GRILL TIPS

BURNERS WON’T LIGHT OR ARE DIM

When the burners won’t light, there is often an obstruction in the fuel supply line. This normally occurs between the on-off valve on the barbecue and the burner.

The usual culprit: A bug. Even when the valve is off, insects can nest in the line. Keeping them out is tough to prevent — even wrapping the unit in a plastic bag hasn’t done the trick.

So you’ll have to deal with it on the other end by cleaning them out. Here’s how:

•Remove the cover that conceals the metal line between the burners and the on-off valve on the barbecue (not the on-off valve to the propane tank).

•With the fuel tank completely off, disconnect the fuel line.

•Immerse the line in cleaner and use a long, soft, narrow wire to thoroughly clean the inside of the fuel tube. We use auto parts cleaning solvent and air pressure from our compressor. Never put the line back unless you know it is completely dry.

•Replace the parts as they were removed only after spraying soapy water on the connections to insure that there are no leaks. If a leak exists, the soapy water will bubble.
UNEVEN HEAT

If you are experiencing uneven heating, chances are your burners are rusted or corroded.

When a burner is new all of the holes are the same size. As grease and food make their way to the bottom of the barbecue the burner ports often become partially clogged. Also, rust can wreak the same kind of havoc.

All that is needed here is a wire brush, an ice pick and 20 minutes of your time. Barbecue burners are usually very easy to remove. That’s because they are designed to be easily removed for cleaning.

Remove the various layers between the cooking surface and the burners, and then simply remove the burner. It may be wise to review your owner’s manual on how to perform this task. Use a wire brush to completely clean the burner surfaces and scrub until a shine results.

Use the ice pick to loosen fragments caught in the burner holes. Clean until all of the holes look about the same size. Use an air compressor at your local gas station if need be, and ensure that all debris has been removed from within the burner.
DIRTY GRILL

A dirty cast iron barbecue grill grate is easy to clean. Here’s how:

•Get a bowl of plain water and a long grill cleaning brush (the metal kind).

•Get the barbecue as hot as you can get it.

•Submerse the cleaning brush in the water and immediately scrub a rung from end to end until all the water disappears (about seven seconds). Repeat for each rung.

•Finally, lightly coat the grill with oil to season it.

You should not use this process on stamped metal grill (the kind that looks like the top of a broiler pan). It will warp and twist and be damaged beyond repair.