Tip Tuesday

Season and Clean Your Grill Grates

Season your grates with half an onion

This works because onions contain sulfur compounds which is why you cry when cutting them. When heated, these compounds react with the bare metal to form a hard, non-stick sulfide layer.

Preheat the grill as hot as it will get.

Poke an onion half with a grilling fork and rub the onion vigorously along the grates. Apply some aggressive pressure.

Go over the grates several times. This will deliver non-stick grilling and easier release of grill debris and carbon.

Clean your grates with half a lemon and salt

This works because of the abrasive action of the salt, and the cleaning and antibacterial action of the citric acid of the lemon.

After grilling, leave the grill on high heat. Slice a lemon in half and dip the cut side into salt. Poke with a grilling fork and rub the salty lemon half all over the grates.