How to return your grill grate to perfection during barbecue season: life hacks that work

May holidays - it's time to take out the grill grates or skewers. It’s just that after long storage they often turn out to be covered with rust or dried fat. But what to do if you don’t want to spend money on a new grille? Returning your grill to its original appearance is not that difficult if you use methods that work. In this article, YokoSun shares life hacks that really help.

Remove rust from grill or skewers

You can remove old rust in different ways. Many methods are often cited online, for example, using soda and citric acid or special cleaning products. Let's look at the most popular ones.

• Citric acid. Capable of removing light rust without damaging the surface. To remove grease and rust, you will have to rub the grate with lemon slices and wait 20 minutes. If the grille is large, this is simply inconvenient, and besides, lemon juice will not cope with old stains and severe rust.
• Soda. It will help deal with scale and old stains, but there is one “but”. You'll have to make an effort. The soda paste must be applied to the grill and the surface thoroughly rubbed - only then the effect of the product will be noticeable.
• Grease removers. They even remove old stains and require virtually no effort. They quickly deal with even stubborn dirt: for example, Anti-grease from YokoSun can only take a few minutes to combat rust and soot. The main thing is to thoroughly rinse off any remaining product before using the grill.

Tip: pay attention to what material the skewers are made of. Aluminum does not tolerate vinegar, citric acid and soda, and stainless steel does not tolerate mechanical damage.

Get rid of simple grease stains on the grill

Fat is the main enemy of delicious barbecue and even more so of grilled vegetables. The food acquires an unpleasant bitter taste, and it is simply unhygienic. Slightly more gentle methods will also help you deal with fat. 

• Fire calcination. An option for those who did not have time to prepare skewers or grills for the barbecue. However, it will not help completely get rid of fat particles; scale may form, and cleaning will require about 20 minutes of calcination over a fire.
• Warm bath for the grill grate. Add some dish gel to warm water and soak the grates or skewers in it. After a few minutes, wipe the surface with a soft sponge. For such a “bath”, highly concentrated products are suitable, which are also easily washed off with water - such as YokoSun dishwashing gel.

Tip: abrasives (wire brushes, scrapers) damage the grate coating. After them, rust appears faster.

Protection - how to extend the life of the grille

Even perfectly cleaned metal will take on an unassuming appearance if used carelessly. Here are some life hacks that will help.

• Oil. Regular oil can prevent food from sticking to the grill or skewers. Lubricate the surface with it before use - this will help food stick less.
• Cleanse after each use. Grill grates or skewers must be sanitized after each use. If food remains have literally “eaten” into the surface, forming soot, use a grease remover.
• Dryness. After each cleaning of the grill or skewers, it is important to ensure that the surface is dry. Moisture is one of the main causes of rust. Wipe the grill thoroughly after cleaning.

Folk methods are suitable for easy cleaning, but in advanced cases they only waste your time. If you want to quickly prepare your grill for the season, choose solutions that are sure to work. After all, the May holidays are meant for relaxation, and not for the endless struggle with rust and grease stains.