One of the great pleasures of owning and cooking on a hibachi grill is eating the food that you have cooked. The problem is cleaning it. You probably know how to use soap, so that part’s not difficult. But when you’re dealing with an enclosed metal grill, there’s a lot of places for food residue to hide from soap and hot water. In order to remove stubborn grease and grime from your Hibachi Grill, try using some vinegar as an effective cleaner.
Have you ever gone to a Hibachi restaurant, seen one of those cooks put spatulas up their nose and flip a cake in the air? Did it impress you? Well, they’re not doing that without some experience. And at least one cooking item has to do with that experience. You see, Hibachi chefs know how to clean their own grills.
There are many ways to clean a Hibachi grill, but this one is my favorite because it’s quick and easy.
How to Clean a Hibachi Grill
Grills are a great way to have a barbecue while keeping your kitchen neat and tidy. They keep food hot while also providing an excellent social area. But even though they may look like they’re easy to clean, if you don’t know how to do it right, it might be hard to get rid of all the residue that can build up on your grill without contaminating your food!
That’s why we’ve put together this post with everything you need about how to clean a hibachi grill step by step. We’ll teach you how to clean your hibachi grill from top to bottom and give you some great tips to keep around that will come in handy when taking care of your hibachis.
Cleaning A Hibachi Grill
There are a few things that you need to clean before you can go ahead and use a hibachi grill again. This includes the grate itself and the heating elements. Here’s how to do it:
The Grate
The first thing you need to clean when it comes to hibachi grills is the actual grate. This is the cast iron part that you cook your food on and where most of the residue ends up. One thing you need to keep in mind before you start cleaning your grates is that if you’re going to use a hibachi grill for a long time, its best to have it seasoned. This will make the cast iron more resistant to wear and will make it easier for the food residue to be removed.
For cleaning, simply remove the grate and soak it in a mix of vinegar and cooking oil. Leave this soak for at least two hours or overnight (up to 24 hours). Then, you can scrub the grates with steel wool and remove all the residue. Don’t use a sponge or a scouring pad, as these may ruin the natural oils of the grill.
After you’re done, simply clean them in water and then dry it with a clean towel. Another good thing to try is to sprinkle some coarse salt on the grate and rub it around with sandpaper. This will get rid of any grease that might have been left behind after washing.
Heating Elements
If you have a charcoal hibachi grill, you’ll need to clean the heating elements too. The easiest thing to do is simply remove them and wash them under running water. If they are really dirty, you can use steel wool or coarse salt to scrub the grime off the element.
After all the residue is gone, simply dry the heating element with a towel and then place it back in its original place before plugging it in.
This is all you need to know about hibachi grill cleaning. Of course, if you want to learn more about grilling, make sure you check out our blog and get our special report on grilling!
A Clean Charcoal Box
Another thing that should be cleaned with care is the charcoal box itself. This is where most of the residue ends up. In order to do so, you first need to remove the lid and soak it in a solution of water and a little bit of ammonia. Let it sit overnight and then proceed with scrubbing the bottom with steel wool to remove any grease build-up.
After this, you can wipe the box clean with a piece of paper towels, rinse it under cold water and then dry it completely before placing it back on its original place.
Thanks for reading! See you next time.
Learn also how to choose the best campfire grill grate.
Sukhen is a passionate blogger and traveler who visited many historical places in Bangladesh, Myanmar, India, and Thailand. He’s an avid camper, so he shares his knowledge of camping and wildlife with his readers. He also helps readers plan their own camping trips. To know more, stay connected with Outdoor Awaits.