Cleaning a Collapsible Grill After a Cook

A five-minute routine for cleaning grates, griddle plates and the firebox of a flat pack charcoal grill so it's ready next time.

The best time to clean is while the grill is still warm, not hot. Five minutes now saves twenty later.

The routine

1. While the grates are warm, scrape them with a grill scraper or balled-up foil held in tongs.
2. Scrape griddle plates with a flat scraper; wipe with a paper towel.
3. Let everything cool fully.
4. Empty the ash (safe ash disposal).
5. Wipe cooking surfaces with a thin coat of oil or seasoning balm.
6. Pack flat and store dry.

Stuck-on food

Warm the grill again over a few coals, then scrape. For griddle plates, a splash of water on a warm plate lifts residue. Avoid soaking carbon steel; if you wash it, dry it immediately over heat and oil it.

What not to do

• Don't put carbon steel parts in a dishwasher.
• Don't leave it wet overnight.
• Don't use oven cleaner on cooking surfaces.

The one-minute care habit

Most carbon steel problems come from skipping the last minute of a cook. After the grill cools, scrape the grates, empty the ash, and wipe a whisper-thin coat of oil or Seasoning Balm on the cooking surfaces. Store it dry. That habit is the difference between a grill that darkens into a slick patina and one that shows orange freckles every spring. If freckles do show up, it's not a disaster: see surface rust.

Mistakes new flat pack owners make

1. Too much charcoal. A small firebox gets very hot. Start with half a chimney and add.
2. No cool zone. Without an empty end, a flare-up has nowhere to go.
3. Cooking on black coals. Wait for gray ash.
4. Old ash left in. It blocks airflow; empty it before every cook.
5. Heavy oil when seasoning. Thin coats cure; thick coats turn gummy.
6. Packing it warm. Wait until steel and ash are cold, every time.

Fire safety on any collapsible grill

• Outdoors only. Burning charcoal makes carbon monoxide, which you can't see or smell. Never use it in a garage, tent, camper, vehicle, boat cabin or under a roof or awning.
• Non-combustible, level ground. Soil, gravel, sand, concrete, pavers or a fire-safe pad.
• Clearance. Away from walls, vehicles, tents, overhanging branches and dry grass. Kids and pets kept back.
• Seated tabs. Check every tab is fully in its slot before you add fuel.
• Water and gloves at hand. Hot steel looks exactly like cold steel.
• Leave it alone until cold. Don't move or take apart a lit or warm grill.

Questions people ask