How to Clean Your Weber Kettle
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- My Weber kettle hadn't been clean in a while and I figured I should show my process for cleaning it out. It's pretty easy and will help your kettle last a long time by avoid corrosion that could damage the bowl and ash cleaner. Maintenance is the key to keeping your grill around for a long time.
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You will need:
Degreaser (simple green or recipe below) amzn.to/2K9GmxI
Plastic Scraper
Razor Blade (if desired)
Sponge
Homemade degreaser:
1 cup water
1 cup vinegar
2 tsp dish soap
Mix it all together and put in a spray bottle. It doesn't have any chemicals, which makes it safe for food surfaces. You'll still want to rinse things off when you are done.
Did I get it too clean? Try the lazy-man method of cleaning your kettle: ua-cam.com/video/8ecqc-h8p74/v-deo.html
I try to keep my kettle AWAY from water and chemicals. And I don’t scrape the pit with any sharp tools. The more you do this the more likely it is you ruin the coating and have the steel exposed. Once (not stainless) steel comes in contact to water and chemicals it starts to rust. And rusting steel doesn’t stop rusting by itself like aluminium. So, sorry to say, result of you cleaning is exactly the opposite of what you‘re trying to achieve.
I use a medium soft brush to remove anything sticking to the kettle after the cook. Anything that requires force to remove I leave it in there until it burns away by itself. Although it might not be pretty to look at, it doesn’t hurt the next cook in any way.
Whats your cleaning process like?
Ashes are just as bad if not worse than water. And stainless will rust.
4 years and I have never cleaned mine. Needed to see this, haha.
Mines at least a decade or more old and I’ve never gone past what was shown at 1:30. Scraping the bottom is as far as I’ve taken it.
I use Easy Off oven cleaner. Spray it on, cover with a trash bag for a few hours and wipe clean with a sponge and soapy water. Like a brand new oven.
That’s the route I’m taking.
Thanks man, you got a soothing voice like Bob Ross
Ha ha! Thanks. Life is good if you have a happy little kettle.
Razor blade does not scratch anything. Only scratches will be from long use of ash sweeper. I have NEVER scratched a kettle and I have 17 of them going back to the 50’s.
That's quite the collection!
i don't understand this at all. If your grill is enamel coated then you don't have to worry about rust as long as that coating remains. Attacking it with a razor blade is EXACTLY the fastest way to destroy/scratch the coating and leave it prone to rust............
I started with the least aggressive methods before I used the razor blade. Weber suggests using a steel grill brush and steel wool to clean out the bowl. The only damage when I was done was from the one-touch ash cleaning system not the razor. Caked on grease and ash traps moisture in the grill which contributes to rust too. You have to pick your poison.
Grill Top Experience my point is that you state the reason for this cleaning is to prevent corrosion. Oxidation (rust) requires oxygen. Why do I oil my Japanese steel kitchen knives? To prevent corrosion. A small level of oxidation actually prevents further corrosion. This cleaning you suggest makes no sense. If there are areas of exposed metal then you are better off focussing on those and oiling them at the end of the season/over winter to prevent rusting than you are to use de- greasers, razor blades etc. I'll advised video, poor advice imho.
Agreed
Yeah I clean my kettle between every 4 to 5 cooks, depending on what I cooked and for how long. My main reason for cleaning is not really to get it clean, but more to prevent built-up grease and old marinades and sauces and crap from burning when I do new cooks. That won't do.
That's definitely not the kind of season you want!
I have been using my Weber since 1986 without cleaning anything but the cooking grate. I see no benefit to doing this.
Jeffrey Wagner there isn’t. This guy just wants the views lol
@@TSAVVVV or he likes keeping his shit clean lmao
Actually the ash sweep will wear out if you don't clean the bowl. I've seen that happen.
I see no problem in routinely cleaning the inside of your grill.. maybe don't do it every week. But I always clean the inner parts of my Webber including the charcoal grate at the beginning of the season. Something doesn't sit right with me letting ash, charcoal, and grease sit in the bottom for months on end like that.
His Kettle he can clean it how he wants.
I clean mine down after every use as well.
To each their own.
Why clean a grill? I don’t clean my smoker either I was taught by my grandfather that these should be seasoned like a cast iron skillet, which I don’t ever use a cleaner. I do brush clean the grate. I just don’t get it. It would be more practical to have two separate grills, one to use and one to keep shiny and clean.
My ugly drum smoker is seasoned like a cast iron pan and all I do is rinse it out every once and a while. The kettle is coated with a combination of grease and ash which can trap moisture. I'd prefer to clean it, but that's a once or twice a year event.
If you don’t clean kettle grills, you will have a grease fire! Experience taught me that.
Gosh who would want to eat anything you cook on your grill...
@@neutraIdrop I guess you use pink toilet paper, GAPING ASSHOLE!
@@dps6198 People who are hungry lol
Might not be entirely needed, but I’m greatly impressed with your thoroughness and the beautiful cosmetic result. Not many people go to this much effort to preserve their possessions these days. Quite admirable, regardless of necessity.
Thanks. It's not shiny after you cook on it once. I try to keep it around, but it's also a shame not to use it.
Thanks for the video! Really helpful tip at the end about not putting on any sort of wax, unfortunately, I did that (an actual auto detailer said to do so) and now I have all this residue on top of my grill and it is pissing me off! I will try and get some degreaser to get it off. Thanks again!!
I clean my bowl once a year, and I am not super aggressive. I hose it down, spray some oven cleaner on it and let it sit. I use a wooden slat to scrape the loosened gunk as I don't want to damage the finish. I do this a couple of times and call it good. I rinse it well and leave it bake in the sun. I never clean the lid, that's where all the mojo is. I scrape my grill grate before every cook and do a good cleaning of it when I do the bowl, once a year. My grill grate is black as hell, but no food sticks to it if you are grilling properly and will probably go for another 20 years.
I use simple green as well. Great info.
No chemicals just scrap shit off the inside .....and scrap inside its 100 bucks .if it gets too bad buy another one .Do Not spray chemicals into your grill. It takes like 10 minutes to properly clean your grill. If you grill on one side the coals remember to turn grill around and cook on the other side the coals on one side over and over again can warp your grill............
Smh this is terrible advise. Plastic scrape and that’s it people. Scrape the grates and call it a day mines 15 years old and that’s all I’ve done to it. Always always cover it out doors after you cut the air supply and it cools out a cover on it.
My kettle is still in perfect shape. I think we can agree that the worst thing you can do is leave the wet greasy ash in the bottom of the bowl. I've seen quite a few fail that way.
"Seasoning" is an excuse to be LAZY. Do you keep your indoor oven, pots and pans dirty? LOL.
That's probably the same guy that commented that he added the video to his wife's playlist! I think that was a different cleaning video, but still!
@@GrillTopExperience YOUCH!! HAHA
Some people never clean their cast iron pans and honestly all you need is a cast iron pan, dutch oven, Pot and a Stock Pot for any kitchen.
These people who never clean their grills and talk about "Someone" who told them about "seasoning" their grill somehow, like an iron skillet, reminds me of people on "Car Talk" who do things like turn their headlights off a half mile from home at night because their Dad told them it saves the battery. Like you say further down, "most of the flavor comes from what drips on the coals." And the smoke, of course. Seasoning is about making things non-stick. Ya still gotta clean the food chunks and excess grease/oil out of your iron skillet (hot water and a brush) or you'll be spending a lot of time sitting on the Emergency Room toilet, throwing up into one of those kidney-shaped basins. I hope that the folks who heed "Grandpa's Advice" at least keep a bucket of sand AND a fire extinguisher AND a cell phone, with 911 on speed dial, nearby . . . and make sure their homeowner's insurance is all paid up.
You are so right. I've had lots of people say seasoning is about the flavor. Rancid grease...Yum!
We have two weber grill for more than 10 years only thing the bottom shelf breake so I weld up a new shelf we are getting new scraper and I know it’s gonna last for a couple more years
I used Dawn with heavy duty degreaser, a very course steel wool, a razor scraper, a narrow blade putty knife and polymer mechanics gloves. Where the real problem was the vent on the grill lid. So I used charcoal lighter fluid and worked the vent back and forth until it spun around freely. Then I used Dawn plus the course steel wool and worked the grease and soot by turning the vent back and forth while holding the steel wool in one of the holes and did this until the vent could spin without any resistance.
I pretty much cleaned mine the way you cleaned yours. But I got started right as the sun came up because I didn't want to do this in the heat of the day. I replaced the top grill because it was time.
Thank you for sharing the tips! I'd bet lighter fluid would do quick work on the grease. Those vents can get really nasty if you don't clean them.
i use a leaf blower to help dry those are to reach areas.
That's good advice, Javier. An air compressor would work well too. I live in a desert, and things dry quickly. That makes rust less of an issue.
I have a Weber performer with the table. I do a similar process but also use baking soda all over the outside bowl. It sticks to grease like a magnet and works as a gentle polish. My grill is 6 years old and I can see myself in the paint.
I bet that works great. I've used baking soda on a few things and it's worked well. It's also a good alternative for people who are concerned about chemicals in the grill.
vincent Esquilin how you do it you just dump it in there and rinse it out ?
G'day, watched your video and thought it was good but would perhaps NOT use a metal scraper or razor blade to clean the inside as if you damage the coating it will degrade the kettle quickly. A plastic spatula would be OK I guess. My big concern is what about the lawn when you rinse it off?. I used oven cleaner on my Weber kettle once and had a beautifully dead patch of lawn for about the next 5 years absolutely killed it. Did your cleaning or degreasing mix hurt your lawn? Cheers
No, simple green isn't as caustic as I en cleaner. It won't burn the grass if you use a bunch of water.
I use super clean and its a better degreaser than simple green!
Thanks for sharing! I'll have to try it sometime.
What grate would you recommend I buy for a used performer I bought last weekend? Or, how would you recommend I clean the rusty grate it came with?
Tom Horsman published a video recently on cleaning rusty grates. Often it's just surface rust and a good scrape and some oil will restore them. If you are looking for new ones, SNS Grills makes some stainless ones that will last a long time. I've also had good luck with the cheap ones from Weber.
Yeah no. I usually enjoy your videos. but this one is just silly.
Wtf, his face is like 15 but his voice spuds like he's 50. Great vid. Threw me off when he started talking
The truth is somewhere in between. Sorry to throw you for a loop. Thanks for the laugh.
Finally a video where the bbq is actually dirty
I've had a few complaints about my gas grill cleaning video because of that. I'm glad you appreciate the dirty kettle!
Had a webber that's was handed down from my father to me. It's about 30 years old. Used very very heavily. Never scrubbed clean like this. No grease fire,no bad flavor, no rust nothing but great BBQ
@Quintin Brown ok but how do you clean it?
@@jccgold I only clean the grill with a wire brush.
Company has changed.
They don't build them like they used to.
Finally someone who understands the importance of cleaning the damn thing! So many people live the “fire will kill it all of” lie.
I never use a wire brush, as shown. The problem is that a piece of wire may adhere to your grate and thansfer to food, swallowed, and then a trip to the ER is needed. Instead use a crumpled piece of aluminum foil, making sure to get in between the grate wires...it is safer and does a great job....bon appetit...😎
Your kettle is not going to last longer if you clean it.
It certainly will if you have a habit of leaving greasy ash in the bottom.
Great video...just purchased my first kettle yesterday 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Now it's time to get it dirty!
Easiest way of doing it is by using ammonia. First is get a round pan about 10 inches in diameter and about 4 inches deep or a couple of your empty gallon jugs with the top cut off leaving about 4 inches on the bottom.remove the top grate leaving the charcoal grate on there then place your pan or jugs and fill it with ammonia.put the top grate back because it will clean that too then put the lid on and make sure the intake and exhaust is close.seal around the lid with duct tape Leave the ammonia inside for a day or 2 depending on how crusty it is and voila those crusty baked on bbq sauce will just start peeling off by itself and theres some spots that you might have to use a little elbow grease to scub it. The fumes on the ammonia is what does the trick, This method also works on gas stove grates and top if its removable. I havent tried it on the oven since we hardly use the oven and make sure to wear gloves and do it outside
Nice cleanup!
Good video. The stuff that looks like the paint is peeling is carbon
You got it. It cleaned off easy though. Weber suggests cleaning the lid after every cook to avoid it.
I cleaned my kettle today using your method with the plastic scraper..does your have any scratches from using the scraper? My one touch blades also seem to have scratched the bowl. Is yours the same??
I've never scratched the kettle with a plastic scraper. I do have some scratches from the one touch though.
Thanks for the video. I live in an area that is prone to rust. I have a new Weber 22 inch kettle. What steps can I take after every single cook to prevent rust? I don't mind cleaning my grill out every time if I can do something to prevent rust. I don't want to have to do the scraping that you're doing there. Are there any homemade recipes for getting rid of rust or preventing rust if it shows up?
Spray inside with pam after you clean the grate post cook especially if it will be stored a while
Any health concerns about degreaser near food surfaces?
It's a good idea to read the instructions on the package. Some will say the surface needs to be rinsed with water before food contact. It's also a good idea to use degreasers made for the kitchen and not the garage.
Pressure washer does wonders too lol
*Maintenance is the key to keeping anything around for a long time.*
It's true, but a lot if people don't make the effort and are happy to replace stuff more often. Not me!
You - Hey guys this is how i keep my 100+ dollar item, that i put my food on, clean.
Everyone - REEEEE YOU CANT CLEAN STUFF REEEEEE YOU NEED TO KEEP IT SHIT STAINED AND NASTY REEEEE
Great vid, now i know how to keep my grill lookin clean and not like it has dog shit smeared in it. Props to people who take care of and clean their stuff, it being a grill isnt an excuse to leave it dirty and nasty. Even if it leads to rust, id rather just have a clean grill for 2-5 years and then buy another one instead of having a nasty one that looks like i just got it out the dump
I can tell you get me. Thank you for the support. I'm happy to say the grill still looks great and hasn't rusted at all like the other commenters have suggested.
No point in doing this. Keeping the grates clean ok, but you just took off all the seasoning in your grill
That Seasoning does nothing to the food.
The flavor comes from cooking properly, smoke and spices/injections.
@@fluphenazine1879 who said it does anything to the food? It protects the smoker from rust
@@187metalmonster Interesting note. I've seen rusted out grills still in use and they say never to clean it either. Doesn't really matter to me. Like I always say... just buy another one.
Thanks for the info. I'm thinking about cleaning my Weber as you instructed. However, my object is to get some high temperature spray paint and give the exterior of my Weber a new look. Again, thanks
Love how vinegar cleans.
You did a great job!
Looks good! Happy New Week.
Vinegar works well without any nasty chemicals too. Thanks for watching.
I use it all the time to clean our house.
Way better than anything else I've used.
If it looks like it’s peeling from the inside , it was never seasoned 🤷🏼♂️… p
It means it got hot. No seasoning will stick at steak searing temps over charcoal.
The only thing rusting is the pos butterfly vent
Looks great my man! I will be picking up a scraper now, especially since I have a Hunsaker griddle insert on one of my Webers, and well....you get the idea!
Nice! The plastic scraper does a pretty good job without much effort.
The razor scraper was over kill, and damages the paint which protects the metal from rusting.
Absolutely overkill, but the only scratches are on the kettle are from the easy clean system.
The new simple green BBQ aerosol cleaner is awesome.
Great video I clean my with my electric pressure wash looks like new now 💪
Nice and shiny! Thanks for the tip.
Would a pressure washer do the job :P?
Plenty of people have done it!
I had SO much carbonized grease on my lid I thought it was peeling a finish off of it... I almost bought a new lid. THANK YOU!
It looks just like pealing paint! I'm really glad you found this before buying a lid.
All you need is dawn a sponge and water hose that’s it
Dawn don't get all that sludge at the bottom of mine but I get what your saying.
Colossal waste of time.
I dont clean mine. Ever.
I clean mine after ever use so now what lol!
I got mold in the inside of my kettle. Wanted to deep clean too. How should I do both?
I'd fire up the kettle nice and hot to kill the mold and then clean it out.
OOOO steel wool with degreaser works well to get the exterior clean if you have some crustys or sticky debris on your grill. I've used it on the inside to remove some of the carbon build up as well. Food is very acidic. Removing the grease, and food residue from the inside helps prevent rust and extends the life of your grill.
Exactly! That and the gooey ash stuck to the grill will send it to an untimely trash heap.
Water and ash create an acid like chemical reaction causing steel to rust more. I have had my Charbroiler grill for 11 years of weekly use year round, living in the Caribbean, on the coastline and never use water to clean. No rust no cancer. If you scrape or brush the grates while hot, I find that its easier to get them clean and remove the ashes with a spatula and brush. I guess your cleaning method is fine if you are going to sell your grill. Just need a little Mothers Wax and some silicon shine and you can enter a show grill contest. J
You captured the reason for doing it. You wouldn't want the ash, grease, and salt to sit in the bottom of the grill forever. It sounds like you take good care of your grill keep it up.
This is America not the Caribbean!!
@@fluphenazine1879 Doesn't matter where you are in the world. I lived in Mississippi for a number of years, and the same thing happened there. Grilling and BBQ's should bring us all together no matter where we live or what backgrounds we have. Especially with the state América is in today. Cheers.
The scraper you're using, I've seen the flexi metal ones. Is that what you're using, or plastic?
I use the plastic ones most of the time and it's a better option if you are worried about scratching the bowl. You might have a hard time getting the metal one to conform to the shape of the bowl.
I can’t find the link to the homemade degreaser...any help?
One part dish soap to four parts vinegar works pretty well. It'll separate if you let it sit, but shake up the bottle and it's ready to spray.
Oven cleaner on just till it breaks up grease. Rinse and repeat if necessary.
That is one thing I heard you don't want to use to clean a grill but I'm not knocking it.
Easy-Off is best because it is easy!
Pressure washer on the inside on the rare occasion it’s needed.
I subscribed to your channel awhile ago & this video popped up in a timely fashion. I opened my kettle & found exactly what you stated, "I thought the paint was peeling on my lid." I immediately went out & bought cleaning supplies based on your recommendation. Grill looks good as new. Right or wrong, as I see some have strong views on to clean or not to, but I thank you for the video!
That's a pretty common question since the stuff flaking off is the same color and it looks bad. Thanks for reporting back!
Hello. I'm new to grilling.
How about minimal cleaning of all parts after every cook?
The minimal cleaning is to dump the ash and scrub the grates down with a brush. At the end of the cook rotate the grate a few times so every part gets hot and burns the grease off.
Shop vac.
What is the degreaser mix?
Won't an oven cleaner just have that stuff melt off?
A lot of people use oven cleaner in their grills. A lot of other people jump up and down and say no chemicals in their grill. This method is more of a happy medium with a non-toxic and bio-degradable degreaser.
Nice job on cleaning. Maybe a little ocd but you can't hardly hurt a Webber. I'm like you I let mine go way to long. 👍✌
I do this about once a year. Scraping it with the plastic scraper works well every few cooks. Thanks for checking it out.
Scrap enameled bowl????
Or dont. It's your kettle. This video is a couple years old and my enamel isn't scratched up.
I mixed you recipe and worked like a bomb. Iv'e used this grill about a dozen times after new as I had one many years ago, What it did in the lid was incredible and only after such a short time. Don't know how some could hate what you say?? Very cheap compared to buying all the fancy stuff. Thanks for sharing.
I'm glad it helped Hans. Some people are happy with a kinda clean grill and that is OK.
@@GrillTopExperience would apple cider vinegar work just as well as regular vinegar?
is the paint scraper metal or plastic?
Plastic scrapers work great.
Mine gets a quick hit with the power washer.
I've seen a lot of people do that too.
Hey good job on the clean up.. My qwestion is why is your thermometer on a slant in it's housing?.. Mine is the same and I thought there was somthing wrong with the way I put it on.. Ty if u reply .
I always assumed it was about the viewing angle.
@@GrillTopExperience thanks for your reply. Subscribed
Good video bro
Great video thanks
Thanks for watching. I should try your fishing tip too!
Don’t use a razor
Any reason for not cleaning the other side of the grill? (I see the drips through the grill)
Any negative impact for not doing it?
Which side is that? Are you asking about the part covered by the ash tray?
@@GrillTopExperience The part that is on the opposite side from the one you put the meat on.
You can get an off taste from the last thing you cook and the grease can go rancid if left long enough. I'll still clean them, but not as often. It's not as big of a concern because your meat won't touch it.
@@GrillTopExperience Thanks
I should have read the comments before trying this lol
I'm happy to report that the kettle is still scratch and rust free.
You must don’t like a well seasoned grill
Most of the flavor comes from what drips on the coals. I didn't mention it in this video, but the biggest reason for grill fires is a greasy grill.
Grill Top Experience to each his own. I was taught to only clean/ brush the grill only. Never seen this before
@@GrillTopExperience The truth is the flavor comes from the smoke, temperature, and seasonings.
Nothing wrong with cleaning out a grill.
I do it every time after I cook in it.
Takes about 10 minutes and keeps the grill looking clean.
That Grease Sludge builds up fast at the bottom near the vents.
Nice video
Good job ferris
Thank you Mr Rooney.
Where did you get that rail accessory for your kettle?
That comes standard with the Weber Master Touch version of the kettle. I haven't seen anywhere that sells the Weber official parts, but other people have made something similar for aftermarket parts.
nice !
Simply the best video on the subject!
Wow, thanks! This one has gotten a lot of hate too.
Well done
7
Pudgy's Mom
what is your degreaser?
Sorry if I didn't mention it. I use Simple Green, it's cheap and biodegradable.
I see, thanks
Why don’t you just buy another Weber and keep it in the box until you say it’s another collector’s item????? If that’s in the back of your mind. I use mine and wait until they come out with better practical designs.
I can see cleaning the outside but unseasoning a well seasoned grill doesn't make sense. To each their own though.
I mean...cleaning the grate, removing the ash and wiping it down is about all you need. As my wife said, “as along as where you put the meat is clean there isn’t much to worry about” 😏
Another city slicker trying to show you something that you definitely would never ever want to do... may as well cook on an open fire with styrofoam for feul..
I guess we City Folks can't be your friend.
If that how you feel.... I invite you to come over for some great food on the weber when properly cared for.
Do not use any chemicals on the inside. This guy is dumb. He probably uses lighter fluid too
It's biodegradable and non-toxic. I don't even own lighter fluid (or boil my ribs).
Oven cleaner.
What grade are you in?