Barbecue Care

Keeping your barbecue running all summer long is dependent on frequent barbecue care, not to mention getting the right accessories to help keep up with food orders. Whether you’re planning a big garden party or a quiet Sunday afternoon lunch, the Dobbies barbecue care guide will help you make the most of your outdoor dining experience.

Barbecue accessories

Most gas barbecues are modular and can be built into the ultimate al-fresco kitchen. The list of add-ons and accessories is endless but we’ve listed below the most useful gas barbecue accessories:

• Side burners for cooking sauces
• Thermometer
• Storage space for keeping tools and sauces
• Worktops for holding marinades and beers
• A lid
• Rotisseries for turning roasts
• Smokers to create that authentic barbecue smell and taste
• Griddles

All barbecues require some essential tools such as wire brushes to clean the grill, tongs for moving hot coals, spatulas, basting brushes for marinating meat, heat-protecting gloves and of course skewers for that barbecue classic, the kebab.

To help you cater for a variety of different recipes, we’ve listed our top three favourite barbecue accessories for this summer, which can be added to charcoal barbecues:

• Warming rack – this sits raised above the actual grill and allows you to warm food without cooking or burning it. This is ideal for bruschetta or rolls which can be heated through whilst leaving space to sizzle sausages.

• Pizza stone – this allows you to bake pizzas, bread or cakes on the barbecue. It works best with the barbecue lid down to create an oven effect, and the stone simply sits on the grill. As the heat rises from the coals below, the pizza heats right through with no soggy middle.

• Rotisserie – an electric rotisserie is a large skewer allowing you to roast whole chickens or joints. A motor is attached which rotates the skewer ensuring the meat is cooked evenly right through to crispy brown perfection.

Barbecue cleaning

There is nothing worse than getting the barbecue out for the first sunny weekend of the year only to discover that the grill is coated in gunk from last year’s sausages and needs a thorough scrubbing. The best way to keep food tasting good is to clean the barbecue each time it’s used by following five simple steps:

1. Keep the barbecue on to burn off any cooking juices and residues.
2. Soak the grill in a bowl of warm soapy water.
3. Remove any food solids with a bristle or wire brush and dry off any water or particles with a dry paper towel.
4. Coat the grill with a thin layer of cooking oil before you put it away. This will help prevent rust build up and any particles sticking to it.
5. Make sure you give it a quick clean in warm soapy water before you use it again.

Most stains can be removed with warm soapy water but for thicker stains on stainless steel surfaces a stainless steel wool or nylon scrubber should be used, as an ordinary scrubber will scratch the surface and encourage rust.

A stainless steel polish should also be used to keep it looking shiny and clean. Any polishing or scrubbing should be done in the direction of the polish lines of the steel.

Barbecue maintenance

Spring is a good time for your barbecue’s yearly inspection. Charcoal barbecues don’t have hoses, valves and electrodes to check, but it is still worth giving it a quick once-over to blow away any cobwebs and to make sure it is free of rust and that the grill is clean to use.

If you have a gas barbecue, following the checklist below is a good way of ensuring its longevity and safety; consider it as payback time for all those juicy steaks enjoyed last summer!

1. Burn the grill and the inside of the barbecue the night before by leaving it on for 30 minutes. This will burn off most grease and residue.
2. Once it’s cooled down again, make sure the control knobs and gas cylinder valve are off.
3. Remove and clean out the burners and grill using a bucket of soap water and a brush, then leave them out to dry before replacing them.
4. Check ignition of each spark electrode against the user manual to make sure it is the correct distance from the burner. Ensure electrodes are free of grease by cleaning with a soft cloth.
5. Clean all surface areas with warm soapy water or barbecue cleaner and polish surfaces.
6. Ensure all cabinet and door hinges are secure and tight.
7. Test the gas supply hose to make sure there are no leaks. Do this by brushing a mixture of 50% water and 50% soap all over the hose. Open the barbecue lid, switch off the burner controls and open the gas cylinder valve. If bubbles appear then the hose has a leak and needs to be replaced.

Barbecue storage

The best place to store your barbecue is outside or in a garage. It should never be stored in an indoors living space. A strong waterproof barbecue cover should be used to keep it clean and dry and to protect it from the weather, sun, dust and pollution.

For gas barbecues, you should store the gas cylinder attached to the barbecue in an upright position, making sure the cylinder valve is switched off. Keep the gas hose free of any knots to prevent wear and tear.

Ensuring your barbecue is kept clean, dry and safe over the winter saves any nasty surprises and also means less maintenance during the summer months when you should be busy grilling away and enjoying a beer or two with your guests.