneath the barbecue after every use and refill it with Outdoorchef Grillpowder you should at least clean it once before the winter at the latest. Logically you should only plan to do this after the pyrolysis, brushing off and the cleaning with the cleaning agents as dirt particles and residues from the cleaning agent will still drip into the fat tray during the cleaning process. What’s more the Outdoorchef Grillpowder is biodegradable and therefore it can be disposed of in the biodegradable waste or put on the compost. This is the last step before the barbecue is secured, packed up and stored away safely to protect it from the winter.

 

Cleaning the plate

The winter break is always a welcome opportunity to finally clean the grill plate again. There are various insider tips when it comes to the cleaning of the grill plate. A classic option is a paste made of water and baking soda, which is used to rub down the plate. After a short treatment time the plate can be brushed off and rinsed off which makes the dirt come off easily. Other sources recommend special barbecue cleaning agents with powerful fat solvent properties. In general cleaning stainless steel plates is significantly easier. If the fat has been removed you should rub down the plate with some cooking oil and wrap it in paper – so that it can survive the winter well protected.

 

Close the gas bottle

Before the barbecue is sent off to hibernate the gas bottle absolutely must be closed and stored safely. In addition, you must ensure that the gas supply has been turned off. The gas bottle needs to be professionally closed and must definitely be stored in a location outside of the house for safety reasons. You also need to make sure that the bottle is not exposed to direct sunlight. An open garage, carport or a garden shed is an ideal storage space.

 

Proper storage

If the gas bottle has been detached the barbecue can easily be stored in the house, for example in the cellar. Basically it is important that it spends the winter in a place that is as dry as possible and is protected from the wind. As not everyone has the option of accommodating their barbecue in the cellar, water-resistant protective covers offer a sensible alternative. With this option, you must make sure that the barbecue is carefully covered and that no moisture can get inside at all. If you follow all of these instructions you can relax and look forward to unpacking the barbecue at the beginning of spring again and starting the barbecue season with a clean and sparkling gas barbecue.

 

Cleaning different surfaces / materials

 

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