A dirty BBQ isn’t just aesthetically displeasing, it’s also a food hazard. That’s why it’s essential to clean after every use. Use a Weber Q brush to clean the grates while the grill is hot, then let it cool. Scrub the Flavorizer Bars and burner tubes, then wash the hot plates. Finally, scrape grease build-up from the drip tray.
Prep your BBQ and keep your grill protected so you don’t need to worry about accidents while cooking. Here’s how to clean a Weber BBQ inside and out.
Why Clean a Weber Q?
Food debris is a potential fire hazard, as is excess grease. It’s essential to maintain a clean grill and drip tray so you can grill food safely. Leaving food residue in your electric or gas grill also heightens the risk of mould growing inside the BBQ.
If you’re throwing a party and you’re not looking forward to the clean-up, make things easier for yourself! An expert cleaning company can take care of tidying up, and you save time and effort, allowing you to clean your grill in peace.
How Often to Clean a Weber Q
Scrub your Weber grill after every use, to prevent food residue and grease from building up. Then wash and deep clean the Q grill every 5–6 uses to remove excess grease.
Cleaning a Weber Q for the first time
We get it – you’re excited to use your Q grill for the first time. But unless you want your steaks to taste slightly metallic, you’ll want to clean your Weber Q before use.
- Remove the protective coating on your brand-new Weber Q.
- Use a soft-bristle brush to scrub the grill grates and other areas exposed to high heat. This goes for porcelain grill grates or metal ones. You can also use a special detergent if your grates are stainless steel.
- Wipe with a clean, damp cloth to remove soapy residue.
- Remove the hot plates and clean them with a sponge dipped in hot soapy water.
- Rinse the hot plates, ensuring there’s no soap left.
- Dry the entire grill with a soft cloth.
- Spray the cooking grill or surface with some BBQ spray oils.
- Fire up the heat to moderate for 30–60 minutes, then let the BBQ cool.
- Again, scrub the grill using a soft-bristle brush and soapy water.
- Rinse with a damp cloth, then dry.
Cleaning Inside a Weber Q
For your Weber grill, you’ll need to clean the grates, hot plates, drip tray, and other components to ensure everything is well-maintained.
The only time you should clean a Weber Q while it’s hot is to scrub the grill grates. Otherwise, for the other parts, wait until your grill is completely cooled before cleaning. If you own a gas grill, disconnect the propane tank before you start.
How to clean a cooking grill
To clean a Weber BBQ, simply heat the grill for 10 minutes on high. Then while the grill is hot, use the Weber grill brush to scrape off any stuck-on food off the cooking grates. Alternatively, you can use a non-Weber stainless steel bristle brush to clean the grill bars.
Do not use a plastic scraper – you could melt the scraper, which is a health hazard.
For porcelain grill grates, use a soft nylon grill brush, not a metal one.
How to clean Flavorizer Bars
Only clean the Flavorizer Bars after the grill has completely cooled. Then use a plastic scraper to scrub off any debris and grease. You can also use a stainless steel grill brush.
How to clean BBQ burner tubes
Remove the grill and use a grill brush to lightly scrub each burner tube. You can use a toothpick or safety pin to get into the holes and crannies for any debris.
Check your owner’s manual if the burner tubes need any specific cleaning methods.
How to clean a BBQ drip tray
This is the aluminium drip tray that collects and funnels grease away from food. Different Weber Q grills have different systems – either a slide-out grease tray or a catch pan. All systems are easy to remove, clean, and replace.
Cleaning the grease management system is essential to preventing a fat fire. Use a cook box scraper to scrape solid debris and grease from the drip tray. Dispose of the drip tray after every 5–6 uses.
How to clean hotplates
If you use cast iron hotplates while cooking on a grill, you’ll need to clean them regularly as well. Leave them on the BBQ for a while with the heat still on, to burn off any food residue remains.
Afterwards, take a newspaper or paper towel, ball it up, and scrub any remaining bits off the plate. You can also use a metal scraper. Then season the plate after the grill has cooled off by pouring some cooking oil onto the plate and spreading it with a brush. Dry with a clean cloth.
Cleaning the Outside of a Weber Q
To clean the Weber Q lid, you can use the special Weber Q cleaner! Alternatively, to clean stainless steel, mix some mild detergent in warm water. Don’t use abrasive scrubbers – you could scratch and damage the surface.
If your lid is showing signs of rust, mix equal parts white vinegar and water. Soak a cloth in the cleaning solution and wring it out so that it’s damp. Gently scrub the affected area in circular motions to remove the rust.
How to Season a BBQ
“Seasoning” a Weber Q means oiling and heating the plates and grills to ensure a debris-free, rust-free, non-stick cooking surface. To season your grill, you’ll need to:
- Preheat your grill, then use a brush to scrub the grates clean of any solid grease.
- Let the grill cool.
- Coat all the surfaces of the grates with a paper towel dipped in cooking oil with a high smoke point (e.g. canola, corn, peanut). Don’t use too much – oil is flammable!
- Wipe off excess oil with another set of clean paper towels.
- Switch your grill on for about 15 minutes to burn off the remaining oil.
- Let the grill cool again, then lightly coat the grates in oil.
- Pre-heat before use.
Weber Q Maintenance
Master the grill in terms of both cooking and cleaning, and you’ll be on your way to perfectly grilled prawns or steak in no time. So long as you know how to clean a Weber BBQ, you’ll prevent any accidents and get a tasty cook every time. Have a grate time grilling!
