As the warm weather rolls in and grilling season is finally here, you’re probably excited to fire up your BBQ grill.
But, you might be in for a shock when you go to use it and find a yucky layer of mold covering it.
That’s definitely a bummer, but don’t let it ruin your grilling fun – you can easily get rid of the mold and have your grill back to its old self, ready to cook up some amazing meals.
In this post, I’ll go over why your BBQ grill has mold and how to clean it.
Mold loves places that are damp, greasy, and don’t have much air moving around – which is basically the perfect setup for a grill, especially if you’re not storing it right.
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If your grill is stored in a humid place, or if you don’t properly dry it out after cleaning, moisture can build up and create a breeding ground for mold.
And if you cover your grill up, you might actually be making things worse by keeping all that moisture trapped inside.
Plus, leftover bits of food and grease on your grill grates and grease catcher are a food source for mold.
Cooking on a grill covered in mold isn’t just gross to look at and might mess with the taste of your food – it can actually be really bad for your health.
Some molds make toxins that can trigger allergies, mess with your breathing, and even lead to serious health issues if you eat them.
Plus, the funky smells and tastes from mold can mess up the delicious meal you’re cooking.
So, it’s not just about appearances – keeping your grill mold-free is crucial for your health and for enjoying your BBQ without any unexpected side effects.
Now that you know what causes mold to grow on your grill, let’s get into how you can get rid of it:
Before you start cleaning, make sure you take some precautions.
Get rid of stuff like charcoal, lava rocks, or ceramic briquettes because they can hold onto mold and are hard to clean properly.
Also, put on some protective gear like a mask and gloves to keep yourself safe from breathing in or touching mold spores. It’s important to do this to protect yourself and make sure you clean everything up well.
Alright, first things first, get that grill fired up nice and hot to kill off any mold, grease, or food bits hanging around. This initial burn will make the cleaning job a lot easier.
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Once the grill cools down, it’s time to roll up your sleeves.
Grab a wire brush, scraper, or even a pressure washer if your grill can handle it, and give everything a good scrub – grates, walls, all the nooks and crannies.
After scrubbing, give the whole grill a good wash with soapy water.
Rinse it well to get rid of any soap left behind.
Lastly, fire up the grill one more time at a high heat for a bit. This will zap any leftover mold, grease, or soap, leaving you with a clean and safe grill for your next cookout.
If you’ve got ceramic grills like the Kamado-style ones, you’ll have to be extra careful.
Don’t go using any strong chemicals, degreasers, power washers, or rough tools because they can mess up the delicate ceramic.
Stick to the heat trick – crank up the heat to burn off all that mold and gunk, then grab a plastic scraper or brush to gently get rid of any leftover mess.
This way, you’ll keep your ceramic grill in top shape without risking any damage to its surface.
Now that your grill is free of that nasty mold, here’s how to keep it that way:
Find a nice dry spot with good airflow, like a shed or garage, to keep your grill when not in use.
If you do use a cover, make sure it’s one that lets air move around, not one that traps moisture. And when you’re done cooking, leave those vents open or prop the lid up a bit to let air circulate and stop any moisture from building up inside.
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That way, you can avoid dealing with mold all over again.
Keeping your grill clean and in good shape is key to stopping mold from creeping back in.
Get into the routine of giving your grill a once-over after every cookout, scraping off any leftover food bits and giving it a wipe down.
Crank up the heat to burn off any gunk or grease that’s built up every now and then too.
And if you want to really go the extra mile, think about getting a pro to give your grill a deep clean once a year or whenever it starts looking a bit rough.
Finding mold on your grill can be a real bummer, but it’s not the end of the world.
Just follow the simple cleaning process outlined here and you can get your grill back in shape and be enjoying those delicious, mold-free grilled meals in no time.
And make sure you’re storing and maintaining your grill properly!
FAQs
Using charcoal that has mold on it can be risky. While some say that burning it at a high heat can get rid of the mold, there’s a chance that mold can make toxins that are harmful if you breathe them in or eat them.
To kill bacteria on a grill, you need to get it really hot. Bacteria start to die off at around 149°F (65°C), but it’s best to aim for higher temperatures to be safe.
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