How to Prepare Your Barbecue Now for Grilling Season
While some people are lucky enough that they can grill year-round, as an Indianapolis resident, you know that spring is the perfect time for grilling. Before you fire it up and start cooking, you need to make sure it's ready to go. This involves more than just tugging off the cover or pulling it out of the garage. No matter how much time passed since your last barbecue, you can prep your grill with a few tips.
Inspect the grill
Always start with a full inspection of your grill. You want to look for any signs of damage or missing parts and fix the issue before you head to the grocery store. Some of the things to look for during your inspection include:
Corrosion or rust that you need to remove before using it
Bent or broken pipes that lead from your tank to the grill
Lose parts such as the regulator valve and hopper
Any signs that wild animals lived in the grill over the cold season
Clean it
While a grill is the ultimate addition to a luxury outdoor kitchen, it becomes a fire hazard if you don't clean it. A wire brush is one of the best tools to use because it removes all of the corrosion and doesn't require a lot of hard work on your part.
You also need to force water through the burner tubes. It's common in Indianapolis for mice and other small animals to build nests in those tubes during the winter months. The tubes are both warm and dry. Use your garden hose to clear out the tubes before you use the grill for the first time.
Get the tank ready
Many of the top grills use propane tanks. Before you stock up on grilling supplies, make sure the tank is ready to go. Get an idea of how much gas is left first. You don't want to start cooking and find that you run out of fuel halfway through. While you can buy a new propane tank, you can also exchange it for a new one. Some service stations will also refill the tank for you.
Find the right spot
Your grill is a fun deck upgrade that lets you turn your deck into the perfect entertaining spot. Before you set up the grill though, keep in mind that you should never grill under a roof such as your porch roof as this is a fire hazard.
Consider reaching out to a deck expert like The Deck Store. The pros can help you design a great deck that has room for your grill. Let them recommend new additions to your deck that work with your grill and outdoor kitchen, too.
Use these tips to get ready for fun parties with your loved ones and all the delicious BBQ foods you love to make! Check out TheHomeMag on Instagram or use Facebook to find more tips on cleaning and using your grill this season.
